Setting: Multiverse Hall of Truth, Corporate Rotunda, ZR1.29.da, 8 September 2011.
 
Persephone Menthali, Chief Justice, Supreme Corporate Court: “Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. In returning from this Court’s morning session—an enervating one at that—we now enter into the consumer questions session. Mr. Dalton, would you please return to the stand…and may I remind you that you are still under oath.”
 
Gerard Dalton, CEO of Nutriverse Sciences, Inc.: [Dalton approaches the stand and sits down]. “Yes, Madam Chief Justice—I am cognizant that I am still under oath.” 
 
Chief Justice Menthali: “Thank you, Mr. Dalton. Is the first consumer representative ready to commence with questioning? Please state your name and occupation, and then you may proceed with your questions to Mr. Dalton.”
 
First Consumer Representative: “Thank you, Madam Chief Justice. My name is Siobhan Walsh, and I am the director of Analytical Chemistry for VersOmix Foods. Mr. Dalton, as an analytical chemist with 24 years of experience, as a former elite athlete, and as a mother and wife, I was appalled to learn of your company’s practices, all under the façade of being ‘certified GMP’ and ‘Science First,’ one of your brand’s taglines.
 
“I had hoped that the horrific events surrounding the melamine scandal on Earth in this century’s first decade would have deterred any company from engaging in economic adulteration on such a large scale, let alone any scale. You authorized the addition of the amino acids taurine and glycine into your company’s protein-containing products, especially those containing whey protein.
 
“To the casual or less scrutinizing consumer this seems innocuous, as both of these amino acids are naturally occurring and found in a variety of protein-rich foods. However, the intent was to reduce the amount of actual protein used in your formulations. As the standard test of protein content measures not the quantities of each amino acid but the total amount of nitrogen—an element found in all amino acids and other non-amino acid chemicals, like melamine—the certificates of analyses for each lot of your products met their specifications. Yet you duped your consumers, your ethics-driven employees and your business partners. Two days ago we found out that your corporation’s profitability increased by 14%, and your sales of protein products skyrocketed by 112% last year—no doubt due to the price reductions you implemented, and which your competition could not sustainably match. I don’t care to know how you fell asleep at night. I simply want to know—WE want to know—WHY did you sanction this practice?”
 
Mr. Dalton: “Ms. Walsh…I knew my approval of this practice was wrong. I knew it was unlawful. I knew it was ethically depraved. We were losing market share. Sales of our flagship products, which use a lot of whey protein—were falling sharply in response to sharply rising prices of whey protein. I was desperate, so I availed my bachelors degree in nutrition science and devised this idea. It actually evolved from the melamine scandal on Earth—as you alluded to—but I wondered what could be added to protein that would “analyze out” as protein but also be safe. Taurine and glycine are dirt cheap—about one-quarter to one-fifth the cost of whey protein concentrate and isolate. I never wanted to hurt anyone. The answer to your question, ‘WHY?’ I had intended to do this for no more than three quarters, and I never thought we would get caught. I thought we were smarter…”