Unsafe meat: now we know why?
October 23, 2007
So now we know (courtesy of the New York Times) why E. coli O157:H7 recalls are becoming more frequent: the meat industry isn’t following food safety rules. These rules were require meat and poultry producers to develop and monitor plans for producing safe food, and to test to make sure the plans are working. Two problems here: the companies aren’t bothering to follow the rules, and the onsite USDA inspectors aren’t bothering to enforce them. Standard food safety rules–HACCP and pathogen reduction–work really well, but only if designed, followed, and enforced to the letter and spirit. I keep asking: what will it take to get Congress to act on the food safety issue?
Many cultures around the world use no meat in their diets. Perhaps if Americans decided to construct nutrient-rich diets sans meat, the meat industry would have no customers and the point would be made that we are tired of being killed by our food.
Comment by Sheila — October 23, 2007 @ 2:49 pm
Meat is an especially nutrient-dense food that can be an important component in a healthful diet. One
But more regulations or limiting meat consumption will not constructively address the rise in pathogens such as e. Coli 0157:H7 in our food supply. We need to get back to responsible animal husbandry, put herbivores back on pasture, and end industrial factory-farming and high-speed industrial processing. People need to rethink their food priorities and place a higher value on quality food choices. Americans spend a much smaller percentage of their household incomes on food than other industrial nations, and it shows.
Comment by Anna — October 23, 2007 @ 9:55 pm
…but I keep asking: What will it take to get Congress to act on the obesity and diabetes issue?
Oh yeah, they’d first have to stop taking all that money from Big Food and Big Ag. Like that has a chance of happening!
Comment by Jack at Fork & Bottle — October 24, 2007 @ 3:27 am
Why is it that the USDA has the funds to shut down small operators who don’t follow the rules–specifically, farmers who want to conduct their own slaughter and sell on-farm to willing buyers–yet large producers can get away with appalling health violations year after year and virtually no penalties are meted out? How long has it been since “The Jungle” ? This is certainly not a problem with information.
Comment by Fentry — December 17, 2007 @ 4:47 pm