USDA recalls 143 MILLION pounds of frozen beef from CA slaughterhouse

Read the story here

This is the same slaughterhouse where downed, diseased and sick cattle were forced to their feet through horrendous and cruel abuse. Downed cattle cannot be slaughtered by law, so various employees would shock the cattle to get them to stand prior to the inspector's arrival.

 

 

I heard on the radio this morning that a lot of that beef went to the school lunch companies AND that most of it has already been eaten.

This is because regulation is bad for business, right?  Regulation is bad?

also if any of those cows were sick with mad cow desease (very likely since they weren't really able to stand on their own), any one that ate the meat could get it. Mad cow prions can not be killed with heat. even the best sterilization techniques don't really work against the prion.

I hope the company gets a huge lawsuit against them because they put lots of people in a boat load of danger.

all this scare makes me want to be a veggie again

I was so grossed out when I saw this on the news this morning.  What are we eating?!?  What are they feeding our kids?!? (This beef was sent to school lunch programs.)  I am seriously sickened by this, and I am taking a long hard look at the food I consume, and making some major changes.

If more people would buy local beef, pork and chicken it would help. You pay a little more, but the quality is better and you know where it came from.

driving another 5 miles I can get local beef.  I've gotten lazy and started buying it from a chain grocery store, but no more.

I hope that company Westland/hallmark goes out of business.

i say: go vegetarian. if not for the animals and the horrific cruelty they suffer before they wind up on your plate then do it for your health.

There's a grocery store I go to on the weekends (in another town) that has a real butcher counter.  If you want ground meat, you tell them which cut you want and they grind it for you right there.  And you can see their sanitation grade right there too (they had a 103% score last time I was there).  This gives you some peace of mind that you're not getting e. coli (from cow intestines) on your meat.  But with mad cow, my understanding is that it takes years for symptoms to manifest - so if people are eating tainted meat, it will be a while before we find out.

:/

It is a wonderful idea for everyone to be eating as much locally produced and minimally processed food as possible! There are 2 terrific farmers markets here in Richmond where even organic meat, cheese, eggs and wholesome home made bread are available.

I don't do meat, eggs, or dairy and I will be growing my own vegetables this summer, and picking up at farmers markets fruit and vegetables that will not be in my garden this year.

There are some things that I'm not yet ready to give up that aren't locally produced: bananas, brown rice, quinoa, dried beans, misc fruit and vegetables. Those I just buy at my local health foods store and trust that they're buying from reputable sources. But I am working on increasing the percentage of locally produced foods in my diet!

Alex and I discussed this over burgers a little while ago.  We do eat meat pretty often, especially beef and we like it very, very rare.  It was a little bit disturbing, but neither of us have had rare beef in a while.

While we're worried about our own health in consuming this stuff, we also felt horrible for those animals.  They're bred to be eaten, that's their purpose in life, but they should at least be entitled to a decent life and death before they're slaughtered, not tortured because they're sickly.

im surprized most of the major chains in the area carry a local brand, but that is all more so cut infront of your eyes and such so ya its a bit more expensive but ya... stupid cows all their fualt, right?

I'm surprised that people didn't know stuff like this went on. I guess advertising does it's job, people think that cows live happy lives in gigantic sunny pastures.

i dont think anyone is that stupid to think they live in pastures, but its more of what they dont see doesnt bother them.  Do i care about genocide in 3rd world countries? Not at all... why? Because i dont have to witness it and be apart of it.  

wow.

On the whole he's right lexa. That analogy speaks for most people whether or not they choose to believe it does.

edit: Could I kill and butcher a cow because I wanted kabobs? sure, but I'm glad I don't have to, considering all the work involved.

Do I think that what's going on in Darfur is terrible? Absolutely, but I haven't done anything to rectify that situation.

Do I participate in beach cleanups? Yep, because it's important and hits close to home.

The great majority of people deal with problems only if they're confronted of them. 

Original Post by giggle_puppy:

i dont think anyone is that stupid to think they live in pastures, but its more of what they dont see doesnt bother them. Do i care about genocide in 3rd world countries? Not at all... why? Because i dont have to witness it and be apart of it.

Many people really are that ignorant, or at least never really give the matter any thought.

I was unfortunately watching the news the other night, and during a blurb about the recall, a shot of the front of the Westland/Hallmark meat packing company was briefly displayed, followed by footage of a few serene looking bovine grazing in a big, lush field.

Very misleading.

Original Post by ignayshus:

On the whole he's right lexa. That analogy speaks for most people whether or not they choose to believe it does.

edit: Could I kill and butcher a cow because I wanted kabobs? sure, but I'm glad I don't have to, considering all the work involved.

Do I think that what's going on in Darfur is terrible? Absolutely, but I haven't done anything to rectify that situation.

Do I participate in beach cleanups? Yep, because it's important and hits close to home.

The great majority of people deal with problems only if they're confronted of them.

I understand your point, Ignayshus.  "Think Global, Act Local" and all.  I suppose I was just a bit chagrined by the abrasiveness of giggle puppy's post, but then again, it is giggle puppy we're dealing with here, ha!

Just before this story hit, I read "The Omnivore's Dilema", which details much of the abuse animals raised for our food endure. I have since given up meat, unless I can be sure it was raised and slaughtered humanely (which, since I can rarely guarantee, means no meat for me). I definitely suggest the book.

If you don't care about a potato's feelings why should I care about a cow's?

I'm not suggesting you feel anything. For myself, I don't worry about potatoes because they do not, in my view, have the capacity to suffer. Cows do.

The absence of evidence to prove a theory is not the same as evidence to the contrary.

Just ask OJ... oh, I went there :)