Six Degrees of Corporate Separation

As you may have heard, country music legend and sausage king Jimmy Dean died on June 13 at the grand old age of 81. As my late dad used to say, the “danger years.”

Dean sold his company to Sara Lee Corp. (“Nobody doesn’t like Sara Lee”) in 1984. In 2003, Sara Lee let him go as a spokesperson, inciting Dean’s wrath, which he channeled into a statement titled, “Somebody doesn’t like Sara Lee,” claiming he was dumped because he was old. Seems Sara Lee wanted to attract a younger, female demographic.

That may be true, because women do most of the household buying. Nevertheless, ever been to a restaurant where breakfast is an all-you-can-eat, serve-yourself food bar affair loaded with bacon and sausage? Next time, check out who comprises most of the eaters, and what they load up on. Bet you it’s men. And they fill their plate with bacon and sausage like it’s going out of style, and then go back for seconds. Yuck.

Now comes word from Sara Lee Corp. that its 56 year-old CEO, Brenda Barnes, who took a temporary medical leave in May, is recovering from a stroke. I’m sure it’s just a coincidence that she and Dean faced health issues during the same period and Market Tonic sends its condolences to the Dean family and wishes Barnes a speedy recovery. But next time you visit a restaurant with an all-you-can-eat breakfast bar, reconsider overdoing it on the bacon and sausage. It’s my opinion reducing your meat intake, or skipping it all together, will help you live beyond those “danger years.” My dad never touched the stuff and made it to the ripe old age of 91.