The problem with Meat

Ever since I took my Beef 101 class last spring and then subsequently read Michael Pollan's Omivore's Dilemma, I've had mixed feelings about the meat industry and the USDA.  On one hand, I walked away from my experience at the UGA/GA Beef Council Beef 101 class utterly convinced that beef can be harvesting in a safe and efficient manner when there are skilled and caring people in charge.  However, after reading Pollan's book as well as several other respected writers, I am convinced that our CAFO beef/pork/chicken farms are not the way to be doing business. Also, I am completely convinced that the USDA is completely underfunded, understaffed, and presents a great danger in its current capacity.  People are walking around every day believing that the government is doing a good job protecting their food supply.  The reality is quite different.  I strongly recommend reading  this article that traces the path of one eColi contaminated patty and its devistating effects on a young 22 year old woman.  This is not a plea from the BBQgeek to embrace vegetarianism.  They will have to pry my steak from my cold, dead hands before I convert to a non-meat diet.  However, I do want to call to attention this complex interplay of a demand for inexpensive meat, the need to make money, gov't lobbying, and politics that has held our food supply in danger for many years. 

Comments

[Mark]

That's some scary shit.

[NateDogg]

I feel like this is a Jerry Maguire moment. A blog about BBQing and Finch is blasting the suppliers of his content. Good stuff...."It was a mission statement!"

[Sean Wood]

We are not getting the best quality we deserve. I love good, old-fashioned American BBQ and we need to demand higher standards of meat production.

As BBQ purists, we understand that the closer you get to the source, the better the outcome. Hormones and sloppy slaughter houses are not beneficial for our health or wellness.

If you have concerns about government healthcare, take a moment to consider the impact that food regulations have in our national health.