Think your food is safe? Well you're not sick or dead........ yet.

[InnocentBoy]

Since your so concerned go youtube "the world according to monsanto" while we are now paying 10% household income for food vs the 1950's where people were paying 17%. Then again they got the real stuf not this genetically engineered crap we are getting.

 

[Miss*Bijou]

The reality is that a slaughter house or processing plant in Canada can't anticipate when an inspector will be on site, therefore they must be in compliance at all times. In the USA, because the "inspector" is an employee of the slaughterhouse or processing plant, they can be forced to become "blind". We have all seen the video of the forklifts pushing dead cows onto the kill floor - just try that in Canada. We don't even allow the density of population that the USA allows in a chicken house in Canada. I admit that that doesn't make Canadian Chickens "free range", but they are under less stress than they would be down south.

An animal for slaughter must be alive when it enters the "kill floor" if the meat is intended for human or pet consumption. If the animal is a "deader", not alive when it arrives at the slaughter house, it has to be rendered.

Btw the free range/organic chickens do end up at the same slaughterhouses as all other chickens, contrary to what you stated. The majority of organic farmers do not slaughter on-site, which means that the animals are just as stressed as all other chickens during transport and until their slaughter. Considering that transport conditions are at the top of the list of concerns (especially for chickens in terms of welfare but also in terms of overall numbers) for those who investigate and document what they witness.

Throughout Canada each year, more than 650 million farm animals are transported from farms to auction and slaughter. Between two and three million of them, mostly chickens, are found dead on arrival. Many more arrive sick or injured following their long, grueling journeys.

It wasn’t always this way. Farm animals used to be bred, born and slaughtered close to the farms on which they were raised. But in recent years, the food processing industry has become more centralized, fueled by public demand for cheaper food, resulting in longer trips for many animals to slaughter. What’s worse, an industrial approach to agriculture has emerged which treats farm animals as mere cargo, to be trucked across provincial and international borders with little regard for ensuring their well-being en route.

Canada’s current animal transport regulations are decades old and inadequate by modern standards. They allow cattle and sheep to be transported for up to 52 hours continuously with no food, water or rest. Pigs, horses and poultry can be transported for up to 36 hours. And there is no requirement for animal transporters to have any training on handling animals or driving with them on board.

In comparison, in the European Union, most species are not permitted to be transported for longer than 8 hours, unless transporters meet several conditions that preserve animal welfare on longer trips. Regulations that set out maximum loading densities to prevent overcrowding are strictly enforced.

The Canadian government says it has been working on changes to its regulations for years now, but the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food has yet to bring them forward for public comment.

The costs of making improvements to transport conditions for farm animals must be partly shouldered by consumers of the food. If we are to demand more ethically produced food, Canadians must be willing to shift more of their household expenditures towards their grocery bill to help cover the costs of farmers and transporters providing better welfare for their animals.

http://cfhs.ca/farm/transportation/

Due to our extremely inadequate and shocking lax animal transport laws, the long distances the animals need to travel from farm to slaughterhouse and the extreme weather conditions they are subjected to in Canada, I'd say it's quite plausible the chickens are more stressed here than down south. If not more, then the same...certainly not less. And that's true for organic/free range just as for other animals. They all travel the same long distances, in extreme weather to the same destination. They all suffer incredibly.

In 2008, the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies called on Canada’s Auditor General to conduct an independent audit of the government’s capacity to ensure the humane treatment of farm animals during transport and slaughter. We took this action in response to numerous reports of blatant regulatory violations, large numbers of animals arriving dead at slaughter plants following gruelling long-distance journeys, and animals being slaughtered inappropriately with no enforcement action taken by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Two years later, there’s been more video footage showing horrific treatment of horses at slaughter plants, several more meat recalls resulting from inadequate CFIA oversight, and a scathing report documenting abusive treatment of farm animals during transport.

One has to wonder how much worse it has to get before action is taken to mend a system that is very clearly broken. Twenty-two people died from the listeria outbreak in 2008. Tainted meat is still hitting the shelves and animals are still subjected to outrageous abuses during transport and slaughter. Numerous reports have revealed an appalling shortage of CFIA inspectors, making it virtually impossible for adequate oversight to be in place.

It is frustrating enough that Canada is so far behind the rest of the developed world in terms of farm animal welfare regulations. It is even more shameful that the meagre regulations we do have aren’t being consistently enforced.


http://cfhs.ca/features/take_action...task_on_lax_en forcement_of_livestock_rules/

By law, "downers" (not deaders btw) are prohibited from entering the food chain (or to be loaded for transport) but ask yourself: If the investigator is present for less than an hour (or even if he's there for 2 or 3 hours) per day, how much incentive or concern with complying with this regulation (and others) do you think there is? How much incentive do you think plants have to maximize profits? Which do you think is likely to win over the other? Obviously profit - and by a long shot.


I am not aware of how the inspections are done in the U.S. but again, I don't think our current system is anything to boast about. Severely understaffed, investigators have numerous plants to cover and a lot of their time is spent traveling to and from plants, leaving them with little time left to actually spend investigating if they want to also get their paperwork completed. Reporting "too many" infractions isn't well viewed and they are actually pressure not to report


And those that do get reported result in little more than a warning accompanied by a pamphlet meant to educate the transport drivers or the plant employees involved. In essence, in spite of Canadian laws being lax, there are huge occurrences of those laws not being followed and only a small percentage actually result in penalties, which are not more serious than a warning in most cases.

Every year in Canada, 2 to 3 million farm animals arrive at slaughterhouses already dead following grueling journeys lasting up to 2 days on overcrowded trucks with no water, food or rest. Another 11 million arrive so sick or injured they have to be condemned from human consumption.

This summer, a report released by the World Society for the Protection of Animals revealed rampant mistreatment of farm animals during transportation, inadequate inspection and lax enforcement of regulations. Based on government inspection reports from a period spanning two years, the report shows that inspectors were often absent when animals were unloaded. When they were present, their enforcement of regulations was weak and inconsistent. Many loads that were in clear violation of the regulations were met with warnings or educational pamphlets or, in some cases, simply marked compliant.

...

If, however, there are no changes to the regulations or to the CFIA’s inspection and enforcement capacity, the CFHS believes that this increase in the maximum fine will have little noticeable effect on animal welfare. With so few inspectors on the road, at livestock auctions and at slaughterhouses, the likelihood that a given trucker will be fined for any violation remains low.

http://cfhs.ca/features/higher_fine...t_of_limited_use_without_proper_inspec tion/

In any other industry, this would be a clear and undisputed FAIL so why is it not when it concerns our food supply?? Is everyone just in denial and unwilling to realize or admit the food they're eating is as bad as it is? Do yourselves and your family, kids (present or future!) a favor and find out for yourselves what the issues are. Because there are many, they're not going away and definitely not getting any better unless people demand that they do.


For a reality check, the WSPA report on transport of Canadian animals destined for slaughter is quite disturbing but it gives a clear picture of the current failures. Recommended reading! (link to the report below, along with a short clip)


> >Curb the cruelty < <

Sadly, Canada’s anti-cruelty laws do not protect farm animals from suffering caused by factory farming systems provided they are considered standard industry practice. The tragedy is that standard industry practices are responsible for some of the worst animal cruelty imaginable.

As a result, you can do almost anything you want to a farm animal in the name of profit without breaking the law, provided standard industry practice is followed.


For example, it is perfectly legal in Canada to crate a pregnant sow for her entire adult life, and house seven laying hens in a cage the size of a microwave oven; both are considered standard practice.


http://humanefood.ca/faqs.html

Most Canadians think the government ensures the humane treatment of farm animals and are shocked to learn this really isn’t the case. Canada has no regulations stipulating how animals should be treated on farms other than federal and provincial animal cruelty laws, and these are only used to prosecute livestock producers in cases of rare and egregious abuse, such as when animals are neglected to the point of starvation.

When animals leave the farm, the conditions are no better. Current transportation regulations allow animals to be transported for up to 52 hours without food, water or rest, and trucks are poorly equipped for meeting animals’ needs during transport. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has for years been reviewing these regulations, but despite widespread public support for reducing allowable transport times and making other urgently needed changes, it is not clear if or when the CFIA will move to improve the regulations.

Slaughter is another area of concern. Animals are frequently handled roughly and frightened as they are led to slaughter, and many are improperly “stunned” (rendered unconscious) before they are killed, resulting in great pain and suffering.

For both the transportation and slaughter of animals, Canada’s regulations are weak, but just as serious is the lack of enforcement. News reports in recent years have revealed shocking deficiencies in enforcement of animal welfare and even food safety regulations. It is clear that funding to the CFIA must be substantially increased so that more inspectors can be hired and trained to effectively monitor transportation and slaughter operations and enforce these regulations.

Farming, transport and slaughter practices in Canada have remained at the status quo for many years, falling more and more quickly behind countries such as Australia, New Zealand and countries in the European Union, where public demand has required progressive policies and legislation for farm animal welfare.

http://cfhs.ca/farm/farming_in_canada/

All the juicy info

 

[InnocentBoy]

So what exactly are you pushing here Bijou a veggy agenda? Knocked unconcious seems like a good way to go instead of being wake for the pain. How come no one complains about fish being treated this way since the begining of time? Are you proposing maybe to give a cow some fs before you process it? There is no uncruel way about killing something, unless you want sedatives in your food.

 

[Miss*Bijou]

So what exactly are you pushing here Bijou a veggy agenda? Knocked unconcious seems like a good way to go instead of being wake for the pain. How come no one complains about fish being treated this way since the begining of time? Are you proposing maybe to give a cow some fs before you process it? There is no uncruel way about killing something, unless you want sedatives in your food.

Since I've repeated my point a bunch of times, I'm not going to repeat all of it again..you can read my posts and the info (links) I included because obviously you haven't bothered to do any of the above.

Essentially, the point was this:

As to factory meat\egg farming. It is very bad.

I wont apologize for eating meat either.

I was not expecting one.

That's why I have said numerous times that it didn't have anything to do with eating meat or not eating meat but rather where your meat (and all our food) comes from. Whether you eat meat or not, it should be a no-brainer that:

As to factory meat\egg farming. It is very bad.

Innocentboy: I would have expected that as a meat eater, you would feel this concerns you...no? So why the defensive attitude? Unfortunately the consequences of factory farming do and will affect everyone, whether or not they eat meat, so it concerns everyone. But as a meat eater and a consumer of factory farmed products, how you choose to spend your money matters a lot. Unfortunately you don't understand what's at stake, just like most people who don't realize where their food really comes from. I didn't know where it came from but when I got curious and started reading up, it blew my mind. In case you hadn't noticed, I have found it very disturbing.


I honestly don't understand the need for defensive, stubborn attitude and to absolutely refuse to have an open mind about what I am trying to share with you. I am glad I stumbled on it but easily could have not - and I wish someone had sat me down and laid it all out for me and said LOOK, this is important. So I am trying to make you aware of it. I am hoping you take the opportunity to inform yourself because I believe this is .. so I respect anyone's decision not to take action or not to care. I don't understand it but I can respect it.


If that's the case, say so or simply move on, as I'm sure many have. But for the love of god, enough with the whole defensive, confrontational, closed minded and paranoid bullshit. Seriously. Eat whatever you want. I'm trying to give you information you may not have. You want to make it all about some agenda I'm pushing, fine. If that's how you want to justify your choices, fine, suit yourself. You don't want it, don't take it but get off my back and fuck off. Sorry for my impatience here but I've really had it!

Yes, you're right. You're 100% right, I'm trying to brainwash you and hypnotize you and I made it all up. You caught me.

Discussing the state of the world with my dog is more productive, I think I'll go do that because I'm obviously wasting my time here. Grrrr.

 

[Miss*Bijou]

Hi...

hm.. sorry for the little outburst. I was pretty frustrated.

I came across this article today and thought it sort of explains where my frustration is coming from. It's not all of it but a good part of it for sure.

Introducing ... the Vegan/Omnivore Alliance against Animal Factories


Every day, Americans eat more than a half pound of meat per capita -- one of the highest rates on the planet. The vast majority of it is produced with methods that abuse the environment, animals, workers, and public health as a matter of course. The handful of companies that dominate U.S. meat production suck in more than 40 percent of the corn grown by our farmers -- that's more than 15 percent of the corn grown worldwide. Industrial corn, of course, is our most ecologically destructive crop.

In our society, I can think of two broadly defined groups that abhor our animal-agriculture regime: 1) conscientious omnivores, inspired by the work of figures like Wendell Berry, Vandana Shiva, Michael Pollan, and Eric Schlosser, who think that animals have a place in our farming and our diets, but in a much different way than the prevailing manner; and 2) vegans, who wish to remove animals from our farms and tables altogether.

The two groups present radically different visions, but share an enemy: industrial animal agriculture. Yet rather than collaborate, too often they squabble. Meanwhile, industrial meat lurches on, consolidating its grip on our food system and spreading globally. Enough! The lion must stand in solidarity with the lamb, in opposition to, uh, ... the dragon. Thus my new idea: the launching of the Vegan/Omnivore Alliance against Animal Factory Farming (twitter hashtag: #VOAAF).

I see the omnivore/vegan rift in my own work. I spend a lot of time and effort teasing out the meat industry's depredations and documenting the abject failure of government regulators to reckon honestly with the powerful meat industry (see, for example, this old chestnut on how USDA meat inspectors knowingly allow meat tainted with heavy metals into the food supply; or this one on agribusiness giant Cargill's little problem with antibiotic-resistant salmonella and school lunches).

When I write these pieces, I hope to be making common cause with vegans and vegetarians. Yet over the years, I have been stunned again and again to find myself in contentious exchanges with them. Sometimes, it's my own fault: every once in a while, the devil gets into me and I take a capricious poke at the vegans for no good reason. Mea culpa. Never again! Other times, the friction arises seemingly out of thin air. My favorite example is the reaction to a post I wrote a year ago: what I thought was a rather devastating critique of the egregious practice of feeding industrial ethanol waste and "poultry litter" to cows.

"Ho hum," sniffed one commenter. "Another anti-meat rant from Tom Philpott." Okay, fair enough. But just two comments later, another reader declared, in response to a brief aside about the nutritional quality of grass-fed beef and milk, "I can only hope that you stop promoting the consumption of meat, for all our sakes." This, after I had just made clear that industrial meat is really gross stuff. Sigh.

Just last week on Twitter, I found myself in a tense back-and-forth with vegans lamenting my posting of a video showing dairy cows delighting in the first grass of spring. The exchange depressed me. I thought, the type of dairy farming portrayed in the video -- corn-free, ecologically robust, cow-friendly -- represents a tiny fraction of milk production in industrialized countries. Why go after pasture-based dairy farming when gigantic industrial milk processors rule the market?

Tensions between vegans and industrial-meat-critical omnivores are hardly confined to my work. Michael Pollan, I know, has taken plenty of flack from vegans over the years, even though he's the author of that classic indictment of the beef industry, the 2002 New York Times Magazine article "Power Steer" (later incorporated into his blockbuster book The Omnivore's Dilemma).

Then there's the prominent food commentator James McWilliams, a vegan who specializes in criticizing grass-based livestock raising. He recently argued that "free-range meat isn't much better than factory-farmed." But that very same article contains this line: "factory farming ... produces 99 percent of the meat we eat."

If McWilliams is correct, then vegans and omnivores agree on 99 percent of the meat issue. So let's put aside the other 1 percent -- for now -- roll our sleeves up, and clasp hands. There's no fee to join the Vegan/Omnivore Alliance against Animal Factories, no number to call, no petition to sign, no special handshake. Declare you're a member, and you are one. (I am a writer, not an organizer; the VOAAF will never formally incorporate -- under my watch anyway).

So, no more potshots between camps, no lashing out about pastured poultry or dancing dairy cows; and no more mocking the culinary virtues of tofurky and the like. To the ramparts ... together! You in?


http://www.grist.org/article/2011-0...lliance-against-animal-factories/N50/#c831353

 

[Miss*Bijou]

And then there are what we add to food to make it look pretty. Did you know that oranges are not picked orange? They are dyed orange because green oranges ship better. Orange oranges would be soft and disgusting when they got to the store. Did you know that apples are dyed and waxed?

I didn't know apples were dyed but was aware they are waxed. Growing up, we went apple picking pretty much every year so those were the apples we mostly ate. And my neighbors had an apple tree we got to enjoy. I cannot remember the kind or what they are called but they are suuuuuper sour. Yum. My favorites, I love sour!


I found out that oranges are not orange when I travelled to Tobago (Trinidad & Tobago - awesome time ) and one night we were given some oranges and told they were just picked. My friend and I just looked at each other a little confused and not sure if they were pulling our leg... because they were all green. Turns out they were indeed oranges, fresh oranges and definitely not orange. lol They all looked at us funny, I bet they were wondering what the hell we eat and why color would be so important that we would have to dye a fruit to eat it. It kind of is crazy when you think about it!

 

[uncleg]

 

[Miss*Bijou]

The Vancouver Sun has a letter today that points out that the "superbugs" that are antibiotic resistant are the direct result of Factory Farming where antibiotics are used to make food production more profitable.

http://www.vancouversun.com/opinion...+factory+farms+should+stop/4660108/story.html

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/can.../2011/04/food-safety-the-forgotten-issue.html

 

[dudeharsh123]

Meat is delicious. I had a 20 oz Porterhouse the other day.... fucking phenomenal.

 

[FloridaGuy]

Meat is delicious. I had a 20 oz Porterhouse the other day.... fucking phenomenal.

You should have had veal instead. Its better to eat baby animals.

 

[Miss*Bijou]

Meat is delicious. I had a 20 oz Porterhouse the other day.... fucking phenomenal.

You should have had veal instead. Its better to eat baby animals.

Sorry little boys, you'll have to entertain yourselves....

Just try not to hurt anyone.

 

[dudeharsh123]

What's your problem Bijou? All i said was i enjoy eating meat??? Just becasue I am not a vegitarian does not make me a bad person. I was not trying to "engage in a battle of wits" as your picture shows. My comment was not ment as an insult. Despite every every negative of eating meat outlined in your post, i still choose to eat and enjoy it. It seems you are a bit touchy on the subject. Relax, and lighten up. I don't look down on vegitarians and you shouldnt look down on me just becasue i have a different view than you.

MMMM... Delicious!

 

[the old maxx50]

Ms bijou sorry that you believe oranges are not orange .. there are green oranges when they are not rip ,.. But general rip oranges are orange when rip on the tree .

Because it may take a week or two to get to the stores hey often pick oranges green for shipping , i have sen them in the stores but they ripen and turn orange with out them dying them

 

[FloridaGuy]

Ms bijou sorry that you believe oranges are not orange .. there are green oranges when they are not rip ,.. But general rip oranges are orange when rip on the tree .

Because it may take a week or two to get to the stores hey often pick oranges green for shipping , i have sen them in the stores but they ripen and turn orange with out them dying them

What are you talking about? I spent every summer during my college years as an orange-dyer. Worked my ass off, got stung by hundreds of bees, and made sure each and every "green" on my tree looked like an "orange" before the Mexicans came and picked them.

 

[the old maxx50]

so that is what the american do

I have seen them in Brazil on the tree in people back yards and they were orange
i dought if they had them gassed