US Food Industry Helping USDA Craft New Message: 'Vegetarianism Is Better'
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 03.27.08
USDA is kindly helping the meat industry butcher its own public image. As expected, the gun is pointed at the collective foot behind closed doors.
Under pressure from the food industry, the Agriculture Department is considering a proposal not to identify retailers where tainted meat went for sale except in cases of serious health risk, The Associated Press has learned.Had that been the rule in place last month, consumers would not have been told if their supermarkets sold meat from a Southern California slaughterhouse that triggered the biggest beef recall in U.S. history.
The plan is being considered as the USDA puts the final touches on a proposed disclosure rule. It had lingered in draft form for two years until getting pushed to the forefront in February, when 143 million pounds of beef were recalled by Westland/Hallmark Meat Co. in Chino, Calif., after undercover video by an animal-rights activist showed workers abusing crippled cows.
Reminds us of Monsanto's flopped advocacy program to get state legislatures to "ban" the use of bovine growth hormone-free milk labels. Time to call in Wal-Mart strike.
Via::AP, "USDA Might Limit Meat Recall Information" Image credit::NoDowners.org, downed cow in stockyard
Thankfully this is in the limelight and thankfully many consumers actually care. HOPEFULLY people will realize that the risk is not worth the "reward" of convenience or low cost.
I've said it before and I know I will say it again, going vegan has never been so very important on so many levels. Its a wonderful realization and i wish more and more people the best as they give vegan life a shot.
:)
There is nothing to get scared about. The meat is still good. Beside, you get it cheaper! It's on us! Go make a nice steak. Enjoy!
MOUAHAHAHA!!! ... SUCKERS! -oops, did I say this out loud?
There is no need to give up on meat. Everyone just needs to take some personal responsibility and find out where there meat comes from (to include fast food). There are a lot of farmers out there raising healthy animals in humane ways. I encourage everyone concerned with the quality of there meat to check out http://www.eatwild.com They have some interesting info and resources for clean local food.
Also your dollars speak louder than any legislation ever could. Everyone needs to stop buying from these factory farms. Animals are not machines and can not be treated as such. The general population needs to change there entire mindset about food if anything is going to change. The USDA certainly won't change anything.
The USDA vision:
We want to be recognized as a dynamic organization that is able to efficiently provide the integrated program delivery needed to lead a rapidly evolving food and agriculture system.
With that clarity of vision US consumers can rest easy!