Why do we act like zombies when it comes to our food and health?
I would like to link to a great book review over at Macheesmo. Nick has taken the time to review a book called “Eating Animals”. I started to make a comment on his site, and found that it really progressed into something I would like to share with you all:
I will state one thing: I do not believe that just eating less meat will fix the global problem. The broken system comes down to one thing: cost vs bottom line.
The demand might be there for cheaper meat, but I think that the quality control is to blame here. If you have been following the ground beef scandal lately, you will notice that there are a LOT of players in the food politics. Unfortunately, a lot of these players could give a shit less about our health and welfare. They care more about the profits. You cannot blame them, they are just doing their job.
This is why you find “chipped” beef in ground meat. That is – rendered fat, meat and other bits sold in compressed blocks that go into the grinding mix for pre-made hamburger meat. The solution to all the cross contamination is to “zap” the meat with ammonia to kill all the pathogens. (E Coli and Salmonella respectively.) Read that again. The E Coli and Salmonella are present in the beef – but the solution after the fact is to gas it. Seriously.
Worse, this food is going to the lunch programs for kids, and inmates.
Eating less meat is akin to just ignoring the problem. To me, it is sort of like denying that the holocaust happened. Thousands of millions of animals have been slaughtered in inhumane fashion inside “finishing lots”, farmers have been bought out by the gigantic corporations, and we have systematically destroyed our entire traditions of farming. For what?
In most cases, a few cents off the cost of production. Shareholders get rich, we get sick.
Even vegetarians are not off the hook here. While animals might be the most obvious problem to the worldwide raping of the land, plants are right up there too. If you are a vegan and are drinking soy milk or eating tofu, you are indirectly contributing to the problem. What am I talking about?
If a vegan eats tofu, well – the byproducts of that soy go to feed the animals. Tofu is made up of the juices extracted from the beans. Did anyone ever ask what happens to the husk of the soy?
Vegans also have their lot in the destruction of our land’s resources. They are quick to point the finger at the meat eating population, while happily chowing down on a strawberry-soy milk oatmeal concoction in the middle of January.
No, they are not exempt from the shame of this, as their ecological footprint is just as large with the “Air Miles” their food has logged.
We have Roundup ready soy. Corn grown for feed and for syrup production. Almost everything we eat now is sweetened with subsidized corn.
What is the solution then?
I go back to the previously posted 7 laws. Notably, the first law is the most important. “Pay attention.” Know where your food comes from. Eating locally is the answer.
I realize that a lot of people do not have that luxury. As I write this, it is -22°C (-8°F for those of you still using it.) There is a big pile of snow in the front of your driveway, and it is hard to get out there.
Why then, do we buy strawberries and asparagus at this time? Demand. Stop demanding this shit.
The way to fix the conditions at the slaughter house, the conditions at the field, the conditions at the inspection sites – write to your politicians.
Yes, you heard me. Write them, and do something to counter the self-feeding lobby groups. This is the only way.
If we just stop eating meat, the problem will not go away. Indeed, it will still remain. Greed is the problem we need to eradicate here. Here is why:
If some company wants to shave off 2 cents a pound from ground beef to make a quick buck by gassing it with ammonia to counter the cross-contamination – they will do it regardless if YOU stop eating the meat.
They will happily serve that shit to people who don’t have a voice: your children, inmates, elderly folks, hospitalized folks. See, that is where they make their money – though huge contracts with institutions complete with kickbacks. I see you have doubt in your eyes.
I used to work for a corporation where I was told what to order, based on the “Purchasing Power of our Company.” Translation: No, you are not allowed to make mac and cheese, but you have to buy the premade stuff.
Say no to premade burgers and burger chains. Where do you think that demand comes from?
Say no to soy milk that is grown with roundup-ready soy beans. Even if you are a smug vegan, you cannot ignore where the byproducts of your veganism goes – straight to the animals. Maybe you eat a salad at a place like McDicks, where they serve burgers. You are still supporting them.
Our whole food system is interconnected. Whether you are vegan, carnivore, omnivore – you are the ones feeding and partaking in that system.
Some would have us believe that we vote with our dollars. Okay, maybe to a small extent.
Better yet though, actual votes are what counts. If enough people get together and let their politician know that they think it is bullshit that he accepted a deal to look the other way for a company that wanted to circumvent HACCP controls. (You know, for things like E Coli in various beef trimmings in order to save 2 cents off the dollar for ground beef.)
He will respond in kind. See, he wants to protect his ass in that chair. The thing is though, You need to make him feel like his job is on the line, otherwise he will happily listen to the lobby groups that are backing him through various deals. (Sure, that does not happen in politics, right?)
Humans are like that. They don’t give a shit about something until it directly affects them. (Even if it is only emotionally.)
Eat local, I cannot stress this enough. Get to know someone at the farmer’s market. Participate. Stop buying the shit and cook REAL FOOD.
This is the way to solve the food crisis.
I’m out.
Photo courtesy of azrainman under Creative Commons by Attribution 2.0
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you for the post. I did read Nick’s review earlier today.
Good additions Jason. Thanks.
In regard to the by product of Soymilk production — the remains are a food called Okara. Here at Berkshire Grain all our granolas include Non-GMO, Certified Organic Okara. Okara is rich in protein and fiber. You see the ingredients, the healthy by-products are all there to be purchased by food manufacturers and used. As far as feeding it to livestock — there are much worse things they can be fed.
@Kevin,
Thank you for your response to my little essay. I checked out your site, and I agree that your practice of non-GMO organic produce hits the mark. I am not sure if you understand the point to my post though.
)
I have nothing against soy or soy production. I question the use of soy for feed in animals that are not set up to digest it – that is something entirely different altogether. (Perhaps another post on another day.
What I am saying is that whether we are vegetarian, vegan, carnivore, omnivore – we are all connected in the whole chain of food supply. While a vegan might talk about how he or she does not eat meat in order to “solve” the world food crisis and the impact it has on the environment, ironically they are having an impact indirectly. You stated that your byproduct goes to feed livestock. In the end, the cycle continues.
I applaud you – you do not use GMO or pesticides. We cannot say the same about the other companies out there.
The fact is, money talks. Threaten that money, and you can make change. I am not talking about depriving yourself of meat in order to onset global change. The sad fact is that the companies with the most horrific records make their money off government contracts like the lunch program. A consumer has less impact than a billion dollar contract to feed your school kids. If they can save up to 25% in costs on the contract, then you understand why they would risk our lives. After all – it is only what, 36 times in 1000 that found E Coli? (so that is 3.8% of the time) Couple that with the fact they are feeding this to 30.5 MILLION kids, and you have a huge problem on your hands.
This is to save 35% of the cost. It just does not seem right.