" In 2006, consumers could not purchase spinach for several weeks
because of E. coli contamination that was eventually traced to the
Paicines Ranch, a cattle facility in San Benito County, California,
that leased land to spinach grower Mission Organics."
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This image of the message "It's the Meat, Stupid!" spelled out in
glorious "Tomato red", in fact spelled with actual tomatos:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/dagdasamildanc/SHP2rHndOMI/AAAAAAAAENk/vWhmL6kHahI/s40=
0/IMGP3057.jpg
Who then sent this letter to the Secretary of Health and Human
Services
Dear Secretary Leavitt:
During the current salmonella outbreak, the Food and Drug
Administration, and the Department of Health and Human Services in
which it resides, have focused Americans=92 attention on tomatoes as a
likely source of the infectious bacteria. However, contaminated
produce is only the last link in a chain that begins with the meat
industry. It is essential for consumers to know that burgeoning meat
consumption has caused a massive overproduction of chickens, cows,
pigs, and other animals, leading to unprecedented production of feces
that end up in rivers, streams, and irrigation water, and contaminate
otherwise healthful produce.
Salmonella are intestinal organisms. Needless to say, tomatoes do
not have an intestinal tract. When feces end up in irrigation water,
salmonella can contaminate the surfaces of plants and can apparently
pass into their rootlets, ending up inside produce. Infectious
bacteria from animal feces also contaminate agricultural fields,
workers=92 hands, retail shelves, and kitchen surfaces.
This year suspicion falls on tomatoes. Next year, it could be
cantaloupe or lettuce. In 2006, consumers could not purchase spinach
for several weeks because of E. coli contamination that was eventually
traced to the Paicines Ranch, a cattle facility in San Benito County,
California, that leased land to spinach grower Mission Organics.
U.S. per capita meat consumption increased from approximately 150
pounds per person in the mid-1960s to over 200 pounds today. The
biggest increase has been in chicken consumption, which was 15.3
pounds per person in 1909 and exploded to 86.2 pounds by 2005. All
together, Americans now eat more than nine billion chickens per year=97
more than one million per hour. Every one is a living, breathing,
defecating animal that potentially contributes to the epidemics of
food-borne illness.
Salmonella are only one of the many infectious bacteria that
animals carry. In chicken flocks, salmonella prevalence is highly
variable. In some recent samples, it has been as high 100 percent. At
the slaughterhouse, contamination spreads from one carcass to another.
Even with relatively insensitive sampling techniques, live Salmonella
enteritidis were found in 9 percent of broiler chickens in 2000, in 17
percent in 2003, and in 25 percent in 2005,[1] showing that the
problem is worsening along with America=92s appetite for chicken.
At retail stores, the pro****tion of chicken products harboring
live salmonella varies, but has been shown to be approximately one-
third. =93On the retail end, up to 35% of meat samples tested positive
for Salmonella,=94 was the conclusion of a recent re****t to which Food
and Drug Administration personnel contributed.[2]
We recognize that eliminating these disease-causing bacteria from
animals on farms is not a realistic goal. However, to blame tomatoes
for salmonella is like blaming a convenience store for lung cancer.
While convenience stores may sell cigarettes, lung cancer is
ultimately caused by the tobacco industry. And salmonella is a product
of the meat industry.
Consumers can fight lung cancer by refusing to sup****t the tobacco
industry. And they can fight fecal contamination of otherwise
healthful produce by refusing to sup****t the industries that cause it.
This same step would also reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer,
obesity, and other chronic diseases. We ask that these facts be
communicated in consumer advisories.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Neal D. Barnard, MD
Literature cited:
1. Altekruse SF, Bauer N, Chanlongbutra A, et al. Salmonela
enteritidis in broiler chickens, United States, 2000-2005. Emerging
Infectious Diseases 2006;12:1848-52.
2. Foley SL, Lynne AM, Nayak R. Salmonella challenges: prevalence
in swine and poultry and potential pathogenicity of such isolates.
Journal of Animal Science 2008;86:E149-E162.
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More: http://www.pcrm.org
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STILL FEELING LIKE THE MAINSTREAM U.S. COR****ATE MEDIA
IS GIVING A FULL HONEST PICTURE OF WHAT'S GOING ON?
=3D =3D =3D =3D
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Sorry, we cannot read/reply to most usenet posts but welcome email
FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://EconomicDemocracy.org/wtc/
(peace)
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(Climate)
And http://EconomicDemocracy.org/
(general)
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