I find the recalled items from China disturbing but the news out of California about the Westland Meat Company makes my blood boil. The pit in my stomach after watching one of the workers ram a downed cow with a fork lift makes me beyond furious. Not only am I furious at the actual perpetrators, but also at the USDA inspectors. Where were they? The USDA website states there is a continuous presence at meat packing plants but how could that be if it took a non-profit organization to bust the story wide open. Last year, there was a recall of 21.7 million pounds of ground beef from the Topps Meat Co. because of E.coli contamination. That recall was also the result of an undercover investigation by the Humane Society of the United States. Maybe the USDA should contract the Humane Society to do the work they’re obviously NOT doing.
The amount of recalled meat is staggering and suggests a much more aggressive inspection stance must be taken by the USDA. Where’s the sense of urgency?
Thank goodness for the Humane Society of the United States who have people willing to go undercover and expose these kinds of actions. I’m always surprised how the undercover people can film that and not let their emotions take over. I KNOW I wouldn’t be able to continue filming without abusing the abusers. It is because of the Humane Society’s expose which showed the downed cows made it into the feed supply that made the USDA close down the Company. The USDA inspectors are reacting to the Humane Society investigation and are not being proactive as primary investigators.
It’s time for me to root through the freezer, throw out FM’s beef products and then write a donation check to the Humane Society. Dang, I think I need a glass of wine 😉
Displaced Beachbums 
Went to the organic food fair in Nuremberg a couple of weeks ago – 2740 vendors from all over the world were displaying their products, including meat. They all follow strict rules about how the animals are raised, fed and eventually killed. So even though I am a vegetarian, I don’t really have a problem with people consuming that type of meat. Granted it is a little more expensive, but my biggest pet peeve about meat eaters is that many don’t seem to care about where their meat comes from. A very common reaction to pictures like the ones we just saw on TV is: Oh I had to turn the TV off or change the channel… I wish this type of stuff would make people re-consider their consuming behaviors… I guess now a few weeks after the CNN report, that group of people is back to happily consuming their ground beef purchased at $ 1.50/pound…
Alex
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I had to change the channel when we saw that report on the news. It certainly made my stomach turn too.
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It’s getting harder and harder to eat anything these days. Perhaps we should all have liquid diets? 🙂
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Yeah, I have been substituting ground turkey for lean ground beef lately…of course, not too long ago I watched a news program profiling the parents of a two-year-old who was infected with e-coli through Dole bagged spinach. Are we ever safe? Sheesh.
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What I liked most about this article is the (inadvertent?) juxtaposition of FG in her apron and toque serving up healthy and beautiful vegetarian fare alongside of it. The stories about sick animals slaughtered and going into school lunches should give everyone pause. And I thought all our concerns were addressed when Teddy Roosevelt gagged on Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle” and started protective legislation. The FDA obviously isn’t enough.
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I was so pissed when I saw this, too. Makes a person think more seriously about becoming a vegetarian..
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I think you may need more then a glass of wine to calm your nerves. I guess it will be chicken and pork for FM from now on. I know I will be staying away from meat also.
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