For years pork and beef producers have been lacing their animal feed with antibiotics. The antibiotics improve weight gain which translates into increased profits. For years warnings have been issued that the antibiotics in the feed would have negative consequences. Agribusiness scoffed and also resisted any effort to label meat that came from animals fed antibiotics.
Buried at the bottom of page 23 of the Morning Call today was an article entitled ”Report: Bacteria prevalent in pork.” The article stated that the magazine Consumer Reports tested 148 samples of pork chops and 50 samples of ground pork from a variety of stores in six American cities.
The bacterium Yersinia enterocolitica was found in 69% of the samples. I never heard of it, but it is said to make 100,000 Americans, many of them children, sick each year. And 69% of the bacteria samples discovered were resistant to at least one of the commonly prescribed antibiotics.
My best advice, since we aren’t going to overcome the pork and beef lobbyists, is to buy your pork and beef from local butchers. Ask them if their products come from animals fed with antibiotics. If they don’t know, don’t buy the meat.
I have doubts that literally all butchers wouldn't know if the meat that they sell is from antibiotic laced animals or not.
ReplyDeleteWe need stringent truth in labeling in this country. Country of origin is not enough information. The consumer has the right to know what they are eating. Whether it is meat, fish or produce. Big money would fight it though. Money talks!
This article that I came across is worthwhile reading. It is a long read but it is a must read. It will make you think about that next cut of meat you want to eat is really worth it. I don't want to ruin your appetite but Happy dining!
ReplyDeletehttp://truth-out.org/news/item/13058-why-are-cows-tails-dropping-off