So, it seems that the US Department of Agriculture has just recalled 143 million pounds of beef ... except you can't bring it back or even throw it out because, well, you've already eaten it. You and kids from school districts around the country and recipients of food through federal nutrition programs.It's the largest meat recall in history, but the USDA said it's nothing to worry about. I guess they mean that if there was a problem you'd be dead already.
The beef is two-years worth of production from a company that committed "egregious violations" of laws designed to protect the public, including slaughtering animals that were too weak or sick to walk or stand. Of course, that could possibly be a symptom of mad cow disease, but -- as we said -- you almost certainly have nothing to worry about ... regarding the beef you may or may not have eaten.
16 comments:
What in interesting study in public policy. The whole investigation was sparked by animal cruelty concerns but the rationale given for the recall was public health concerns. Could it be that the USDA was looking for a way to punish this company by relying on the company's inability to prove that their beef was properly inspected - what might otherwise be considered a paperwork infractions?
I don't see how either the anti-animal cruelty movement or my own public health profession are served by the media attention to this.
Well, to me it's another in the endless stream of examples of how the bottom line is the only criteria that big business cares about. Capitalism, I believe, is a completely evil system, and right now, all over the world, companies are cutting corners, sacrificing safety and mistreating workers in order to increase profits. That is the free market we try so hard to protect.
Some would argue that the bottom line is the only thing that big business should care about. That's the nature of what business is. This is one of many reasons why we have business regulation; you can't necessarily trust businesses to comply with their social responsibilities so you need a higher authority (in the material sense) to keep them in line.
You also bring up another interesting point. I've seen cases where exploited workers in slaughterhouses or farms collect evidence of animal abuse and hand it over to regulators because the government (and the rest of society) will act on animal abuse. We don't necessarily act on people abuse. The penalties for not properly killing a single cow before slaughter are greater than the penalties for regularly endangering the health and safety of dozens upon dozens of farm workers by spraying pesticides while they are working in the fields.
I am in favor of much more regulation in many areas. Unfortunately, our society values money so much that people frequently make decisions that are inexcusable -- dumping chemicals in rivers, using cheaper methods to secure ceiling tiles in a tunnel or slaughtering animals for food no matter their condition.
Despite our rhetoric on happiness and integrity being much more important than wealth, nearly every bit of media that washes over all of us, including children, emphasizes the opposite. Capitalism has poisoned civilization.
To the extent that capitalism causes or promotes poverty, the assertion that capitalism poisons may have physiologic support. Check out Paul Krugman's article on 2/18 titled "Poverty Poisons". I have a copy of the Financial Times piece that he refers to if you are interested.
This is exactly why I gave up meat a year ago!
I've read both the Krugman piece and the FT story, which I am sure will be dismissed by those on the right.
I have read a little and thought a lot about capitalism, and I can't help but conclude that this system is pure evil.
First, there is X amount of resources on the planet. A small number of people (those who are powerful) have used and are using a big chunk of those resources (much of it from poorer countries) to make themselves wealthy (especially since the Industrial Revolution). The resources (minerals, wood, water, animals, etc.) should not be used (sometimes used up) for the benefit of one person or a small group, and especially not by those who leave no benefit for people indigenous to the land that the resources come from.
Second, there are people starving to death or dying from disease right now, while at the same time there is enough money in bank accounts, stocks, bonds, corporations, etc. to save those people. How can we let that happen?
Jimbo - it's sad. People just don't care enough. We hardly care enough about the people we know, much less those we don't know.
Let me take that back. Those with the ability and means to help, you know those with all the money in the bank accounts, don't care enough. Then there are those of us with little means that don't mind sharing whatever we have with whoever is in need. The sad part about that is that those contributions, while they mean so much more, barely make an impact. The other side is that thefolks that are so willing to give, are often the ones left out in the cold when they are in need.
It's all about those daily decisions that we are confronted with. Help our neighbors, or don't - support those greedy businesses or make the right choice, to support and patronize local farmers.
These regulatory entities need to take a closer, harder look at processes in these plants and at these farms - until then, we need to be more vigilant.
O.K
First to the Beef issue.
Ill bet that if the first poster ate a burger from that meat,and got food poisoning he / she would have a different feeling about it.I know I have had it.
Second to the same posters comment about the workers in the fields;
a-They are not forced to do the work.
b-the majority of them are Illegal,and no one forced them to jump the fence.
c-the employers are dispicable because they encourage the abuse / contamination,and use them so they do not have to pay legal people the legal working wage.
I have no pitty for the employers,or the Illegals.Both should be locked up.
Signed
A 10 year Veggie person!!!!!!!
To anonymous at 2/23 1:59 am.
You sound like Joe Mason - and I would suspect so since you posted on other threads around the same time - so much for posting under your own name.
Thanks for your perspective but not all of those working in the fields are illegals, Joe. My family owns cattle farms which supply most of the jobs to the surrounding rural communities.
Lastly, if you are trying to sugguest that you are a "vegetarian" for 10 years...why did I see you eating at Burger King the other day?
JIMBO
Sounds like we have either a fibber,or a stalker.
I have not been in a Burger King in about 4 weeks,and it was about 830 p.m up the hieghts talking to the district manager whos furious that the Maverick square B.K guy wants another hearing.
So lets see what farmer in the deel thinks when he/her is going to have to face me in public Jimbo.
Get past the hate ,you are not ANonynous,and I am going to prove it.
I am not a Veggie,and eat meat,so unless you know me better than me,I would say you are a stalker.
Talk to you face to face soon.
J.M Jimbo Ive had enough.
to n.starluna:
I agree, the timing and attention given to this was suspect. We cant forget the power the government has and their ability to regulate. Seems that the government wanted to ensure that they had some type of measured response that the public would have demanded to the pictures and footage.
I dont understand why Mason felt he had to defend if, when and why he was at Burger King - especially since he claims that he did not write the post on 2/23 at 1:59 am. He seems a little defensive if you ask me...I think you are right Farmer in the Del, sure sounds like Mason, even though he claims to always sign his name on all his posts.
Hello
Just keeping it real.
I sign my posts for more than one reason.
But Ill give you a few.
1- I am proud of who I am.
2-I am proud to try to help Eastie,and carry on a tradition in my family of Loving,and Caring for this town.
3- I have no objection to counter points,and as I have already said I am not perfect about this stuff,and neither are any of you.
Its funny how people who do not sign these posts try to figure out if I have signed mine.
Have a nice day.
Joe M.
Proud to be an East Bostonian
One more thing, what group is Joe Mason the president of? I was thinking of getting involved in this community.
The discussion is getting away from the real issue: What are we eating - and what has been fed to our food before we eat it?
The government and the people who earn in this sick food business are not going to protect us. We can only protect ourselves by eating a) less meat, and b) meat that has been raised healthily.
And don't even think chicken is the healthier choice. Or fish...It all depends on what they been fed with.
Alexa Fleckenstein M.D.
Dr Fleckenstein,
How do you feel about the land use council?
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