Bad News on Beef

chicken & seafood is also meat - watch this video (its NOT another meat horror show) it shows the process of stuff that is made and its effects - the facts are staggering -- well worth the watch.
www.thestoryofstuff.com
we've trashed the planet more in the past 50 years than at anytime in known history!

The public relations group for the Beef Association said the American people would forget this incident very quickly. So for those of us not "holy" enough to be vegetarians, let's eat chicken and seafood for the next year and see what reforms are made in the beef industry when they feel the pain.

Tears came to my eyes when I saw those pictures. I know the death of the animals is part of the cycle of life but this type of treatment to any animal is unacceptable. Totally and completly unacceptable. Whether it is the laying hen confined to a wire cage so tightly she can barely move, or the sow who is confined to a gestation crate, unable to move at all during her pregancy, or the young calf that is confined to a crate, unable to move, least he 'ruin' the veal, or the duck that is force fed to create a sick liver we relish. All of this is unacceptable. And then the animinal is slaughtered with absloutely no concern for the animal. We, as the consuming public are separated from these activities so we do not think about it, until we see pictures like these. I ask myself what can I do? For one thing I buy only eggs from cage free hens. I have not eaten pork since I learned of the terrible treatment of the hogs. But I kept eating beef because it was easy and I needed to eat something. I hid from the truth. But once again what can I do?. I can write my congressmen and women, I can contact the USDA, I can demand to know where any beef I purchase comes from.... I can get a list of USSPCA or PETA approved slaughter houses and only purchase items form those sites.. If enough of us do that, we can certainly change things for the better. Will it cost me more.... I expect it will.... Am I willing to pay more. You bet I am. And until it does change..... will I eat an animal. NO. I fefuse to be part of the problem.

I'm so glad that this horrendous process is being exposed. We are a sick nation if we put up with such inhumane treatment of animals. If I understand your article, as many as twenty cows per hour are allowed to be skinned alive? And that's okay? Somebody is sick besides the cows. I and my family have been vegetarians for years because we can't abide the inhumane treatment of these poor animals. We are healthy, slim, energetic,and we're in our sixties. If people would just look at the readily available meat and poultry alternatives, they would see what great food is available. I use normal recipes (that are made with meat) but I substitute Quorn brand products (look them up on the internet) that are absolutely great and are available in stores like Earthfare, Whole Foods and other specialty grocery stores. It's a wonderful, cruelty-free way of life.

It is about time! I became a vegetarian 18 years ago when I discovered how our meat is produced. PETA has been reporting on this issue for decades! Most livestock are horribly mistreated with ramifications that go beyond animal cruelty. This type of abuse has been ongoing for years!

The vision of chickens, pigs, and cows frolicking on the farm until it is time to slaughter them is nothing but an illusion of the past that today's farmers would love for us all to believe. Meat, eggs, and poultry have sadly not been produced that way since the 1940s and '50s. Why don't most people know about this? The beef industry is scary strong! Look at they way they reacted when Oprah commented on how beef was produced.

Mordern farms are more like this than not. Filled with antibiotics to allow them to live in "closer quarters" so they can produce more per acre of land. Most chickens rarely touch foot to ground needless to say see the sunlight.

If you all think this is bad... discover how they are producing veal and how they slaughter kosher cows. It is truly horrific.

I am glad that the public is finally getting an opportunity to see how their meat is produced.

Can you make a difference? Yes! Think about where your money goes and the industries you are supporting. Live a healthier life and don't be controlled by your tastebuds! If you HAVE to have meat, buy cruelty free or range free products.

Rancher Jim, with all due respect, if you think most meat is produced in a cruel free manner in this country you need to get your head out of the sand! I find it difficult to believe that you don't realize that most beef is not produced by the small country farmer, but by huge corporate farms. It is possible that you don't produce beef this way and if that is the case then you are truly the minority in your industry --- cheers to you! Unfortunately, this is not the general case and most farmers are worse than what is depicted in those films!

It is about time! I've seen footage like this put out by PETA for years now. I became a vegetarian 18 years ago when I became aware of these types of situations in MANY slaughterhouses across the county. The vision of cows, chickens, pigs, and other livestock frolicking on farms is nothing but a myth. That may be how most farms operated in the '30s and 40's, but more farms are like this one. In terms of cows... how veal is produced and kosher cows are slaughtered is much more horrific than this.

I can only hope this opens the eyes to the public -- FINALLY and possibly insights some to become less ignorant about where their food comes from.

Can you do something? Yes! Stop funding these awful companies!

Rancher Jim... you are a rarity in your industry... get your head out of the sand though... cattle in the US are not treated humanely as a whole --- neither are pigs, chickens or sheep.

I am a descendant of a rancher, but it still sickens me to see mass slaughters of animals. We are much too greedy for our own good. We simply do not need to produce as quickly and a much as we do. Think about what trauma these animals are facing, and then we ingest this stressed out food supply. The bottom line: as long as profit drives everything, there is no humanity, no decency and no standards. Everything becomes an individual choice. I choose to not eat beef or other meat . I still eat fish. Its a personal choice. I think Americans have always been shielded from the realities of our conspicuous consumption. Exposing it may change a few, but it is highly unlikely.

I am a fifth generation rancher. I am Celtic, which means we have been " Cattlemen" for thousands of years.
The stories and songs about cowboys losing their lives to save cattle or a horse are not just myth, it is a source of pride. I have seen many people go out in snow or lightning storms to save an animal.

I am just as angered and shocked as you are. These people are neither "cow" people or animal people. If I ever saw such behavior, I would stop it and that person would never work in my state again

In all fairness, to blame such behavior on an industry, is like saying it is the auto makers fault when a drunk
driver caused mayhem.

Discussions I've heard around here center on whether our meat supply is safe, but it seems that the mere fact that there ARE "downer" cows is a bigger issue. Do we want to support a system in which animals are cared for so poorly that they reach the slaughterhouse sick or infirm? The videos are disgusting. I can't believe we put up with this industrial food production system.

I haven't eaten meat in over 20 years. I am so relieved to not be involved with this horrific situation.

the ONLY reason that the government stepped in an recalled the ground beef from this plant is because of the very real threat of a ban against US beef by other countries. That is the one and only reason. Keep this in mind next time you eat any meat processed in this country.

EVERY SLAUGHTER HOUSE IN THE COUNTRY SHOULD HAVE AN OPEN DOOR POLICY. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE WHERE AND HOW OUR FOOD IS BEING PROCESSED. IF THEY HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE, THEY SHOULD NOT CARE WHO SEES! I WILL NOT EAT HAMBURGER EVER AGAIN. STEAK RIGHT NOW IS NOT THAT APPEALING. THE WORKERS ABUSING THESE ANIMALS SHOULD BE SENT TO PRISON. IF THEY HAVE SUCH LITTLE REGARD FOR LIFE, WHATS TO SAY THE DO NOT MISTREAT HUMANS?

I'm so glad I don't eat meat. The cruelty is sickening.

I think all of the slaughter houses should be like the one in MN. If people could see where their food comes from more vegetables would be eaten. - puppy2grand@yahoo.com

ABOUT TEN YEARS AGO, I WENT TO THE MAYOR OF CHINO, FRED AGUIRE, AND TOLD HIM OF MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE HALLMARK MEAT COMPANY. I WITNESSED THESE TYPES OF HORRIFIC ACTS OCCUR. THIS WAS BEFORE THEY PUT UP BRICK WALLS TO PREVENT THE PUBLIC FROM BEING ABLE TO VIEW WHAT WAS REALLY OCCURING THERE. I WAS TOLD BY THE MAYOR THAT THERE WERE NO LAWS IN PLACE THAT WOULD PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING, IT WAS A PROCESS HE SAID. SO BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY THAT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR MORE THAN A DECADE AND THIS SICKENS ME TO NO END. I'M GLAD IT HAS MADE NATIONAL ATTENTION-IT IS PROBABLY HAPPENING EVERYWHERE, BUT EVERYONE TURNS THEIR HEAD THE OTER WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!