Part of the reason why Italians are some of the healthiest people in the world is because of their high quality food. As a class we visited the Mariga salami factory and learned that this factory is only allowed to manage pork. According to the law, one factory building is not allowed to produce more than one type of meat for sanitation reasons. The food is inspected by veterinarians, and the factory is expected to follow very high standards.
The Mariga factory is a family run business, and I also think this atmosphere helps to sustain a healthy lifestyle. The man pictured in the center picture is an immigrant from Ghana who was hired at the factory a couple of years ago. He has become a part of the family and loves living and working in Vicenza. Happiness is definitely a key to healthiness, and every worker/family member was always smiling and excited to be at work and with their family.
J Lenart
