I was surprised that Pollan kept going back to oil. I already knew that a lot of petroleum products are used up in the modern production of corn (to the point that ethanol made from corn wastes more energy than from the actual production of the stuff) but I never thought to pass some of the blame of the absurd things we do to our food on oil industry. It is definitely a popular thing to blame stuff on the oil industry.
If the condition of our food is so bad, why do we continue to eat it and promote such unhealthy practices? There are few that would argue that there might be problems if we must first blast cattle with radiation before slaughtering to make the food safe but we, as a society, aren't disgusted enough to stop. Is it not that bad, do we not know, or are there no other viable options out there?
While I knew the effects of corn use were very prominent and far-reaching, I never vividly considered just how connected everything is to this one crop. I was even aware of the government subsidies on corn that keep it in such wide use, but I was not aware that this could so intimately link with petroleum use or public health.
Discussion Question:
If Pollen is to be believed and corn-fed beef is as totally heinous as he makes it out to be, is it feasible to eliminate it from out diets? Surely we could accomplish this on an individual level, but there's no denying that factory farms such as the one described in Pollen's essay help feed people who could otherwise not afford to eat. Is it even possible to stop this?
I didn't know much about the effects of feeding cows corn, but one thing I did know was about the use of antibiotics. If we continue to use antibiotics it will continue to select for bacteria that is resistant to the antibiotics and it can one day harm humans. I didn't realize that there were so many side effects to feeding cows corn. I realize that it would be the cheapest thing to do, but I didn't know that it could cause so many problems.
What do you think would be the positive or negative effects of feeding cattle only grass? Do you think this would change the price of beef?
I knew a little bit about CAFOs from my Environmental Geography class where we discussed the negative impact of feedlots on our food. We also did talk about the concept of "food miles" which is how much fuel it takes to transport food from producer to consumer.
What I did not know was that by feeding cows a grass diet a few days before slaughter would significantly reduce the possibility of ecoli infection.
Question: If the USDA and feedlot owners know this, why will they not allow the change in diet a few days before slaughter? Surely it would cost a bit more to do this and perhaps the cows would lose some weight in the process, but wouldn't the safety of the meat be a worth the price (over a lawsuit)? If meat was a little more expensive but the product was safer, do you think the general population would be willing to pay for that higher security? And in turn, would that not supplement the revenue lost in the diet change in the first place?
I'm pretty much aware of the things discussed in the essay. However, I never really thought about the connection between the animals and the oil that is consumed in the feeding and shipping processes.
These types of problems are many in number, with similar action being taken to solve them - little to none. Look at any sort of manufacturing. We know that carbon emissions are bad. We encourage other countries to curb their emissions and take action, but the united states is above that. It would slow economic growth so it is not an option. This practice is profitable and easy. More meat is produced at a cheaper price.
What is sad about this article is that anyone who would read it would obviously be disgusted. But as he says towards the end, once he gets away from all of it, in time he will most likely eat feedlot beef again. Unless people are getting sick or dying every time they eat this crap, nothing will change. People are making money and people are enjoying their cheap hamburgers. Who cares if it is completely destructive to the environment. People care even less about the animals they are consuming. Some of these animals are so freakishly large that the weight of their bodies break their legs.
@Jared. The author did not blame anything on the oil industry. He was talking about some negatives of feedlots.
What would it take for you to change something habitual or familiar in your life? What would it take to get you to stop eatingthis kind of beef? Getting sick once? Twice? People dying?
I had no idea what all went into the process of raising cattle. To be honest, I was stunned and relatively grossed out by the reading, but like the Pollan, I'm sure I will eat meat beef again someday. One of the examples that shocked me the most was the open delivery of antibiotics to the animals. I agreed with the chapter when it said that this was a bad idea because it only promotes the unneccesary stregnthening of bacteria. For years we've developed these antibiotics in the hopes of prevention and now we are ruining that research by creating "superbugs." I was also thrown off when it discussed feeding processed cow parts to the cattle in the feedyards. It did say that this practice is still banned but there are certain exceptions. It was very interesting to see how Pollan tied in the process of raising cattle with the petroleum business as well. Similar to just about everything in our world, petroleum is the driving factor that makes mass production possible. Overall, this article was very interesting and educated me on a topic that I knew nothing about.
What do you think the impact would be on human health if cattle were fed their natural diet of grass instead of corn- and how would that affect the business of raising cattle?
I didn't really know any information about cattle and what goes into feeding them and medicating them. The fact that they are continuously given antibiotics concerns me though, because I feel like that would weaken their immune system against other diseases and bacteria and in-turn could be dangerous to humans. I did not know that so many negatives could come from feeding the cows corn and also that cow's stomachs were so much different than ours. I think the grossest part of the reading was being informed of cows eating other cows processes parts. Although it is not legal it's still obviously going on.
If corn was taken out of the cows diet would the quality and healthiness of the meat be diminished? If so would this precaution be worth it?
Before reading this essay I knew that farming had become more and more industrialize over the years, still every time I sit down to read about it, it makes me wonder how healthy our food actually is. On the other hand, I did not realize how unhealthy beef actually is. I knew that chicken and other white meats are better for you, but actually hearing what goes into feeding the cows makes beef far less appealing despite how good it tastes. On page 952 Pollen says he was surprised to find out that "cattle were eating cattle,"and that really disturbed me. Having the cows eat other cows to cut costs on production not only grosses me out,but it's immoral.
Discussion Question: This article makes beef seem quite unappealing in its blunt facts about what actually goes into feeding the cattle. Was this enough to make you re-think eating beef? Why or why not? What part of the article influenced your decisions the most?
Petroleum makes the world go round. This article is direct evidence that this statement is indeed true. It's a known fact that our world is constantly trying to advance and the industrial world continues to grow along with it. I liked how Pollen related the use of petroleum with the diet of cows. I think it says alot about the world we live in and alot of tasks and jobs could not be peformed without the use of petroleum. Jobs could be performed differently and without such a dependence on petroleum but farmers seem to believe that their current system is more financially friendly. I was very surprised to find out that cows were actually fed processed parts of other cows and it was a bit disturbing. Instinctively, this method does not seem like a good idea at all and with the research they have done on this method backs up that assumption. It is said to be illegal but I'm sure alot of farms are still using this method to save an extra buck. Is it really worth that extra dollar when your risking a higher chance for that cow to become infected by E.coli? Anyone who read this article can see the problems with the breeding of live stock and health concerns that come with it. With that being said, I still plan on eating meat everyday for the rest of my life. This makes me wonder how much it would take for me/or anyone else to stop eating meat all together and take a stand against the harsh breeding of livestock?
I had an idea of what went on when raising cattle from a couple of other documentaries I have watched, however, I was shocked to read about all of the different problems and diseases the cattle will get due to eating corn and their mass diet. Also it is kinda of scary to think about all of the antibiotics and different supplements they are putting into these cows that humans will then eat. I think it is pretty ridiculous that cows get all of these problems from eating corn so then they need to be given antibiotics when all they really need to do it just eat grass and the problems would not even occur. Also feeding them corn makes their flesh marble well giving it texture and taste which is known to be a good thing but it is less healthy for the individuals that eat it.
If feeding cattle corn presents many difficulties for their bodies which inevitably means they would then need antibiotics that effects them and the consumer of their meet and we know that if they just ate grass this would not even be a problem, why are we still sticking to this grain diet?
After reading this article by Michael Pollan, I was able to learn many different things about the meat industry. I was very disturbed that for some meals cattle was receiving parts of other cattle for their meal. I thought it was interesting when one of the men simply said that he wouldn't have a job if this process was any different. After reading about the rate of E Coli in some of the cattle, I wonder how healthy our food really is for us. I personally like to eat meats for most meals, but this article will definitely make me think twice when looking at my food. Petroleum is very crucial to our earths success. I thought it was funny when he turned the corn diet into one that was actually directed at the oil industry. Overall, I think that this article was very interesting, and people probably deserve to know what they are actually eating. I personally will not stop eating meat because of the article, but it might affect some others.
I thought Michael Pollan's chapter from "The Omnivore's Dilemma" was very eye-opening and interesting. There was much I did not previously know about the beef industry until reading this. Mainly, I wasn't aware that the main food that cattle consume in feedlots is a corn-based feed. This surprised me, seeing as how the essay pointed out that grass fed animals are more healthy and are better for humans to eat. Feeding corn to the cattle causes an array of health complications in cows such as bloat or acidosis. These complications do not arise as often as they should because feedlots provide the animals with antibiotics. Perhaps the most threatening fact that I learned from this reading is that giving them antibiotics could eventually lead to new strains of resistant bacteria which could infect us and withstand modern medicine. Also, I knew that mad cow disease began from the industry feeding cow meat back to cows but what I didn't know was that the FDA still makes an exception for blood products and fat. This is shocking that even after the consequences have been witnessed that they would still allow this to go on. Overall, I think Pollan did a great job persuading the audience by using solid facts to back up his argument.
If feedlots were replaced by large, grassy pastures do you think that the meat industry would cost more or less than it currently does? Keep in mind the cost of petroleum for transporting feed to the lots.
I already knew that they process that goes into the farming of cows is terribly inefficient. The fact that cows are not suppose to eat meat and corn wasn't news to me. I did not know about the amount of petrol that went into the production of one cow. Nearly a barrel of oil is a ridiculous amount for an animal that can just survive on just grass, which is basically free. Thats 110 dollars on just the petrol that goes into the cow. I wish Pollen would have brought up a possible solution to getting cows off corn and back onto grass. I understand that naturally raised cow meat is exponentially more expensive but couldn't the government give a taxbreak or subsidize grass raised so that those cows would be able to compete with the corn raised cows. Unfortunately that will never happen and I will continue to eat corn raised beef with unhealthy raised bacon and pesticide infested lettuce, onions and processed cheese. What am I to do, I got to eat meat/protein. Reading this article at lunch time made me hungry. I guess someone would be shocked at the fact that the cows eat, sleep and breath in feces but I have known of this fact for awhile as well and is a fact I just live with. I found it interesting that the corn diet poses so many problems yet it is still economically viable to just treat the problems rather than solve them.
Pollen related the cow industry to the oil industry and the transportation industry. How might we, being the students in college going out into the real world, be able to change this inexplicably linked corn raised process for the more healthy and sustainable grass raised process.
Having three Uncles and a Grandpa that live on a farm, I know a little about cattle. I am buy no means an expert on the topic of cattle feeding, but my Grandfather could definately tell you about cattle. From what he passed down to me I always knew about the mad cow disease. He never would feed is cattle to another cattle because he said it was too risky for disease. I also knew that grass and hay is a great source of nutrient/food for a cattle. Something I have learned from Pollen's essay was that feeding corn to cattle can be very bad. They could develop a bloat and acidosis. This was very interesting to me simply because corn is a vegetable and it is suppose to be good for humans. I do not think anyone should feed cattle this because of the potential harm it has on cattle. I think Pollen brought up a very strong point. "You are what we eat," and "You are what what you eat eats, too," were to quotes that stood out to me. It really makes you think twice about eating a cheeseburger at McDonalds. I think he brought up some great points about trying to protect the animals from disease.
Discussion Question:
Has Pollen's essay changed your views on the farmland? Do you feel that farmers are more important in your life? After all they do control what they feed the animals we consume in our everyday life.
I liked how Pollan brings to light that the farming industry is an unclean and unsanitary enviroment and has been since the mid evil days. I also liked how Pollan touches upon antibiotics and how they are abused by farmers in a manner that is unhealthy and makes our food unhealthy. I already knew that antibotics were being overused by famers for their caddle. I also already knew that farming enviorments are not very clean and unsanitary from seeing a series of PEDA videos. One thing that I learned from the article is that petrolium is made from corn product. Pollan's article suprised me becasue his tone is not in-a-matter of fact style. He just gives information and a bit of insight and that makes the article more enjoyable to read and easy to follow
Last Spring I took an Environmental Ethics course, so we discussed a lot of the topics Pollan addresses in his article. For example, we discussed the excessive use of antibiotics in killing off the bacteria inside farm animals and their feed, as well as the excessive use of corn (instead of grass) as sustenance for the animals. We also discussed how the antibiotics used to sterilize the animals and the bacterias in their food are eventually passed down to us, where they can affect our health (sometimes fatally). We also discussed the absurd amount of petroleum used to supply the food-chain, to the point where nearly a barrel of gas can be used on a single steer before it is slaughtered.
However, I was really surprised to hear that feeding animals grass can kill off E. Coli bacteria in animals by 80%. It's a shame that such a simple solution is negated by the USDA and the FDA.
Discussion question: Many people eat meat feedlot meat without considering the side effects it produces for themselves, farm animals, and the environment. How can we raise awareness about the situation and, furthermore, apply practical solutions to curb the “Omnivore's Dilemma?”
I was surprised that Pollan kept going back to oil. I already knew that a lot of petroleum products are used up in the modern production of corn (to the point that ethanol made from corn wastes more energy than from the actual production of the stuff) but I never thought to pass some of the blame of the absurd things we do to our food on oil industry. It is definitely a popular thing to blame stuff on the oil industry.
ReplyDeleteIf the condition of our food is so bad, why do we continue to eat it and promote such unhealthy practices? There are few that would argue that there might be problems if we must first blast cattle with radiation before slaughtering to make the food safe but we, as a society, aren't disgusted enough to stop. Is it not that bad, do we not know, or are there no other viable options out there?
While I knew the effects of corn use were very prominent and far-reaching, I never vividly considered just how connected everything is to this one crop. I was even aware of the government subsidies on corn that keep it in such wide use, but I was not aware that this could so intimately link with petroleum use or public health.
ReplyDeleteDiscussion Question:
If Pollen is to be believed and corn-fed beef is as totally heinous as he makes it out to be, is it feasible to eliminate it from out diets? Surely we could accomplish this on an individual level, but there's no denying that factory farms such as the one described in Pollen's essay help feed people who could otherwise not afford to eat. Is it even possible to stop this?
I didn't know much about the effects of feeding cows corn, but one thing I did know was about the use of antibiotics. If we continue to use antibiotics it will continue to select for bacteria that is resistant to the antibiotics and it can one day harm humans. I didn't realize that there were so many side effects to feeding cows corn. I realize that it would be the cheapest thing to do, but I didn't know that it could cause so many problems.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think would be the positive or negative effects of feeding cattle only grass? Do you think this would change the price of beef?
I knew a little bit about CAFOs from my Environmental Geography class where we discussed the negative impact of feedlots on our food. We also did talk about the concept of "food miles" which is how much fuel it takes to transport food from producer to consumer.
ReplyDeleteWhat I did not know was that by feeding cows a grass diet a few days before slaughter would significantly reduce the possibility of ecoli infection.
Question: If the USDA and feedlot owners know this, why will they not allow the change in diet a few days before slaughter? Surely it would cost a bit more to do this and perhaps the cows would lose some weight in the process, but wouldn't the safety of the meat be a worth the price (over a lawsuit)? If meat was a little more expensive but the product was safer, do you think the general population would be willing to pay for that higher security? And in turn, would that not supplement the revenue lost in the diet change in the first place?
I'm pretty much aware of the things discussed in the essay. However, I never really thought about the connection between the animals and the oil that is consumed in the feeding and shipping processes.
ReplyDeleteThese types of problems are many in number, with similar action being taken to solve them - little to none. Look at any sort of manufacturing. We know that carbon emissions are bad. We encourage other countries to curb their emissions and take action, but the united states is above that. It would slow economic growth so it is not an option. This practice is profitable and easy. More meat is produced at a cheaper price.
What is sad about this article is that anyone who would read it would obviously be disgusted. But as he says towards the end, once he gets away from all of it, in time he will most likely eat feedlot beef again. Unless people are getting sick or dying every time they eat this crap, nothing will change. People are making money and people are enjoying their cheap hamburgers. Who cares if it is completely destructive to the environment. People care even less about the animals they are consuming. Some of these animals are so freakishly large that the weight of their bodies break their legs.
@Jared. The author did not blame anything on the oil industry. He was talking about some negatives of feedlots.
What would it take for you to change something habitual or familiar in your life? What would it take to get you to stop eatingthis kind of beef? Getting sick once? Twice? People dying?
I had no idea what all went into the process of raising cattle. To be honest, I was stunned and relatively grossed out by the reading, but like the Pollan, I'm sure I will eat meat beef again someday. One of the examples that shocked me the most was the open delivery of antibiotics to the animals. I agreed with the chapter when it said that this was a bad idea because it only promotes the unneccesary stregnthening of bacteria. For years we've developed these antibiotics in the hopes of prevention and now we are ruining that research by creating "superbugs." I was also thrown off when it discussed feeding processed cow parts to the cattle in the feedyards. It did say that this practice is still banned but there are certain exceptions.
ReplyDeleteIt was very interesting to see how Pollan tied in the process of raising cattle with the petroleum business as well. Similar to just about everything in our world, petroleum is the driving factor that makes mass production possible. Overall, this article was very interesting and educated me on a topic that I knew nothing about.
What do you think the impact would be on human health if cattle were fed their natural diet of grass instead of corn- and how would that affect the business of raising cattle?
I didn't really know any information about cattle and what goes into feeding them and medicating them. The fact that they are continuously given antibiotics concerns me though, because I feel like that would weaken their immune system against other diseases and bacteria and in-turn could be dangerous to humans. I did not know that so many negatives could come from feeding the cows corn and also that cow's stomachs were so much different than ours. I think the grossest part of the reading was being informed of cows eating other cows processes parts. Although it is not legal it's still obviously going on.
ReplyDeleteIf corn was taken out of the cows diet would the quality and healthiness of the meat be diminished? If so would this precaution be worth it?
Before reading this essay I knew that farming had become more and more industrialize over the years, still every time I sit down to read about it, it makes me wonder how healthy our food actually is. On the other hand, I did not realize how unhealthy beef actually is. I knew that chicken and other white meats are better for you, but actually hearing what goes into feeding the cows makes beef far less appealing despite how good it tastes. On page 952 Pollen says he was surprised to find out that "cattle were eating cattle,"and that really disturbed me. Having the cows eat other cows to cut costs on production not only grosses me out,but it's immoral.
ReplyDeleteDiscussion Question:
This article makes beef seem quite unappealing in its blunt facts about what actually goes into feeding the cattle. Was this enough to make you re-think eating beef? Why or why not? What part of the article influenced your decisions the most?
Petroleum makes the world go round. This article is direct evidence that this statement is indeed true. It's a known fact that our world is constantly trying to advance and the industrial world continues to grow along with it. I liked how Pollen related the use of petroleum with the diet of cows. I think it says alot about the world we live in and alot of tasks and jobs could not be peformed without the use of petroleum. Jobs could be performed differently and without such a dependence on petroleum but farmers seem to believe that their current system is more financially friendly.
ReplyDeleteI was very surprised to find out that cows were actually fed processed parts of other cows and it was a bit disturbing. Instinctively, this method does not seem like a good idea at all and with the research they have done on this method backs up that assumption. It is said to be illegal but I'm sure alot of farms are still using this method to save an extra buck. Is it really worth that extra dollar when your risking a higher chance for that cow to become infected by E.coli?
Anyone who read this article can see the problems with the breeding of live stock and health concerns that come with it. With that being said, I still plan on eating meat everyday for the rest of my life. This makes me wonder how much it would take for me/or anyone else to stop eating meat all together and take a stand against the harsh breeding of livestock?
I had an idea of what went on when raising cattle from a couple of other documentaries I have watched, however, I was shocked to read about all of the different problems and diseases the cattle will get due to eating corn and their mass diet. Also it is kinda of scary to think about all of the antibiotics and different supplements they are putting into these cows that humans will then eat. I think it is pretty ridiculous that cows get all of these problems from eating corn so then they need to be given antibiotics when all they really need to do it just eat grass and the problems would not even occur. Also feeding them corn makes their flesh marble well giving it texture and taste which is known to be a good thing but it is less healthy for the individuals that eat it.
ReplyDeleteIf feeding cattle corn presents many difficulties for their bodies which inevitably means they would then need antibiotics that effects them and the consumer of their meet and we know that if they just ate grass this would not even be a problem, why are we still sticking to this grain diet?
After reading this article by Michael Pollan, I was able to learn many different things about the meat industry. I was very disturbed that for some meals cattle was receiving parts of other cattle for their meal. I thought it was interesting when one of the men simply said that he wouldn't have a job if this process was any different. After reading about the rate of E Coli in some of the cattle, I wonder how healthy our food really is for us. I personally like to eat meats for most meals, but this article will definitely make me think twice when looking at my food. Petroleum is very crucial to our earths success. I thought it was funny when he turned the corn diet into one that was actually directed at the oil industry. Overall, I think that this article was very interesting, and people probably deserve to know what they are actually eating. I personally will not stop eating meat because of the article, but it might affect some others.
ReplyDeleteI thought Michael Pollan's chapter from "The Omnivore's Dilemma" was very eye-opening and interesting. There was much I did not previously know about the beef industry until reading this. Mainly, I wasn't aware that the main food that cattle consume in feedlots is a corn-based feed. This surprised me, seeing as how the essay pointed out that grass fed animals are more healthy and are better for humans to eat. Feeding corn to the cattle causes an array of health complications in cows such as bloat or acidosis. These complications do not arise as often as they should because feedlots provide the animals with antibiotics. Perhaps the most threatening fact that I learned from this reading is that giving them antibiotics could eventually lead to new strains of resistant bacteria which could infect us and withstand modern medicine.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I knew that mad cow disease began from the industry feeding cow meat back to cows but what I didn't know was that the FDA still makes an exception for blood products and fat. This is shocking that even after the consequences have been witnessed that they would still allow this to go on.
Overall, I think Pollan did a great job persuading the audience by using solid facts to back up his argument.
If feedlots were replaced by large, grassy pastures do you think that the meat industry would cost more or less than it currently does? Keep in mind the cost of petroleum for transporting feed to the lots.
I already knew that they process that goes into the farming of cows is terribly inefficient. The fact that cows are not suppose to eat meat and corn wasn't news to me. I did not know about the amount of petrol that went into the production of one cow. Nearly a barrel of oil is a ridiculous amount for an animal that can just survive on just grass, which is basically free. Thats 110 dollars on just the petrol that goes into the cow. I wish Pollen would have brought up a possible solution to getting cows off corn and back onto grass. I understand that naturally raised cow meat is exponentially more expensive but couldn't the government give a taxbreak or subsidize grass raised so that those cows would be able to compete with the corn raised cows. Unfortunately that will never happen and I will continue to eat corn raised beef with unhealthy raised bacon and pesticide infested lettuce, onions and processed cheese. What am I to do, I got to eat meat/protein. Reading this article at lunch time made me hungry. I guess someone would be shocked at the fact that the cows eat, sleep and breath in feces but I have known of this fact for awhile as well and is a fact I just live with. I found it interesting that the corn diet poses so many problems yet it is still economically viable to just treat the problems rather than solve them.
ReplyDeletePollen related the cow industry to the oil industry and the transportation industry. How might we, being the students in college going out into the real world, be able to change this inexplicably linked
corn raised process for the more healthy and sustainable grass raised process.
Having three Uncles and a Grandpa that live on a farm, I know a little about cattle. I am buy no means an expert on the topic of cattle feeding, but my Grandfather could definately tell you about cattle. From what he passed down to me I always knew about the mad cow disease. He never would feed is cattle to another cattle because he said it was too risky for disease. I also knew that grass and hay is a great source of nutrient/food for a cattle. Something I have learned from Pollen's essay was that feeding corn to cattle can be very bad. They could develop a bloat and acidosis. This was very interesting to me simply because corn is a vegetable and it is suppose to be good for humans. I do not think anyone should feed cattle this because of the potential harm it has on cattle. I think Pollen brought up a very strong point. "You are what we eat," and "You are what what you eat eats, too," were to quotes that stood out to me. It really makes you think twice about eating a cheeseburger at McDonalds. I think he brought up some great points about trying to protect the animals from disease.
ReplyDeleteDiscussion Question:
Has Pollen's essay changed your views on the farmland? Do you feel that farmers are more important in your life? After all they do control what they feed the animals we consume in our everyday life.
I liked how Pollan brings to light that the farming industry is an unclean and unsanitary enviroment and has been since the mid evil days. I also liked how Pollan touches upon antibiotics and how they are abused by farmers in a manner that is unhealthy and makes our food unhealthy. I already knew that antibotics were being overused by famers for their caddle. I also already knew that farming enviorments are not very clean and unsanitary from seeing a series of PEDA videos. One thing that I learned from the article is that petrolium is made from corn product. Pollan's article suprised me becasue his tone is not in-a-matter of fact style. He just gives information and a bit of insight and that makes the article more enjoyable to read and easy to follow
ReplyDeleteLast Spring I took an Environmental Ethics course, so we discussed a lot of the topics Pollan addresses in his article. For example, we discussed the excessive use of antibiotics in killing off the bacteria inside farm animals and their feed, as well as the excessive use of corn (instead of grass) as sustenance for the animals. We also discussed how the antibiotics used to sterilize the animals and the bacterias in their food are eventually passed down to us, where they can affect our health (sometimes fatally). We also discussed the absurd amount of petroleum used to supply the food-chain, to the point where nearly a barrel of gas can be used on a single steer before it is slaughtered.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I was really surprised to hear that feeding animals grass can kill off E. Coli bacteria in animals by 80%. It's a shame that such a simple solution is negated by the USDA and the FDA.
Discussion question: Many people eat meat feedlot meat without considering the side effects it produces for themselves, farm animals, and the environment. How can we raise awareness about the situation and, furthermore, apply practical solutions to curb the “Omnivore's Dilemma?”