Antibiotics in Livestock May End Up in Your Veggies

or the meat industry screwing everyone (4.00 / 3)

scary how blunt the quotes from the main researcher were in the article. not the usual scientific detachment.

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by: kacie @ Wed Jan 07, 2009 at 19:20:41 PM UTC

Meat eaters are not trying to screw vegitarians (4.00 / 3)

I'm a meat eater and I'm not trying to screw anyone, much less a vegiterian or even a vegan. I figure to each his, or her, own.

The problem with antibiotics and I might add, antivirals, is that science has told livestock and poultry growers that this is the best way to husband the animals they're caring for. People raising these animals don't pump these drugs into them because they like abusing animals or because they like supporting the pharmaceutical industry.

Unfortunately, the farmers are told that to be succesful, they need to produce tons and tons of meat, and the only way to do this is to raise animals in a CAFO system with animals bred for production, not disease risistance, as the primary trait selected for.

Instead of blaming the meat eaters, you might blame these people/industries -
1)USDA and the federal government that funds them via the beef check off, pork check off, poultry check off, and other taxes on animal ag used primarily for marketing meat consumption.
2) The packers, marketers, resaurants, fast food outlets, and others that promote excessive meat consumption.
3) The land grant colleges that enable the success of the CAFO animal ag systems through research.

People who eat meat are not, in and of themselves, responsible for antibiotic use in animal ag. Antibiotic use is a result of many different factors. I think that to blame meat eaters soley for this is very irresponsble.

Regarding locavores as elitists - explain to me how supporting local business is elitist....

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by: Joanne Rigutto @ Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 03:56:10 AM UTC

oh i was just kidding about that... (4.00 / 2)

running joke, ever since the E. coli got into the spinach. I know you aren't trying to screw anyone. It's just ironic that those of us who object to the state of animal ag by avoiding it are still affected by it.

Great comment.

"I can understand someone from Iowa promoting corn and soy, but we are not feeding the world, we are feeding animals and soft drink companies." - Jim Goodman

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by: Jill Richardson @ Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 04:10:51 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Thanks Jill (0.00 / 0)

Sometimes I get my hackles up a bit too soon. Thanks for the heads up.

That having been said, the systemic problems I see in the industrial animal ag business are very serious, and the use of antibiotics and antivirals is just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. The problems are not just in the US but world wide. It's very troubling....

Regarding locavores as elitists - explain to me how supporting local business is elitist....

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by: Joanne Rigutto @ Thu Jan 08, 2009 at 12:49:14 PM UTC

[ Parent ]