PETA has done it again, and the media have lapped it up, as the vegetarian zealots knew they would. Just before Easter this year, PETA erected a billboard in Jackson, Mississippi, that shows an image of the Virgin Mary breastfeeding the baby Jesus. The caption accompanying the sign reads "If it was good enough for Jesus…" Naturally, enraged citizens demanded that it be taken down, but PETA spokespersons used the controversy to further their campaign against the dairy industry. Catholic League president William Donohue reportedly asserted that "The idea of showing the Blessed Mother breastfeeding baby Jesus to make a cheap point about vegetarian rights is outrageous." The ploy for media attention had worked again, and the outrage of their fellow citizens was a side effect that added to PETA's notoriety, which, of course, was their goal.

We note that in New York State, some farms have recently suffered mysterious contamination of their bulk milk tanks, with antibiotics. Of course, this is detected before the milk leaves the farm, as the pick-up tank truck driver tests each farm's product before loading it on. Any contaminants or a high bacteria count are reason for rejection of the milk before it can contaminate the common supply. The farmer is then faced with disposal of hundreds of gallons of milk and with the loss of income for the day's supply, as well as the cost of disinfecting the entire operation, investigating the cause, and preventing a recurrence. Law enforcement officials have not yet found the culprits who have done this, but farmers remember the PETA anti-dairy campaign, and are glad that the FBI has been brought in to investigate. Theories of who may have done this range from anti-dairy activists to disgruntled former employees, and security is now an added expense for farmers whose operations are barely profitable without this kind of trouble.