Question

Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt joked that it would be difficult to "Taste the Rainbow." Only
red Skittles had spilled out. The incident gained attention after CNN wrote about it, citing a local
news report.
A variety of food byproducts are commonly used for animal feed. Mars says it has methods for
discarding foods for that purpose. However, the company says the Skittles in question came from a
factory that doesn't sell unused products for feed.
"We don't know how it ended up as it did and we are investigating," Mars said.
Schmidt said one of his officers came across the spill and sent him photos, which he posted on
Facebook. He said the Skittles spilled from a box that started to break apart in the rain, and about
half of them got out. The Skittles on the ground did not have the standard letter "S" on them, he
said.
Rogue Shipment
The sheriff said he spoke with the farmer, but declined to immediately give the farmer's name. He
did not respond when asked by email how the office connected the Skittles with the farmer.
Mars spokeswoman Denise Young said that a power outage had prevented the signature "S" from
being placed on the candies. For this reason, the Skittles were supposed to be destroyed. Young
said Mars planned to contact the sheriff's office and the farmer to find out more.
Beef That Tastes Like Rainbow
Linda Kurtz, a manager at Mars, said the company sells unused candies to processors. The
processors combine them with other materials to make animal feed. She said Mars does not sell
directly to farmers, and its methods follow government regulations.
Kurtz said Mars determined the spilled Skittles came from its plant in Yorkville, Illinois. That
particular plant does not sell products for animal feed. The other U.S. plant that makes Skittles, in
Waco, Texas, sells to a local processor that melts them down into syrup.
Josh Cribbs is a cattle nutritionist. He said that the food byproducts that get used for cattle feed
vary depending on what's available in the region and the particular time of year.
The byproducts are mixed with other materials, Cribbs said. Together, they make an animal feed
with certain nutritional qualities.
"You might think, 'Oh my gosh, they might be eating a Skittle.' In reality, that piece of candy is
being broken down," he said.

1. Write a summary of the article.

2. Explain your opinion of the article.

Answer 1

### Summary of the Article

In Dodge County, Sheriff Dale Schmidt reported a peculiar incident involving a spill of red Skittles on a roadside. This situation garnered media attention following a CNN report, which highlighted the unusual sight of candies littering the ground. The Skittles were said to have spilled from a box that became damaged by the rain, and Schmidt noted that these Skittles lacked the standard "S" marking, indicating they were intended for destruction. Mars, the candy manufacturer, acknowledged the incident, explaining that a power outage at their Yorkville, Illinois plant had prevented the signature from being placed on the candies, causing them to be classified as unusable. Mars spokesperson Denise Young emphasized that the plant does not sell unused candies for animal feed, contrary to typical practices where food byproducts are supplied to processors for that purpose. The sheriff spoke to a local farmer potentially involved with the spill but withheld further details. Meanwhile, a cattle nutritionist explained that while candies may sound alarming, they are typically processed and broken down before being incorporated into animal feed, thus altering their original form.

### Opinion of the Article

The article presents an interesting and lighthearted story that highlights an unusual event involving a food product. I appreciate the mixture of humor and seriousness in Sheriff Schmidt's comments, which makes the piece engaging. The detailed explanation about the processes used by Mars and the way food byproducts are handled adds crucial context to a potentially sensational story. Moreover, the insights shared by the cattle nutritionist help to demystify concerns about using unconventional ingredients in animal feed, reassuredly informing the public of the safety measures in place. Overall, the article balances entertainment with informative content, making it an effective piece of local journalism that captures both the peculiar incident and the broader implications of food waste and animal nutrition.