Lack of Food Taster Prevented President From Eating With Republicans-Truth!

Lack of Food Taster Prevented President From Eating With Republicans-Truth!

Summary of the eRumor:
This is a forwarded email that said that when President Obama met with Senate Republicans the President did not partake of an elegant luncheon because the White House food taster was not on hand to check that the food had not been poisoned.

The Truth:
This is true, according to a March 14, 2013 article by the Daily Caller. The article said that Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins told reporters that President Obama looked longingly at the spread of healthy and nutritious Maine lobster, potato chips and blueberry pie but was unable to dig in because "his 'taster' was not present."   The luncheon was prepared along the guidelines of the first lady’s initiatives against obesity.

The article also said, owing to their "policy of discretion on all security related issues," the U.S. Secret Service would not confirm that US presidents travel with an official food taster.   Senator Collins told the President that everybody present "were all tasters for him, that if the food had been poisoned all of us would have keeled over." The President made a remark that the spread appeared to be "far better food than the Democrats."

updated 03/19/13

A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:

President Obama took to the Hill this week to mend fences with the GOP but he stopped short of actually breaking bread with conservatives in Congress, supposedly because he didn't have his cup bearer in tow at the Capitol.

The Secret Service won't confirm if the president does indeed have a 'Taster-in-Chief' to monitor the president's food but Republican Senator Susan Collins revealed the president wasn't able to eat at the Thursday luncheon given in his honor because of the security measure.

While Republican Senators chowed down on a delicious menu of lobster, potato chips and blueberry pie, the president was left salivating and longingly eying the delicacies.