Camden, NJ, is an interesting city. Among other things, I understand it's the car-theft capital of the United States. The Rutgers University police at the Camden campus have, on more than one occasion, been asked for help by people stumbling in off the street, bleeding from gunshot wounds. But did you know? Not only does it have a nice state aquarium there, it is also home to the manufacture of chocolate bound for the Hershey Company.
The underground manufacture, you might say. The plant in question is a former Campbell's soup factory, but there is no certificate of occupancy, and the chocolate manufacturers - Lyons & Sons and Cocoa Services (a contractor) - have no entries in the city's tax records.
Turns out, though, that for the past six or seven years they've been producing chocolate, they've had a clean bill of occupational health and safety: nobody's gotten hurt or killed, at least not that it was recorded.
Until now.
Mr. Vincent Smith II was apparently a father, and I sympathize with his family and their grief over his death, in a tragic accident. He seems to have fallen into a melting vat while filling it and been pushed under by a mechanical stirring device, where he drowned before the other workers could stop the machinery and pull him out.
However, those of you who are familiar with the Smothers Brothers will be jarringly reminded of their "Chocolate!" skit.
I know, I know. It's tasteless. At the same time, it highlights another example of corporate social (ir)responsibility. I wonder if Hershey has anything to say about it - either the failure to obey tax and property law, or the fatal accident and how it could reflect on the quality of their chocolate.