Did the ground beef recall impact you or your kids?
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Avoid that risk in the future!
In February, 2008, the USDA ordered the recall of 143 million pounds of ground beef that came from a California packing house, after a video was made public of cattle being abused abominably! The video was taken undercover, and showed plant workers moving downer cattle (non-ambulatory cattle that are too old, sick, or weak to walk on their own) with a fork lift, wrapping chains around their legs to try to pull them, shocking them repeatedly with an electric prod, and forcing water down their throats. It's despicable and enough to make anyone sick to their stomachs!
But you don't have to eat food that is produced from these kinds of practices. By making conscious food choices you can greatly lower your risk of eating contaminated, dangerous food, or food from animals that were treated inhumanely.
But you don't have to eat food that is produced from these kinds of practices. By making conscious food choices you can greatly lower your risk of eating contaminated, dangerous food, or food from animals that were treated inhumanely.
Did your kids eat any of the school lunch meat that was recalled?
I sincerely hope not!
The USDA states that most of the meat involved in the recall has been eaten, and mostly in school lunch programs. The agency is now attempting to determine if any more of the meat is headed for other school lunches. Schools are scrambling to determine if the recalled beef was served in their lunch programs.
Would you prefer to eat beef raised like this?
Or like this?
No reported illnesses...yet
But what about next time?
Thankfully there are no reported illnesses from the recalled beef, but we're living in a fool's paradise if we think we can breathe a sigh of relief because no one was made ill. It is against USDA rules to send downer cattle to slaughter, without inspection by a veterinarian, because downer cattle pose the greatest risk of carrying Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), or Mad Cow Disease. The danger still exists, as it takes a while for the presence of BSE to show up in a human after infected meat has been consumed.
The cattle became non ambulatory after they were inspected
Which violates all health rules and regulations
Ed Shafer, Agriculture Secretary said that the USDA has evidence that the packing facility did not routinely contact its veterinarian when the cattle became non ambulatory, after passing inspection, in direct violation of USDA health rules and regulations.
This couldn't happen with our cattle, as they are inspected the very day they are processed, usually minutes before processing occurs. That is why it is best to buy from a small producer that has their meat processed by a small, custom meat cutting establishment.
This couldn't happen with our cattle, as they are inspected the very day they are processed, usually minutes before processing occurs. That is why it is best to buy from a small producer that has their meat processed by a small, custom meat cutting establishment.
Why would these packing companies conduct these kinds of practices?
In a word: Money
Like all large scale mega industries, giant, industrial beef feedlots and packing houses make their money on volume with a very small profit margin. When you sell billions of pounds of something, you can afford to only make a few dollars or even a few cents per pound.
Because of that, volume is everything, and they want to get what they can out of every last animal, and it costs money to have to dispose of an animal like a downer cow, so obviously they will do everything in their power to get that animal to slaughter, regardless of its condition, regardless of any humane considerations for the animal
Because of that, volume is everything, and they want to get what they can out of every last animal, and it costs money to have to dispose of an animal like a downer cow, so obviously they will do everything in their power to get that animal to slaughter, regardless of its condition, regardless of any humane considerations for the animal
Will we ever learn our lessons?
We haven't yet
In the past few years we have seen salad become dangerous from E. coli bacteria and salmonella, as well as beef and chicken being recalled because of contamination from dangerous pathogens.
Of course peanut butter, pork, and green onions have also made people very sick as well in the last few years. And let's not forget the Chinese Melanine that made its way in to our food supply, (fish and pork) while it was killing large numbers of our pets.
Of course peanut butter, pork, and green onions have also made people very sick as well in the last few years. And let's not forget the Chinese Melanine that made its way in to our food supply, (fish and pork) while it was killing large numbers of our pets.
Wake up America - Industrial food is killing you
American's demand for cheap food is at the heart of our escalating health crisis!
Americans thoughtlessly demand cheap food
These practices won't change until Americans wake up!
As long as Americans keep demanding cheap food, without any regard to quality, the industrial, agribusiness practices that result in these kinds of atrocities will continue.
Our large scale factory farming of livestock, grain, and vegetables yields crap! It's that simple. If we're lucky it's only lacking in quality, nutrients, and taste, if we're unlucky - as has happened quite often with all forms of agricultural products - we risk getting very sick. That is unless you choose your food wisely!
Our large scale factory farming of livestock, grain, and vegetables yields crap! It's that simple. If we're lucky it's only lacking in quality, nutrients, and taste, if we're unlucky - as has happened quite often with all forms of agricultural products - we risk getting very sick. That is unless you choose your food wisely!
You can avoid these risks!
Protect yourself and your family
In commercially produced food you can minimize the risk of illness from pathogens such as E. coli and Salmonella by simply cooking it adequately, but that's not the case with BSE. The prions that cause BSE can withstand extremely high temperatures, so they are not destroyed by cooking.
You can however, eliminate the risk of BSE by buying beef from a trusted producer, that you know has never fed animal products to their cattle, and doesn't sell beef from downer cattle.
Producers of grass fed beef, like us, are very proud of the way we raise and handle our cattle, with consciousness and heart, and we have small enough operations that we know exactly what is going on with every animal we produce and process.
By making small, simple changes, that are easy to make, in the way you shop for food, you can greatly lower your risk of consuming dangerous food, or avoid it altogether! It's a simple matter of knowing where your food comes from and how it was produced
You can however, eliminate the risk of BSE by buying beef from a trusted producer, that you know has never fed animal products to their cattle, and doesn't sell beef from downer cattle.
Producers of grass fed beef, like us, are very proud of the way we raise and handle our cattle, with consciousness and heart, and we have small enough operations that we know exactly what is going on with every animal we produce and process.
By making small, simple changes, that are easy to make, in the way you shop for food, you can greatly lower your risk of consuming dangerous food, or avoid it altogether! It's a simple matter of knowing where your food comes from and how it was produced
While you are at it get optimum health benefits too
By eating grass fed beef you avoid the risks and improve your health!
More and more studies have demonstrated that grass fed beef, as opposed to grain fed, feed lot beef, contain much higher levels of essential fatty acids like Omega 3's and CLA that scientists have discovered are so important to our health and proper physiological functioning.
Progressive doctors are recommending grass fed animal products to their patients with heart disease, cancer, diabetes, overweight and other maladies because they can contribute to vast improvements in health and vitality.
Progressive doctors are recommending grass fed animal products to their patients with heart disease, cancer, diabetes, overweight and other maladies because they can contribute to vast improvements in health and vitality.
Buy grass fed beef from a producer you can trust
Check out our web site
We raise our cattle humanely, with the love, gratitude, and respect they deserve. With proper grazing management our cattle are healthy, with robust vitality.
- Grass Fed and Healthy
- On our Grass Fed and Healthy web site you can buy our grass fed beef, but you can also find all sorts of resources to help you eat well, feel good, and enjoy life through your relationship with food.
Get wholesome dining tips, shopping tips, resources to find producers in your area, meal planners, and much more.
Do you still eat commercial beef?
Even worse, were you or your kids impacted by the recall?
I'm curious how the ground beef recall has affected your food choices, and especially if you think you or your kids were afftected by the recall. Thanks for letting me know.
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tandemonimom Dec 30, 2008 @ 1:05 pm | delete
- Another great 5***** grass-fed lens! Please add this lens (and ALL your grass-fed lenses!) to the new Real Food, Real Living group on Squidoo!
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Resources to learn more about grass fed beef
Knowledge is power!
I've listed some books I highly recommend to learn more about the health benefits of eating grass fed beef and how you can reduce the risk of food borne illnesses
Our cattle have never been fed animal products of any kind
We would not have a downer cow on the place
Because of the way we operate and raise our cattle, when you buy beef from us you run no risk of acquiring BSE. We do not feed our cattle anything but our own grass or grass hay, and certainly no animal products.
Not only that, we would never let any of our cattle get old enough or sick enough to be a downer animal. If for some reason an animal is no longer ambulatory (which almost never happens, and if it does it's usually from an injury) we humanely euthanize it and bury it so it feeds no one!
Not only that, we would never let any of our cattle get old enough or sick enough to be a downer animal. If for some reason an animal is no longer ambulatory (which almost never happens, and if it does it's usually from an injury) we humanely euthanize it and bury it so it feeds no one!
We guarantee that our Diamond F Brand Beef steers have never been sick
If a steer gets sick it is withdrawn for our Diamond F program
The steers we select for our Diamond F Brand Beef program are the cream of the crop of our entire cattle herd. Through proper grazing management and nutrition, we keep our cattle very healthy. Cattle that are maintained in good condition, cared for, and given proper nutrition are not usually susceptible to disease.
That's not to say that some cattle don't get sick from time to time. When you raise livestock it is inevitable to have a few animals get sick now and then. In the event of illness we try alternative treatments like homeopathy, and diatomaceous earth.
While we reserve the ability to treat them in whatever manner is required, we guarantee that our Diamond F Steers have never been sick or treated with antibiotics.
We select the cream of the crop from our calves for our Diamond F Brand Beef. However, if any of those steers do get sick and require treatment, they are withdrawn from the Diamond F program and sold on the commercial market (to those demanding cheap food), so you can be assured that Diamond F Brand Beef steers have never been sick, and therefore have never been treated with antibiotics.
That's not to say that some cattle don't get sick from time to time. When you raise livestock it is inevitable to have a few animals get sick now and then. In the event of illness we try alternative treatments like homeopathy, and diatomaceous earth.
While we reserve the ability to treat them in whatever manner is required, we guarantee that our Diamond F Steers have never been sick or treated with antibiotics.
We select the cream of the crop from our calves for our Diamond F Brand Beef. However, if any of those steers do get sick and require treatment, they are withdrawn from the Diamond F program and sold on the commercial market (to those demanding cheap food), so you can be assured that Diamond F Brand Beef steers have never been sick, and therefore have never been treated with antibiotics.
There are hundreds of grass fed beef producers on the web
But we hope you will choose us
There are many wonderful and conscientious grass fed beef producers who make their products available on the web, and if you know someone in your region who produces grass fed beef, we encourage you to buy from them.
However, if, like most people, you need to buy your beef on-line, we hope you will choose our beef, as it is set apart from most other producers in a number of ways:
However, if, like most people, you need to buy your beef on-line, we hope you will choose our beef, as it is set apart from most other producers in a number of ways:
We ultrasound test our animals for tenderness and marbling
Assuring you of the optimum dining experience
Some people think that grass fed beef has to be tough and dry, which can be the case, but with our Diamond F Brand Beef, we ultrasound test our cattle to determine the tenderness and marbling of their meat, before they are ever processed. That way, we know in advance what the meat of a steer will be like before it is ever taken to the processor, making our beef wonderfully juicy and delicious.
Our ranch has won numerous conservation awards
Because we care
When you eat Diamond F Brand Beef you not only help improve your health, you are supporting open space, wildlife habitat, clean water, and clean air.
With proper grazing management, we continue to produce more grass on the same acreage, thereby taking more Carbon Dioxide out of the atmosphere and placing into the soil, as well as providing more feed and habitat for resident wildlife.
Because of these practices we have won a number of national and statewide conservation awards including:
With proper grazing management, we continue to produce more grass on the same acreage, thereby taking more Carbon Dioxide out of the atmosphere and placing into the soil, as well as providing more feed and habitat for resident wildlife.
Because of these practices we have won a number of national and statewide conservation awards including:
Our Conservation Awards
- 2005 Leopold Award - $10,000 award from Sand County Foundation
- 2001 National Wetlands Award - from Environmental Law Institute
- 2001 Steward of the Land - $10,000 award from American Farmland Trust
- 1999 Outstanding Conservationist - from Colorado Association of Soil Conservation Districts
Healthy for you - Healthy for the environment
When you eat grass fed beef you help improve your own health and the health of the planet
Shopping on line is easy
See our website for shopping tips to make healthy eating easy
When you buy beef from the grocery store, or even the health food store, you have no idea where it comes from or how it was raised. In fact, most beef sold in the health food store labeled grass fed and organic was raised in the standard industrial feed lot setting, it's just that they were fed organic alfalfa instead of grain. Most organic an natural beef that is not labeled grass fed was finished on grain.
When you visit our web site you can learn all about our operation, as well as find wholesome dining guides, shopping tips, and meal planners, and when you buy from us your beef is delivered right to your door. How easy is that?
When you visit our web site you can learn all about our operation, as well as find wholesome dining guides, shopping tips, and meal planners, and when you buy from us your beef is delivered right to your door. How easy is that?
Learn more about the health benefits of grass fed beef
Here are resources to help you learn more about the health benefits and what you need to know when you buy grass fed beef
- Eat Wild.com
- Check out this web site to find scientific literature and resources about the health benefits of eating grass fed
- Grass Fed and Healthy
- On our Grass Fed and Healthy web site you can find numerous resources, including scientific research and links, as well as real life stories about how switching from eating grain fed to eating grass fed helped my husband and me lose over 100 pounds between us.
Do you really want to risk your health and the health of your family?
No matter what kind of food you eat and purchase, do your best to know its origin and how it was produced. Buy animal products from producers you can trust, and buy produce from as close to home as possible. That way you can feel good about your food choices and start down the path of robust vitality!
I want to know what you think
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I have posted the awful video: I suggest you don't watch it
It makes me sick and it makes me cry
For someone who loves animals, and we love our cattle, I almost can't watch this video, and when I do it makes me cry all over again. I didn't even want to post it to this lens, but it is out there and it is the basis of my article, however I will never watch it again! My heart aches for those poor old dairy cows.
You may wonder: If we love our cattle how can we send them to slaughter?
Life ends for everything eventually: How it happens is what matters
Our cattle live out very happy lives on our ranch, they are treated humanely, with love and gratitude. The day they are to be processed they are gathered from the pasture, loaded onto a trailer, (they have been trailered before so they are used to it), driven to the processor 35 miles from the ranch, and then it is over within a few seconds, causing no pain or suffering.
by Cathy_at_McNeil_Ranch
My name is Cathy McNeil, and my mission is to help people regain enjoyment and health through their relationship with food. I'm fortunate enough to... more »
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