HAVEN´T YOU NOTICED LATELY THAT PEOPLE´S LOOKS ARE NOT AS GOOD AS THEY USED TO, EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE SPEND AN AWFUL LOT OF MONEY ON FOOD?, HOW OFTEN DO WE FIND OURSELVES SAYING TO SOMEONE “THIS STRAWBERRY DOESN´T TASTE LIKE STRAWBERRIES DO” OR “THIS TOMATO DOESN´T TASTE LIKE TOMATOES SHOULD”? CERTAINLY MORE OFTEN THAN WE WOULD LIKE TO. FOOD, IN GENERAL, DOES NOT TASTE LIKE IT USED TO, NOR IT MAKES US THAT GOOD AS IT USED TO. ACTUALLY, VERY OFTEN, IF WE LOOK OURSELVES IN THE MIRROR SOME HOURS AFTER EATING WHATEVER FOOD WE CHOOSE, WE WILL SEE WE ACTUALLY LOOK WORSE THAN BEFORE EATING IT. WHAT IS WRONG WITH FOOD TODAY? FOR SURE, OUR FOOD SAFETY SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE UPGRADED.
WE ALL REMEMBER THE NEWS BROADCASTED IN 2012, I BELIEVE, ABOUT A GROUP OF U.S. PEOPLE WHO DIED AFTER EATING A MEAL IN THE SAME RESTAURANT. UNDOUBTEDLY, ALL OF THEM CONSUMED CONTAMINATED FOOD. SAY THEY ALL ATE MELON AND ICEBERG LETTUCE, SAY THESE CANTALOUPES AND THE LETTUCE WERE CONTAMINATED FROM FILTHY WATER FROM FARM INDUSTRIES NEARBY, SAY THE WATER ON THE INDUSTRY FLOORS WAS DIRTY, SAY THEIR INDUSTRY EQUIPMENT WAS NOT CLEANED AFTER WORK FOR HYGIENE REASONS. SAY ALL THESE FACTS ARE ONLY A FEW OF THE REASONS WHY MULTINATIONAL MANAGERS AND WORLD LEADERS ARE TO BE BLAMED FOR ALL THE MANY OF PEOPLE´S HEALTH PROBLEMS. UNFORTUNATELY THESE FOODBORNE OUTBREAKS HAPPEN NOT ONLY IN THE U.S. BUT ALL OVER THE WORLD. THIS IS A SURE SIGN OF BAD FOOD SAFETY PRACTICES EVERYWHERE.
“CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL (CDC) ESTIMATE THAT EACH YEAR ROUGHLY 1 IN 6 AMERICANS ( OR 48 MILLION PEOPLE) GET SICK, 128,000 ARE HOSPITALIZED, AND 3,000 DIE OF FOODBORNE DISEASES. THE 2001 ESTIMATES PROVIDE THE MOST ACCURATE PICTURE YET OF WHICH FOOODBORNE BACTERIA, VIRUSES, MICROBES ARE CAUSING THE MOST ILLNESSES IN THE U.S., AS WELL AS ESTIMATING THE NUMBER OF FOODBORNE ILLNESSES WITHOUT A KNOWN CAUSE” (ABOUT FOODBORNE ILLNESS/ FOOD SAFETY/ CDC).
“THE 2013 FOODNET TREND DATA SHOWED THAT FOODBORNE INFECTIONS CONTINUE TO BE AN IMPORTANT PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM IN THE U.S. AND HIGHLIGHT THE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH PREVENTIVE MEASURES. DURING THE SUMMERS OF 2012 AND 2013 INFECTIONS WITH A PARTICULAR STRAIN OF V. PARAHAEMOLYTICUS SEROTYPE 04:K12 WERE ASSOCIATED WITH CONSUMING SHELLFISH FROM SEVERAL ATLANTIC COAST HARVEST AREAS”.
“ABOUT LISTERIA ITSELF IS COMMON IN THE ENVIRONMENT, IT RARELY CAUSES INFECTIONS IN PEOPLE (CALLED LISTERIOSIS). ABOUT 1,600 PEOPLE IN THE U.S. GET SICK FROM LISTERIA EACH YEAR. WHILE THE INFECTION IS RARE, IN 2011, A NEW SOURCE-CANTALOUPES CONTAMINATED WITH LISTERIA – CAUSED ONE OF THE DEADLIEST FOODBORNE OUTBREAKS IN THE U.S.”.
“SALMONELLA INFECTION ACCOUNTS FOR $365 MILLION IN DIRECT MEDICAL COSTS EACH YEAR. RAW MEAT MAY CONTAIN BACTERIA, SUCH AS E. COLI, SALMONELLA AND LISTERIA, OR PARASITES”.
“EXAMPLES OF CONTAMINATION IN PROCESSING:
1. IF CONTAMINATED WATER OR ICE IS USED TO WASH, PACK OR CHILL FRUITS OR VEGETABLES, THE CONTAMINATION CAN SPREAD TO THOSE ITEMS.
2. PEANUT BUTTER CAN BECOME CONTAMINATED IF ROASTED PEANUTS ARE STORED IN UNCLEAN CONDITIONS OR COME IN CONTACT WITH CONTAMINATED RAW PEANUTS.
3. DURING THE SLAUGHTER PROCESS, PATHOGENS ON AN ANIMAL´S HIDE THAT COME FROM THE INTESTINES CAN GET INTO THE FINAL MEAT PRODUCT”.
“EXAMPLES OF CONTAMINATION IN DISTRIBUTION:
1. IF REFRIGERATED FOOD IS LEFT ON A LOADING DOCK FOR A LONG TIME IN WARM WEATHER, IT COULD REACH TEMPERATURES THAT ALLOW BACTERIA TO GROW.
2. FRESH PRODUCE CAN BE CONTAMINATED IF IT IS LOADED INTO A TRUCK THAT WAS NOT CLEANED AFTER TRANSPORTING ANIMALS OR ANIMAL PRODUCTS.
3. THE CONTENTS OF A GLASS JAR THAT BREAKS IN TRANSPORT CAN CONTAMINATE NEARBY FOODS”.
“SOMETIMES, BY THE TIME A FOOD CAUSES ILLNESS, IT HAS BEEN MISHANDLED IN SEVERAL WAYS ALONG THE FOOD PRODUCTION CHAIN. ONCE CONTAMINATION OCCURS, FURTHER MISHANDLING OF FOOD, SUCH AS UNDERCOOKING THE FOOD OR LEAVING IT OUT ON THE COUNTER AT UNSAFE TEMPERATURES, CAN MAKE AN OUTBREAK EASILY” (ABOUT FOOODBORNE ILLNESS/FOOD SAFETY/CDC).
“SOME PATHOGENS ARE FREQUENTLY TRANSMITTED BY FOOD CONTAMINATED BY INFECTED PERSONS. THE FAILURE OF FOOD-HANDLERS TO WASH HANDS IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS (SUCH AS AFTER USING THE TOILET, HANDLING RAW MEAT, CLEANING SPILLS, OR CARRYING GARBAGE), WEAR CLEAN GLOVES, OR USE CLEAN UTENSILS IS IRRESPONSIBLE FOR THE FOODBORNE TRANSMISSION OF THESE PATHOGENS. NON-FOODBORNE ROUTES OF TRANSMISSION, SUCH AS FROM ONE PERSON TO ANOTHER, ARE ALSO MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS IN THE SPREAD OF THESE PATHOGENS” (CDC FOOD SAFETY OFFICE).
“THE MOST COMMON CLINICAL PRESENTATION OF FOODBORNE DISEASE TAKES THE FORM OF GASTROINTESTINAL SYMPTOMS; HOWEVER, SUCH DISEASES CAN ALSO HAVE NEUROLOGICAL, GYNAECOLOGICAL, IMMUNOLOGICAL AND OTHER SYMPTOMS. MULTI-ORGAN FAILURE AND EVEN CANCER MAY RESULT FROM THE INGESTION OF CONTAMINATED FOODSTUFFS, THUS REPRESENTING A CONSIDERABLE BURDEN OF DISABILITY AS WELL AS MORTALITY” (WHO-FOODBORNE DISEASES).
“A HIGH PROPORTION OF FOODBORNE DISEASE IS CAUSED BY FOODS IMPROPERLY PREPARED OR HANDLED IN FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENTS. PROPER FOOD HANDLING IS OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE FOR PEOPLE IN HIGH-RISK GROUPS (E.G. CHILDREN, OLDER PEOPLE, PREGNANT AND IMMUNOCOMPROMISED INDIVIDUALS) AND THEIR CARE-GIVERS” (WHO/ABOUT THE WHO DEPARTMENT FOOD SAFETY AND ZOONOSES).
“THE MOST ASSOCIATED FOODS WITH FOODBORNE ILLNESS ARE RAW FOODS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN, SHELLFISH, BULK, RAW MILK, POOLED RAW EGGS, GROUND BEEF OR NUTS. BESIDES ALL THESE, FRUITS AND VEGETABLES CONSUMED RAW ARE ALSO A PARTICULAR CONCERN. WASHING CAN DECREASE BUT NOT ELIMINATE CONTAMINATION, SO THE OUTBREAKS HAVE BEEN TRACED TO FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES THAT WERE PROCESSED UNDER LESS THAN SANITARY CONDITIONS. THESE OUTBREAKS SHOW THAT THE QUALITY OF THE WATER USED FOR WASHING AND CHILLING THE PRODUCE AFTER IT IS HARVESTED IS CRITICAL. USING WATER THAT IS NOT CLEAN CAN CONTAMINATE MANY BOXES OF PRODUCE. FRESH MANURE USED TO FERTILIZE VEGETABLES CAN ALSO CONTAMINATE THEM. ALFALFA SPROUTS AND OTHER RAW SPROUTS POSE A PARTICULAR CHALLENGE, AS THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THEY ARE SPROUTED ARE IDEAL FOR GROWING MICROBES AS WELL AS SPROUTS, AND BECAUSE THEY ARE EATEN WITHOUT FURTHER COOOKING. THAT MEANS THAT A FEW BACTERIA PRESENT ON THE SEEDS CAN GROW TO HIGH NUMBERS OF PATHOGENS ON THE SPROUTS. UNPASTEURIZED FRUIT JUICE CAN ALSO BE CONTAMINATED IF THERE ARE PATHOGENS IN OR ON THE FRUIT THAT IS USED TO MAKE IT”.
“SIMILARLY, FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES CAN BE CONTAMINATED IF THEY ARE WASHED OR IRRIGATED WITH WATER THAT IS CONTAMINATED WITH ANIMAL MANURE OR HUMAN SEWAGE” (CDC.CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION).
“ABOUT 20 MILLION PEOPLE GET SICK FROM NOROVIRUS EACH YEAR, MOST FROM CLOSE CONTACT WITH INFECTED PEOPLE OR BY EATING CONTAMINATED FOOD. NOROVIRUS IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DISEASE OUTBREAKS FROM CONTAMINATED FOOD IN THE U.S.. INFECTED FOOD WORKERS CAUSE ABOUT 70% OF REPORTED NOROVIRUS OUTBREAKS FROM CONTAMINATED FOOD. NOROVIRUS OFTEN GETS ATTENTION FOR OUTBREAKS ON CRUISE SHIPS, BUT THOSE ACCOUNT FOR ONLY ABOUT 1% OF ALL REPORTED NOROVIRUS OUTBREAKS. NOROVIRUS IS VERY CONTAGIOUS, AND OUTBREAKS CAN OCCUR ANYWHERE PEOPLE GATHER OR FOOD IS SERVED. PEOPLE WITH NOROVIRUS USUALLY VOMIT OR HAVE DIARRHEA. SOME MAY NEED TO BE HOSPITALIZED AND CAN EVEN DIE. INFECTED PEOPLE CAN SPREAD NOROVIRUS TO OTHERS THROUGH CLOSE CONTACT OR BY CONTAMINATING FOOD AND SURFACES. THE FOOD SERVICE INDUSTRY CAN HELP PREVENT NOROVIRUS OUTBREAKS BY:
1. MAKING SURE THAT FOOD SERVICE WORKERS PRACTICE PROPER HAND WASHING, AND AVOID TOUCHING READY-TO–EAT FOODS, SUCH AS RAW FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, WITH THEIR BARE HANDS BEFORE SERVING THEM.
2. CERTIFYING KITCHEN MANAGERS AND TRAINING FOOD SERVICE WORKERS IN FOOD SAFETY PRACTICES.
3. REQUIRING SICK FOOD WORKERS TO STAY HOME, AND CONSIDERING USE OF PAID SICK LEAVE AND ON-CALL STAFFING, TO SUPPORT COMPLIANCE” (CDC. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION).
“FOOD RADIATION IS A PROMISING NEW FOOD SAFETY TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN ELIMINATE DISEASE, – CAUSING GERMS FROM FOODS. LIKE PASTEURIZATION OF MILK, AND PRESSURE COOKING OF CANNED FOODS, TREATING FOOD WITH IONIZING RADIATION CAN KILL BACTERIA AND PARASITES THAT WOULD OTHERWISE CAUSE FOODBORNE DISEASE. SIMILAR TECHNOLOGY IS USED TO STERILIZE MEDICAL DEVICES SO THEY CAN BE USED IN SURGERY OR IMPLANTED WITHOUT THE RISK OF INFECTION. THE EFFECTS OF IRRADIATION ON THE FOOD, ON ANIMALS AND PEOPLE EATING IRRADIATED FOOD HAVE BEEN STUDIED EXTENSIVELY. THESE STUDIES SHOW CLEARLY THAT WHEN IRRADIATION IS USED AS APPROVED ON FOODS:
-DISEASE-CAUSING GERMS ARE REDUCED OR ELIMINATED.
-THE FOOD DOES NOT BECOME RADIOACTIVE.
-DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES DO NOT APPEAR IN THE FOODS.
–NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF THE FOOD IS ESSENTIALLY UNCHANGED.
IRRADIATION IS A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN PREVENT MANY FOODBORNE DISEASES (ABOUT FOODBORNE ILLNESS/FOOD SAFETY/CDC).
“TREATING RAW MEAT AND POULTRY WITH IRRADIATION AT THE SLAUGHTER PLANT COULD ELIMINATE BACTERIA COMMONLY FOUND IN RAW MEAT AND RAW POULTRY, SUCH AS E. COLI 0157:H7, SALMONELLA, AND CAMPYLOBACTER. THESE ORGANISMS CURRENTLY CAUSE MILLIONS OF INFECTIONS AND THOUSANDS OF HOSPITALIZATIONS IN THE U.S. EVERY YEAR. RAW MEAT IRRADIATION COULD ALSO ELIMINATE TOXOPLASMA ORGANISMS, WHICH CAN BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SEVERE EYE AND CONGENITAL INFECTIONS. IRRADIATING PREPARED READY-TO-EAT MEATS LIKE HOT DOGS AND DELI MEATS, COULD ELIMINATE THE RISK OF LISTERIA FROM SUCH FOODS. IRRADIATION COULD ALSO ELIMINATE BACTERIA LIKE SHIGELLA AND SALMONELLA FROM FRESH PRODUCE. THE POTENTIAL BENEFIT IS ALSO GREAT FOR THOSE DRY FOODS THAT MIGHT BE STORED FOR LONG TIMES AND TRANSPORTED OVER GREAT DISTANCES, SUCH AS SPICES AND GRAINS. ANIMAL FEEDS ARE OFTEN CONTAMINATED WITH BACTERIA LIKE SALMONELLA. IRRADIATION OF ANIMAL FEEDS COULD PREVENT THE SPREAD OF SALMONELLA AND OTHER PATHOGENS TO LIVESTOCK THROUGH FEEDS” .
“DIFFERENT IRRADIATION TECHNOLOGIES EXIST, THAT USE DIFFERENT KINDS OF RAYS. A VERY GOOD ONE IS ELECTRON BEAMS. ELECTRON BEAMS ARE STREAMS OF HIGH ENERGY ELECTRONS, PROPELLED OUT OF AN ELECTRON GUN. THIS ELECTRON GUN APPARATUS IS A LARGER VERSION OF THE DEVICE IN THE BACK OF A TV TUBE THAT PROPELS ELECTRONS INTO THE TV SCREEN AT THE FRONT OF THE TUBE, MAKING IT LIGHT UP. THIS ELECTRON BEAM GENERATOR CAN BE SIMPLY SWITCHED ON OR OFF. NO RADIACTIVITY IS INVOLVED. SOME SHIELDING IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT WORKERS FROM THE ELECTRON BEAM. THE ELECTRONS CAN PENETRATE FOOD ONLY TO A DEPTH OF THREE CENTIMETERS, OR A LITTLE OVER AN INCH, SO THE FOOD TO BE TREATED MUST BE NO THICKER THAN THAT TO BE TREATED ALL THE WAY THROUGH. TWO OPPOSING BEAMS CAN TREAT FOOD THAT IS TWICE AS THICK. E-BEAM MEDICAL STERILIZERS HAVE BEEN IN USE FOR AT LEAST FIFTEEN YEARS”.
“CURRENTLY, PASTEURIZATION IS APPLIED TO FOODS (LIKE MILK) THAT ALREADY MEET A DEFINED CLEANLINESS STANDARD, AND IS APPLIED AT A DOSE THAT GIVES A STANDARD DEFINED EFFECT. AS THE IRRADIATION OF FOOD BECOMES COMMERCIALIZED FOR VARIOUS FOODS, SIMILAR STANDARDIZATION WILL BE REQUIRED”.
“MANY COUNTRIES HAVE BEGUN TO IRRADIATE FOOD, INCLUDING FRANCE, THE NETHERLANDS, PORTUGAL, ISRAEL, THAILAND, RUSSIA, CHINA AND SOUTH AFRICA” (ABOUT FOODBORNE ILLNESS/FOOD SAFETY/CDC).
“THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION OF THE 1800S HAD A DRAMATIC EFFECT ON THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL LIFE AROUND THE GLOBE. THE ECONOMIES OF INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS SHIFTED FROM RURAL TO URBAN, FROM AGRICULTURAL TO MANUFACTURING. THANKS TO MANUFACTURING, ENERGY PRODUCTION, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY FACTORIES TURNED LARGE QUANTITIES OF NEW PRODUCTS AT LOW PRICES. ALMOST OVERNIGHT CITIES SWELLED TO SUPPORT NEW INDUSTRIES. SOON PEOPLE WERE FLOCKING TO THE CITIES LOOKING FOR WORK AND A BETTER LIFE. FACTORY LIFE DID NOT LIVE UP TO ITS PROMISE. THE WORKERS HAD FEW RIGHTS, WAGES WERE LOW, HOURS WERE LONG AND WORKING CONDITIONS WERE UNSAFE. THESE HARSH CONDITIONS WERE COMMON. A GIANT WAVE, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC, CHANGED THE COURSE OF THE LATE 19TH CENTURY. BEFORE WRITING THE JUNGLE, NOVEL WRITTEN IN 1906, UPTON SINCLAIR (1878-1968), AMERICAN JOURNALIST, SPENT 7 WEEKS AROUND CHICAGO MEAT PACKING PLANTS. HE STUDIED DETAILS ABOUT THE WORK ITSELF, THE HOME LIVES OF WORKERS AND THE STRUCTURE OF THE BUSINESS. HE SAW DEAD ANIMALS, FILTH ALL OVER THE PLACE AND PRODUCTS GOING INTO THE SAUSAGE THAT SHOULDN´T HAVE BEEN THERE. HE ALSO SAW WORKERS GOT CHEWED UP THE SAME WAY THE FOOD DID. WORKERS IN THE PIGGERY HAD THEIR FINGERS EATEN BY ACID” (UPTON SINCLAIR´S THE JUNGLE SCHOOL TUBE).
“UPTON SINCLAIR EXPOSED THESE UNSANITARY CONDITIONS IN THE MEAT PACKING INDUSTRY AND THIS LED TO AMERICA´S FIRST FEDERAL MEAT INSPECTION LAW. MR. SINCLAIR WROTE 47 BOOKS ATTACKING POWERFUL INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS” (HOW UPTON SINCLAIR AND EPIC SWEPT THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY 1934).
“THE WAY WE EAT HAS CHANGED IN THE LAST 50 YEARS MORE THAN IN THE LAST 10,000 YEARS. THE INDUSTRY DOESN´T WANT US TO KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT WHAT WE ARE EATING BECAUSE IF WE KNEW WE MIGHT NOT WANT TO EAT IT. THE MEAT IS BEING PROCESSED BY HUGE MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS THAT HAVE LITTLE TO DO WITH FARMERS AND RANCHERS. NOW OUR FOOD IS COMING FROM ENORMOUS ASSEMBLY LINES WHERE THE ANIMALS AND WORKERS ARE BEING ABUSED AND FOOD HAS BECOME FAR MORE DANGEROUS IN WAYS HIDDEN FROM US”.
“IN THE 1970S THE TOP FIVE BEEF PACKERS CONTROLLED ONLY ABOUT 25% OF THE MARKET. YOU SEE NOW THE SAME THING IS HAPPENING IN PORK. EVEN IF WE DON´T EAT AT A FAST FOOD RESTAURANT WE ARE EATING FOOD THAT IS BEING PRODUCED BY THIS SYSTEM. IF WE LOOK AT THE LABELS, YOU SEE FARMER THIS OR THAT, AND IT´S ONLY 3 OR 4 COMPANIES CONTROLLING THE MEAT. WE NEVER HAD FOOD COMPANIES THIS BIG AND THIS POWERFUL. TYSON IS THE BIGGEST MEAT PACKING COMPANY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD. THE INDUSTRY CHANGED THE ENTIRE WAY THE CHICKENS ARE RAISED. BIRDS ARE NOW RAISED AND SLAUGHTERED IN HALF THE TIME THAT WERE 50 YEARS AGO. BUT NOW PEOPLE LIKE TO EAT WHITE MEAT SO THEY REDESIGNED THE CHICKEN TO HAVE LARGE BREASTS. THEY NOT ONLY CHANGED THE CHICKEN, THEY ALSO CHANGED THE FARMER. TODAY CHICKEN FARMERS NO LONGER CONTROL THEIR BIRDS. TODAY COMPANIES LIKE TYSON OWN THE BIRDS FROM THE DAY THEY ARE DROPPED OFF TO THE DAY THEY ARE SLAUGHTERED”.
“TYSON DECLINED TO BE INTERVIEWED FOR THIS FILM”.
“AFTER ASKING DOZENS OF FARMERS ONLY ONE, CAROLE MORISON (PERDUE GROWER) ALLOWED FILMING IN THE CHICKEN HOUSES. CAROLE MORISON SAID THIS: “ I UNDERSTAND WHY FARMERS DON´T WANNA TALK BECAUSE THE COMPANY CAN DO WHAT IT WANTS TO DO AS FAR AS PAY GOES ´CAUSE THEY CONTROL EVERYTHING. BUT IT HAS GOT TO THE POINT IT´S NOT RIGHT WHAT IS GOING ON AND I´VE JUST MADE UP MY MIND. SOMETHING HAS TO BE SAID. IT IS NASTY HERE, THERE IS DUST FLYING EVERYWHERE, THERE IS PISSING EVERYWHERE. THIS ISN´T FARMING, THIS IS JUST MASS PRODUCTION LIKE AN ASSEMBLY LINE IN A FACTORY. WHEN THEY ARE BORN FROM A CHICKEN THEN IN 7 WEEKS YOU´VE GOT A 5.5 POUND CHICKEN AND THEIR BONES AND THEIR INTERNAL ORGANS CAN´T KEEP UP WITH THEIR RAPID GROWTH. A LOT OF THESE CHICKENS HERE CAN TAKE A FEW STEPS AND THEN FLOP DOWN BECAUSE THEY CANNOT KEEP UP WITH ALL THEIR WEIGHT THEY ARE CARRYING. THERE IS ANTIBIOTICS THAT IS PUT IN THEIR FEED AND THAT PASSES THROUGH THE CHICKEN. THE BACTERIA BUILDS UP A RESISTANCE. I HAVE BECOME ALLERGIC TO ANTIBIOTICS AND CAN´T TAKE THEM. WHEN IT IS DARK AND CHICKENS ARE LAYING DOWN THEY ARE CAUGHT BY AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN AND LATINO UNDOCUMENTED. THEY DON´T HAVE ANY RIGHTS AND THEY AREN´T GONNA COMPLAIN. IT DOESN´T MATTER IF THE CHICKEN GETS SICK. THEY ALL WILL GO TO THE PLANT FOR PROCESSING. COMPANIES LIKE IT LIKE THIS. THE COMPANIES KEEP THE FARMERS UNDER THEIR THUMB BECAUSE OF THE DEBT THEY HAVE. TO BUILD ONE POULTRY HOUSE IS ANYWHERE NOW $280,000 TO $300,000. ONCE YOU MAKE YOUR INITIAL INVESTMENT IN A POULTRY HOUSE COMPANIES COME BACK WITH DEMANDS OF UPGRADING FOR NEW EQUIPMENT. THEY DON´T HAVE ANY OTHER CHOICE OR YOU ARE THREATENED WITH LOSS OF CONTRACT. THAT IS HOW THEIR DEBT KEEPS BUILDING AND THAT´S HOW THEY KEEP THEM UNDER CONTROL, SPENDING MONEY GOING TO THE BANK. THEY HAVE NO SAYING IN THE BUSINESS. IT IS DEGRADING, IT´S LIKE NO HAVING A SAYING IN THE COMPANY” “.
“PERDUE DECLINED TO BE INTERVIEWED FOR THIS FILM. CAROLE´S CONTRACT WAS TERMINATED WHEN SHE REFUSED TO UPGRADE TO THE DARK, TUNNEL-VENTILATED HOUSES”.
“A TYPICAL GROWER WITH 2 CHICKEN HOUSES BORROWS OVER $500,000, AND EARNS ABOUT $18,000 A YEAR “.
“IN THE U.S. TODAY 30% OF OUR LAND IS PLANTED WITH CORN AND IS DRIVEN BY GOVERNMENT POLICY ALLOWING TO PRODUCE CORN BELOW THE COST OF PRODUCTION. WE ARE BEING PAID TO OVERPRODUCE AND IT IS CAUSED BY THESE LARGE MULTINATIONAL INTERESTS. THE REASON TO PROMOTE CORN IS THE TYSONS, THE CARDILLS, THE A.D.M.S AND THE SMITHFIELD. THEY HAVE AN INTEREST IN PURCHASING CORN BELOW THE COST OF PRODUCTION. THEY USE THAT INTEREST AND EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY HAVE TO GIVE US THE FARM BILLS WE NOW HAVE. THE FARM BILL WHICH SHOULD BE CALLED THE FOOD BILL CODIFIES THE RULES OF THE ENTIRE FOOD ECONOMY”.
“COWS STAND ANKLE DEEP IN THEIR MANURE ALL DAY LONG SO IF ONE COW HAS IT THE OTHERS WILL GET IT. WHEN THEY GET TO THE SLAUGHTER HOUSE THEIR HIDES ARE KEPT WITH MANURE. IF 400 ANIMALS ARE SLAUGHTERED AN HOUR, HOW DO YOU KEEP THAT MANURE FROM GETTING INTO THE MEAT? NOW THAT THING THAT WASN´T IN THE WORLD IS IN THE FOOD SYSTEM”.
“E.COLI, WHICH IS A VERY COMMON BACTERIA, EVOLVED AND A CERTAIN MUTATION, 1057:H7, APPEARED ON THE WORLD STAGE. FOR YEARS E.COLI IS NOT ONLY FOUND IN GROUND MEAT BUT ALSO IN SPINACH AND IN APPLE JUICE, AND IT´S BECAUSE OF THE RUNOFFS FROM OUR FACTORY FARMS “.
“DURING THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION THE CHIEF OF STAFF, THE HEAD OF THE FBA WAS THE FORMER EXECUTIVE AT THE USDA, VICEPRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL FOOD PROCESSORS ASSOCIATION. THESE REGULATORY AGENCIES ARE BEING CONTROLLED BY THE SAME MEAT COMPANIES THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SCRUTINIZING. THE INDUSTRY WANTS IT THAT WAY. IN 1972 THE FDA CONDUCTED APPROXIMATELY 50,000 FOOD SAFETY INSPECTIONS. IN 2006 THE FDA CONDUCTED ONLY 9,164 FOOD SAFETY INSPECTIONS”.
“AS MORE AND MORE TECHNOLOGY IS APPLIED TO THE PRODUCTION OF FOOD YOU WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE SAFER BUT NOT MORE CONTAMINATED. PROCESSING PLANTS ARE BIGGER AND BIGGER AND THIS IS PERFECT FOR TAKING BAD PATHOGENS AND SPREADING THEM FAR AND WIDE”.
“IN THE 1970S THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF SLAUGHTER HOUSES THAT PROCESSED THE MAJORITY OF BEEF THAT WAS SOLD IN THE U.S.. THE HAMBURGER OF TODAY HAS PIECES OF THOUSANDS OF DIFFERENT CATTLE GROUND UP IN A HAMBURGER PATTY. THE ODDS INCREASED EXPONENTIALLY IF ONE OF THOSE ANIMALS WAS CARRYING A DANGEROUS PATHOGEN. IT´S REMARKABLE HOW TOOTHLESS OUR REGULATORY AGENCIES ARE WHEN YOU LOOK CLOSELY AT THEM AND THAT´S HOW THE INDUSTRY WANTS IT”.
“IN 2001 KEVIN, A LITTLE BOY, ENDED UP EATING 3 HAMBURGERS BEFORE HE DIED. HE HAD DIARRHEA, HEMORRHAGIC E.COLI AND HIS KIDNEY STARTED TO FAIL. HE RECEIVED DIALYSIS TREATMENT AND WASN´T ALLOWED TO DRINK WATER. HE BEGGED FOR WATER ALL THE TIME. IT WAS ALL HE WOULD TALK ABOUT. IN 12 DAYS HE WENT FROM BEING A HEALTHY CHILD TO DIE FROM EATING CONTAMINATED FOOD. IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE THIS COULD HAPPEN FROM EATING HAMBURGERS. WE PUT FAITH IN OUR GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT US AND WE ARE NOT BEING PROTECTED AT THE MOST BASIC LEVEL. TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY ON AUGUST 1ST KEVIN WAS IN HOSPITAL AND IT WAS NOT UNTIL 16 DAYS AFTER HE DIED THAT WAS WHEN THEY RECALLED THE MEAT”.
“IN 1998, THE USDA IMPLEMENTED MICROBIAL TESTING FOR SALMONELLA AND E.COLI 0157:H7. THE IDEA WAS THAT IF A PLANT REPEATEDLY FAILED THOSE TESTS THE USDA WOULD SHUT DOWN THOSE PLANTS DOWN BECAUSE THEY HAD AND ONGOING CONTAMINATION PROBLEM. THE MEAT AND POULTRY ASSOCIATIONS TOOK THE USDA TO COURT. THE COURTS SAID THE USDA DIDN´T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SHUT DOWN THE PLANTS. THEY SAID THAT YOU COULD HAVE POULTRY OR MEAT WITH SALMONELLA AND THAT THE USDA COULDN´T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. KEVIN´S LAW GAVE BACK THE USDA THE POWER TO SHUT DOWN PLANTS THAT REPEATEDLY PRODUCED CONTAMINATED MEAT. LATELY THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE FOODBORNE OUTBREAKS HAVING RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT LOSES” (FOOD INC. /WATCH DOCUMENTARY FREE ONLINE. FILMED BY ROBERT KENNER https://vimeo.com/29575879 ).
THIS WORLD SURELY NEEDS RIGHTEOUS HUMAN BEINGS LIKE FOR EXAMPLE JOEL SALATIN, POLYFACE FARMS OWNER IN VIRGINIA. JOEL SALATIN´S WHOLESOME VALUES IS WHAT THIS WORLD IN DISARRAY NEEDS. HERE ARE HIS PRECIOUS WORDS:
1.“EVERYTHING WE´VE DONE IN MODERN INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE IS FASTER, FATTER, BIGGER, CHEAPER. NOBODY IS THINKING ABOUT THE E.COLI TYPE 2, DIABETES AND THE ECOLOGICAL HEALTH OF THE WHOLE SYSTEM. WE ARE OUTSOURCING AUTONOMOUS FARMER DECISION MAKING TO CORPORATE BOARDROOMS IN BIG CITIES A THOUSAND MILES AWAY WHERE THEY MAKE DECISIONS AND DON´T LIVE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF THOSE DECISIONS. HERE, IN MY POLYFACE FARMS EVERYTHING IS GRASS BASED. THEY DON´T FEED NEITHER DEAD ANIMALS, CORN, CHICKEN MANURE NOR DEAD CHICKENS. THEY ARE HERBIVORES AND SO THEY EAT GRASS, FORAGE, HERBS, CLOVER. IF THEY WERE EATING CORN YOU WOULD HAVE TO HARVEST, TRANSPORT THE CORN AND TAKE ALL THAT MANURE SOMEWHERE. HERE, IN MY FARMS, THERE´S THE WHOLE THING. THE COW IS FERTILIZING, MOWING; WE DO NOT HAVE TO MOW, HARVEST NOR SPREAD ANY MANURE. IT´S ALL IN REAL TIME”.
“THE INDUSTRIAL FOOD SYSTEM GRADUALLY BECAME SO NOISY, SMELLY, NOT A FRIENDLY PLACE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO OPERATE THOSE DON´T WANT US TO SEE IT, BECAUSE WE WOULD SEE THE UGLY TRUTH. THE MOMENT WHEN THAT OCCURED WE LOST ALL THE INTEGRITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE FOOD SYSTEM”.
“ACCORDING TO THE USDA THEY TRIED TO CLOSE JOEL SALATIN´S FARMS DOWN BECAUSE THEY SAID WORKING IN THE OPEN-AIR WAS UNSANITARY.
JOEL SALATIN: “ WE HAD THEM TESTING US ON MICROBILOGY AT A LOCAL LAB. OURS AVERAGED 133 BACTERIA CFU AND THE ONES FROM THE STORE AVERAGED 3,600 BACTERIA. ON TOP OF THAT THOSE HAD SEEN 40 CHLORINE BATHS, WHEREAS OURS HADN´T SEEN ANY CHLORINE. THESE ARE ALL THE INEFFICIENCIES OF THE INDUSTRIAL SYSTEM. IT IS AMAZING HOW PEOPLE COMPLAIN WHEN PAYING $3 A DOZEN EGGS AND THEY DO NOT COMPLAIN WHEN THEY PAY 0.75 CENTS FOR A SODA. I AM STRUCK HOW SUCCESSFUL WE´VE BEEN AT HITTING AT THE WRONG TARGET. IN CATTLE WE´VE BECOME A CULTURE OF TECHNICIANS. WE´VE LEARNT HOW TO PLANT, FERTILIZE AND HARVEST CORN USING GLOBAL POSITION SATELITE TECHNOLOGY AND NOBODY SITS BACK ASKING: SHOULD WE BE FEEDING COWS CORN? WE´RE INTO THE HOW OF IT. NOBODY IS ASKING WHY. A CULTURE THAT USES A PIG AS A PILE OF PROTOPLASM INANIMATE STRUCTURE TO BE MANIPULATED BY WHATEVER CREATIVE DESIGN THAT HUMANS CAN EMBOSS ON THAT ANIMAL WILL PROBABLE VIEW INDIVIDUALS WITH THE SAME TYPE OF DISDAIN, DISRESPECT AND CONTROLLING-TYPE MENTALITY” “.
“THE INDUSTRIAL FOOD SYSTEM IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR GREATER EFFICIENCY BUT EACH NEW STEP IN EFFICIENCY LEADS TO PROBLEMS. WHEN THE INDUSTRY HAS A SYSTEMATIC PROBLEM LIKE CONTAMINATED FOOD, INSTEAD OF GIVING GRASS TO ANIMALS FOR 5 DAYS SO THAT THEY WOULD SHED 80% OF E.COLI IN THEIR GUT, THEIR APPROACH IS HI-TECH FIXES THAT ALLOW THE SYSTEM TO SURVIVE. WE HAVE SCREWED OUR FOOD SYSTEM TO THE BAD CALORIES AND IT´S NOT AN ACCIDENT. CANDY, CHIPS, SODAS ARE CHEAPER THAN A HEAD OF BROCCOLI. THE REASON WHY THOSE CALORIES ARE CHEAPER IS BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE ONES WE ARE SUBSIDIZING. THIS IS TIED TO THE TYPE OF AGRICULTURE WE ARE PRACTISING AND THE FARM POLICIES WE HAVE. ALL THOSE CALORIES COME FROM THE COMMODITY CROPS: CORN, SOY BEANS AND WHEAT. BY MAKING THOSE CALORIES REALLY CHEAP THAT´S ONE OF THE REASONS THE BIGGEST PREDICTION OF OBESITY IS INCOME LEVEL. THE INDUSTRY BLAMES OBESITY ON A CRISIS OF PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY”.
“SMITHFIELD HOG PROCESSING PLANT IN TAR HEEL, A SMALL TOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED AREA IN NORTH CAROLINA, HAS THE LARGEST SLAUGHTERED HOUSE IN THE WORLD. SMITHFIELD HAS MASTERED THE ART OF CHOOSING A WORK FORCE THEY CAN EXPLODE: THE POOR WHITES AND THE POOR BLACKS FROM NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. HERE ARE THE WORDS OF SOME OF SMITHFIELD WORKERS:
“THEY HAVE THE SAME MENTALITY TOWARDS THE HOG AND WORKERS, THEY DON´T CARE ABOUT THE LONGEVITY OF THE WORKERS NOR OF THE HOGS. WORKERS GET INFECTIONS IN THEIR FINGERNAILS AND THE FINGERNAILS SEPARATE FROM THEIR FINGERS. YOU COME WITH FECES, BLOOD, URINE. IT´S EASY TO GET HURT DOWN THERE. THEY ARE TREATED AS HUMAN MACHINES”. SMITHFIELD KNOWS THESE PEOPLE CAN´T AFFORD TO GET OUT OF THERE AND THAT´S WHAT THEY HOLD OVER THEM”.
“A 100 YEARS AGO WHEN UPTON SINCLAIR WROTE THE JUNGLE THERE WAS A BEEF TRUST THAT BUILT ENORMOUS KIND OF POWER. INMIGRANTS FROM EASTERN EUROPE WERE BEING ABUSED IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS. THERE WERE HORRIBLE DISFIGURING INJURIES AND EVEN DEATHS. THINGS SLOWLY GOT BETTER. TEDDY ROOSEVELT TOOK ON THE BEEF TRUST. LABOR UNIONS SLOWLY ORGANIZED MEAT PACKING WORKERS AND TURNED IT INTO ONE OF THE BEST INDUSTRIAL JOBS IN THE U.S. BY THE 1950S TO BE A MEAT PACKING WORKER WAS LIKE BEING AN AUTO WORKER. IT WAS GOOD WAGES, GOOD BENEFITS AND GOOD PENSION. AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED? THE MEAT PACKING COMPANIES GOT BIGGER IN ORDER TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF THE FAST FOOD PACKING COMPANIES INDUSTRY. SOME OF THE MEAT PACKING COMPANIES LIKE IBP BORROWED THE SAME SORT OF LABOR PRACTICES FROM THE FAST FOOD INDUSTRY CUTTING WAGES, SPEEDING UP PRODUCTION, MAKING SURE THERE WERE NO UNIONS AND HAVING THE SAME WORKER TO DO THE SAME JOB TIME AND TIME AGAIN. MEAT PACKING IS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS JOBS IN THE U.S..
THE MEAT PACKING COMPANY RECRUTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN MEXICO. MANY OF THEM WERE CORN FARMERS IN MEXICO.NAFTA LED TO A FLOODING OF THE MEXICAN MARKET WITH CHEAP AMERICAN CORN AND THIS PUT MORE THAN A MILLION AND A HALF MEXICAN CORN FARMERS OUT OF WORK. THEY COULDN´T COMPETE WITH THE CHEAP CORN COMPANIES FROM AMERICAN IBP, NATIONAL BEEF AND MONFORT. FOR YEARS THE GOVERNMENT TURNED A BLIND EYE ON IMMIGRANTS TO THE RECRUITMENT OF THE MEAT PACKING COMPANIES, BUT NOW WHEN THERE IS AN ANTI-IMMIGRANT MOVEMENT THE GOVERNMENT IS CRACKING DOWN ON THE WORKERS, NOT ON THE COMPANIES”.
THESE ARE THE WORDS FROM A UNION ORGANIZER, EDUARDO PEÑA :
“ IMMIGRATION AGENTS ARE ARRESTING SMITHFIELD WORKERS AND THIS IS AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN SMITHFIELD AND IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES. THEY GET RID OF 15 WORKERS PER DAY AND THAT WAY IT DOESN´T AFFECT THE PRODUCTION LINE. NOBODY IS ARRESTING THE SMITHFIELD MANAGERS, JUST WORKERS WHO WERE PRODUCING FOR THIS COMPANY AND WORKING HARD FOR THIS COMPANY”.
“WE WANT TO PAY THE CHEAPEST PRICE FOR OUR FOOD AND THAT COMES OUT AT PRICE. THESE WORKERS HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 10-15 YEARS PROCESSING YOUR HAM AND BACON AND NOW THEY ARE BEING PICKED UP LIKE CRIMINALS, AND THESE COMPANIES ARE MAKING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS”.
“SMITHFIELD REFUSED TO BE INTERVIEWED FOR THIS FILM”.
JOEL SALATIN: “ IS CHEAPNESS EVERYTHING THAT THERE IS?, WHO WANTS TO BUY THE CHEAPEST CAR?.WE ARE GOING TO SUBSIDIZE THE FOOD SYSTEM TO CREATE THE MYSTIQUE OF CHEAP FOOD WHEN ACTUALLY IT´S VERY EXPENSIVE FOOD, WHEN YOU ADD UP THE ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS, THE SOCIETAL COSTS AND THE HEALTH COSTS. THE INDUSTRIAL FOOD IS NOT HONEST FOOD: IT IS NOT PRICED HONESTLY, IT´S NOT PRODUCED HONESTLY, IT´S NOT PROCESSED HONESTLY. THERE IS NOTHING HONEST ABOUT THAT FOOD. I HAVE NO DESIRE TO SCALE UP OR GROW BIGGER. MY DESIRE IS TO PRODUCE THE BEST FOOD IN THE WORLD AND HEAL. AND IF IN DOING SO MORE PEOPLE COME TO OUR CORNER AND WANT STUFF HEAVEN HELP ME FIGURE OUT HOW TO MEET THE NEED WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE INTEGRITY. THAT´S WHERE I AM”.
TROY ROUSH, AMERICAN CORN GROWERS ASSOCIATION VICE PRESIDENT: 1. “ TEN THOUSAND YEARS AGO FARMERS STARTED SAVING THEIR BEST SEEDS AND PLANTING THEM AGAIN ON THE FOLLOWING YEAR. THAT´S HOW SEEDS AND CORN WERE DEVELOPED FROM USELESS GRASS TO THE EXTREMELY PRODUCTIVE PLANT THAT IS TODAY”.
“THE IDEA THAT ANY CORPORATION COULD OWN A FOOD CROP WAS A NEW IDEA, AND IT WASN´T UNTIL THE 80S THE SUPREME COURT SAID YOU COULD PATENT LIFE AND THAT OPENED THE FLOOD GATES TO PATENT THE MOST VALUABLE PARTS OF LIFE, THAT IS, THE CROPS ON WHICH WE DEPEND”.
TROY ROUSH : 2. “MONSANTO WAS A CHEMICAL COMPANY. THEY PRODUCED DDT, THE ORANGE AGENT USED IN VIETNAM, AND THEN THEY DEVELOPED A PRODUCT CALLED ROUNDUP. WE STARTED HEARING RUMBLINGS OF GENETICAL ENGINEERING OF SOY BEANS THAT COULD RESIST THE APPLICATION OF ROUNDUP. WHEN THE ROUNDUP SPREAD STARTED IT KILLED EVERY WEED UP THERE, EXCEPT FOR THE ROUNDUP-READY SOY BEANS”.
“IN 1996 WHEN MONSANTO BEGAN SELLING ROUNDUP-READY SOY BEANS ONLY 2% OF SOY BEANS IN THE U.S. CONTAINED THEIR PATENTED GENE. BY 2008 OVER 90% OF SOY BEANS IN THE U.S. CONTAINED MONSANTO´S PATENTED GENE”.
TROY ROUSH: 3. “ I CAN REMEMBER WHEN THE FIRST PROHIBITION AGAINST SAVING SOY BEANS CAME IN TO BE. MOST FARMERS WERE DISGUSTED WITH THE WHOLE CONCEPT. IT´S BEEN INTERESTING OVER THE COURSE OF 11 YEARS TO WATCH WHAT IS GONE FROM UTTER CONTENT FOR THE NOTION WE CAN SAVE OUR OWN SEEDS TO ACCEPTANCE. THERE IS ONE COMPANY IN THIS, MONSANTO.MONSANTO HAS A TEAM OF PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS THAT RULE THE COUNTRY. THEY HAVE AN 1800 HOTLINE THAT TAKES CALLS ON. IF THEY GET A CALL AND SOMEONE ALLEGES THAT SOMEBODY SAVES SEEDS THEY WILL SEND AN INVESTIGATOR OUT THERE AND LOOK INTO THE MATTER. YOU SAVE YOUR OWN SEEDS, YOUR ARE GONNA GET A CALL FROM MONSANTO”.
“MONSANTO HAS A STAFF OF 75 DEVOTED TO INVESTIGATING AND PROSECUTING FARMERS. ANYONE CAUGHT SAVING SEEDS CAN BE INVESTIGATED FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT”.
DAVID RUNYON,FARMER,TALKS ABOUT MOE PARR,SEED CLEANER:MOE´S MACHINE CLEANS SEEDS OF DEBRIS SO THAT THEY CAN BE SAVED AND PLANTED THE FOLLOWING YEAR. IT´S AN INGENIOUS DEVICE DESIGNED BACK IN THE 1800 AND MONSANTO IS GONNA CLOSE THEM ALL. IN THE STATE OF INDIANA THERE ARE ABOUT 6 SEED CLEANERS LEFT. EVERY COUNTY USED TO HAVE 3 SEED CLEANERS. THERE IS NOBODY LEFT IN THE BUSINESS. THEY´VE BEEN ALL PUT OUT OF BUSINESS. WHEN MONSANTO´S SOY BEANS FIRST CAME O THE MARKET I JUST NEVER SWITCHED OVER. I WAS GETTING PRETTY GOOD DEALS WITH CONVENTIONAL SOY BEANS I HAD BEEN USING, SO I THOUGHT, WELL, I´LL JUST STAY WHERE I AM AT”.
“DAVID RUNYON DOESN´T PLANT MONSANTO´S CROPS BUT HIS FIELDS HAVE BEEEN CONTAMINATED BY GENETICALLY MODIFIED SEEDS (GMOS): “ MY NEIGHBOURS´SEEDS ARE GMOS. IF THE POLLEN MOVES IN, IF THE SEEDS MOVE ON, I AM STILL HELD ACCOUNTED”.
“IF MONSANTO FINDS CONTAMINATION THE FARMER MUST PROVE HE DID NOT VIOLATE MONSANTO´S PATENTS. WHEN YOU GENETICALLY MODIFY A CROP YOU OWN IT. YOU NEVER HAD THIS IN AGRIGULTURE. MONSANTO IS VERY MUCH LIKE MICROSOFT. THE SAME WAY MICROSOFT OWNS THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY BEHIND MOST U.S. COMPUTERS THEY GET OUT THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY BEHIND MOST OF THE FOOD MARKET”.
TROY ROUSH: 4. “ THE WAY OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM WORKS, HOW CAN A FARMER DEFEND HIMSELF? A MULTINATIONAL CORPORATION LIKE MONSANTO WHOSE CONTROL IS SO DOMINANT”.
“THEY ARE GAINING CONTROL OF FOOD. THEY CONTROL IT FROM SEED TO THE SUPERMARKET”.
“THERE HAS BEEN THE REVOLVING DOOR BETWEEN MONSANTO´S CORPORATE OFFICES AND THE VARIOUS REGULATORY JUDICIAL BODY MODELS THAT HAVE MADE THE DECISIONS.
JUDGE CLARENCE THOMAS WAS MONSANTO´S ATTORNEY AND THAT WOULDN´T BE SUCH A BIG DEAL IF IT WEREN´T FOR ONE COURT CASE THAT REALLY DECIDED THIS WHOLE SAVING SEED CASE. JUDGE CLARENCE THOMAS WROTE THE MAJORITY OPINION THAT ALLOWED THESE COMPANIES TO PREVENT THESE FARMERS FROM SAVING THEIR OWN SEEDS. MONSANTO HAD CLOSE TIES TO THE BUSH AND CLINTON ADMINISTRATIONS AND THIS WAS WHY WE HAVEN´T HAD MUCH POLITICAL DEBATE OVER THIS RADICAL CHANGE TO OUR FOOD SYSTEM. IN THE LAST 25 YEARS OUR GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN DOMINATED BY THE INDUSTRIES IT WAS MEANT TO BE REGULATING. THE CHALLENGE IS THAT AS SOON AS THERE ARE PEOPLE WITH EXPERTISE IN THE INDUSTRY THEY MAY TURN OUT TO BE REALLY GOOD REGULATORS. IT IS ABOUT WHAT INTEREST THEY ARE INTERESTED TO REPRESENT. IT IS ABOUT CENTRALIZED POWER BEING USED AGAINST FARMERS, WORKERS AND CONSUMERS, DELIBERATELY KEPT IN THE DARK ABOUT WHAT THEY EAT, WHERE IT COMES FROM AND WHAT IS DOING TO THEIR BODIES”.
“THE SB-63 IS A CONSUMER RIGHT-TO-KNOW MEASURE. IT REQUIRES THAT ALL FOODS THAT ARE CLONED MUST BE LABELED AS CLONED FOOD. THESE CLONED ANIMALS ARE A FUNDAMENTALLY NEW THING BUT I FIND INCREDIBLE THAT THE FDA NOT ONLY WANTS TO ALLOW THE SALE OF MEAT OF CLONED ANIMALS BUT ALSO WANTS TO ALLOW THE SALE OF THIS MEAT WITHOUT LABELING. THE SB-63 PASSED THE STATE LEGISLATURE BUT GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER VETOED IT. AND NOW 78% OF PROCESSED FOOD IN SUPEMARKETS HAS GENETICALLY MODIFIED INGREDIENTS”.
“DOWNER COWS, TOO ILL OR LANE TO WALK, BEING BRUTALIZED TO GET THEM TO THEIR FEET FOR SLAUGHTER; MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF CONCENTRATED MANURE DEPOSITED DOWN THE RIVER”. THIS IS THE TERRIBLE SITUATION NOWADAYS.
“WE ARE VOTING FOR ORGANIC OR NOT THE MOMENT WE RUN AN ARTICLE THROUGH THE SUPERMARKET SCANNER. WE CAN CHANGE THE BIGGEST COMPANIES ON EARTH. COMPANIES SHOULD GO THROUGH A PROCESS TO BE RBST FREE IN ALL OUR SUPPLIES. WE NEED CHANGES AT THE POLICY LEVEL SO THAT CARROTS ARE A BETTER DEAL THAN THE CHIPS”.
JOEL SALATIN: 4. “ IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE IF AS A NATIONAL POLICY WE SAID WE WOULD BE ONLY SUCCESSFUL IF WE HAD FEWER PEOPLE GOING TO THE HOSPITAL NEXT YEAR THAN LAST YEAR. HOW ABOUT THAT FOR SUCCESS? THE IDEA WOULD BE THEN TO HAVE NUTRITIOUS, DENSE, UNADULTERATED FOOD THAT PEOPLE THAT ATE IT ACTUALLY FELT BETTER, HAD MORE ENERGY AND WEREN´T SICK AS MUCH. YOU SEE, THAT´S A NOBLE GOAL!” (FOOD INC. /WATCH DOCUMENTARY FREE ONLINE. FILMED BY ROBERT KENNER https://vimeo.com/29575879 ).
BEARING IN MIND THE 48 MILLION FOODBORNE ILLNESS CASES OCCURING IN THE U.S., IT IS ONLY FAIR TO ENACT THESE 20 BILLS THE SOONER THE BETTER:
1. NO INDUSTRY IS ALLOWED TO DEPOSIT THEIR RUNOFFS ( DIRTY WATER, MANURE AND OTHERS ) DOWN THE RIVERS OR ELSEWHERE IN NATURE, TO AVOID TRANSCONTAMINATION.
2. FIELDS MUST BE SPRAYED ONLY WITH CLEAN WATER FOR IRRIGATION, TO PREVENT FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FROM BEING CONTAMINATED BEFORE HARVEST. ALL PESTICIDES MUST BE BANNED, SINCE THE VEGETABLES AND FRUIT BEING SPRAYED WITH THEM PUT PEOPLE´S HEALTH IN DANGER.
3. NEITHER COWS, PIGS, CHICKENS NOR ANY ANIMAL MUST BE LEFT STANDING ANKLE DEEP IN MANURE NEITHER IN FARMS NOR IN INDUSTRIAL PLANTS TO PREVENT INFECTIONS AND UNSANITARY CONDITIONS FROM HAPPENING.
4. A TOTAL BAN ON SLAUGHTERING PIGS AND COWS ALIVE. THE BARBARISM THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON IN SLAUGHTERHOUSES HAS TO BE ERADICATED. PIGS AND COWS MUST BE GIVEN A SHOT IN ORDER TO FREE THEM FROM THE TORMENTED AGONY BILLIONS OF THEM HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED SO FAR. NONE OF US WANT TO SEE SUCH RETROGRADE PRACTICES ANY MORE.
5. ALL CHICKENS, COWS AND PIGS MUST GET THE CURE THEY NEED WHEN THEY GET SICK INSTEAD OF BEING ABUSED BY NEITHER INDUSTRY MANAGERS NOR BY FARMERS. THESE BEINGS DO NOT DESERVE THE DISRESPECT MOST SHOW TOWARDS THEM.
6. ALL CHICKENS, COWS AND PIGS MUST SEE THE LIGHT TO PRESERVE THE ANIMAL´S HEALTH AND OURS. UP TO NOW THEY HAVE BEEN KEPT PRETTY MUCH IN THE DARK AND THAT IS NOT RIGHT. ALL ANIMALS MUST BE KEPT IN OLD STYLE HOUSES WITH OPEN WINDOWS.
7. NOBODY IS ALLOWED TO MAKE A CHICKEN GROW 5.5 POUNDS IN LESS THAN 3 MONTHS. ALL BAD PRACTICES GROWING THEM IN 49 DAYS MUST BE PENALIZED. CHICKENS ARE BEING BRUTALIZED, MAKING THEM OVERGROW REALLY FAST AND THEIR FEET CANNOT STAND SO MUCH OVERWEIGHT, FLOPPING DOWN AND DYING ON FILTHY FLOORS. THESE IRRESPONSIBLE PRACTICES MUST BE STOPPED AT ONCE.
8. INDUSTRY AND RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS SHOULD BE CONDUCTED REGULARLY.
9. CUSTOMERS WOULD FIND IT HELPFUL TO SEE A SIGN WITH THE LATEST INSPECTION SCORE OUTSIDE EACH RESTAURANT SO THAT THEY CAN DECIDE WHICH RESTAURANT TO GO TO BASED ON THAT INFORMATION. THUS ALL RESTAURANTS MUST HAVE A SIGN OUTSIDE TO SHOW THEIR LATEST INSPECTION SCORE .
10. NO BUTCHER IS ALLOWED TO GET ENGAGED IN CHECKING OUT CLIENTS SINCE BUTCHERS HANDLE MEAT WITH THEIR HANDS AND THAT IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH TOUCHING NOTES AND COINS. NOTES AND COINS ARE PACKED WITH GERMS AND BACTERIA, AND CHECKING OUT IMPLIES TOUCHING MONEY AND CATCHING GERMS, WHICH ARE SPREAD ON THE MEAT THEY TOUCH AFTERWARDS, WHEN THE BUTCHER IS ATTENDING TO OTHER CUSTOMERS. THUS, ANOTHER PERSON OTHER THAN THE BUTCHER MUST CARRY OUT THE CHECKING OUT.
11. INDUSTRY EQUIPMENT MUST BE CLEANED RIGHT AFTER WORK ON A DAILY BASIS. THIS IS AS IMPORTANT AS IT IS WASHING OUR HANDS BEFORE WE HANDLE FOOD.
12. NO TRUCK SHALL BE ALLOWED TO BE USED UNLESS IS COMPLETELY CLEAN, EVEN IF IT IS FOR TRANSPORTING ANIMALS. UNFORTUNATELY SOMETIMES WE SMELL THE NASTY SMELL OF SOME TRUCKS TRANSPORTING ANIMALS WHEN WE WALK BY ONE OF THOSE AND THAT MUST BE PENALIZED. ANIMALS ARE BEINGS THAT HAVE TO BE KEPT IN SANITARY CONDITIONS BECAUSE THEY DESERVE RESPECT AND BECAUSE THEIR MEAT WILL BE HEALTHIER AND TASTIER THAT WAY TOO.
13. ALL MEAT MUST BE ANTIBIOTIC-FREE.
14. NO INDUSTRY IS ALLOWED TO LET ANY SICK CHICKEN, COW OR PIG GO TO THE PLANT FOR PROCESSING.
15. LABELINGS MUST BE IN CONFORT-SIZED PRINT CONTAINING COMPLETE INFORMATION ON INGREDIENTS. USUALLY THE PRINT ON THE LABELINGS IS EXTREMELY SMALL AND THUS AS MOST CANNOT READ IT MANY DECIDE NOT TO BUY THE PRODUCT FOR THAT VERY REASON. FINE PRINT MAKES US DISTRUST, AND RIGHTFULLY SO.
16. BAD LABOR PRACTICES FROM THE FAST FOOD INDUSTRY LIKE CUTTING WAGES AND SPEEDING UP PRODUCTION MUST BE ERRADICATED.
17. MEAT PACKING WORKERS MUST HAVE THEIR LABOR UNIONS TO DEFEND THEIR RIGHTS. NO COMPANY MANAGER CAN AGREE ON GETTING RID OF WORKERS FOR NO REASON.
18. ALL ALUMINUM COOKING POTS, SAUCEPANS AND CASSEROLES MUST BE BANNED FROM ALL RESTAURANTS, BARS AND PUBLIC PLACES, SINCE ALUMINUM IS TOXIC AND DANGEROUS. ALUMINUM POTS BLEACH ALUMINUM INTO OUR FOOD. SOME PEOPLE DEVELOP LIVER AND CONSTIPATION PROBLEMS, AMONG MANY OTHER EFFECTS. ALL THESE CONTAINERS SHOULD BE MADE OF STAINLESS STEEL.
19. ONCE OIL HAS BEEN USED IN COOKING TWICE IT HAS TO BE THROWN AWAY. IF USED OIL WERE USED FOR A THIRD TIME THEN IT WOULD NOT BE HEALTHY, AND WE DO NOT WANT THAT. THIS IMPORTANT PIECE OF INFORMATION SHOULD BE SENT TO EACH FOOD BUSINESS EVERYWHERE.
20. ALL NEW RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS MUST HAVE INFRARED-CONTROLLED TOUCHLESS BASIN TAPS IN KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS. THESE FUNCTIONAL TAPS ACTIVATE THE WATER JET AUTOMATICALLY, AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT IN ORDER TO AVOID THE BACTERIA OTHERS LEAVE ON ANY TAP EVERY TIME SOMEONE TOUCHES IT. SECOND, ENSURING THE NECESSARY HYGIENE FEWER CANCER DIAGNOSED CASES WILL BE IN THE FUTURE. THIRD, THESE INFRARED TAPS WILL HELP US ALL AVOID WASTING WATER SINCE THE WATER JET IS ONLY ACTIVATED WHEN IT´S NEEDED, THAT IS ONLY WHEN THE TAP DETECTS OUR HANDS UNDER THE TAP. YES! A GREAT INVENTION THAT WE, WORLD CITIZENS, DESERVE AND NEED. SO LET´S ALL GET DOWN TO IT. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS RELEVANT PRODUCT CONTACT: GEBERIT INTERNATIONAL SALES AG CH – 8640 RAPPERSWIL SWITZERLAND SALES@GEBERIT.COM INT.ES 00107-13/127 BY GEBERIT INTERNATIONAL SALES AG. WWW. INTERNATIONAL.GEBERIT.COM
WE, WORLD CITIZENS, CANNOT BE CONFIDENT IN THE SAFETY OF THE FOOD SUPPLY UNTIL WORLD LEADERS, AND MULTINATIONAL MANAGERS STOP THEIR DEPRAVED PRACTICES. WE ALL KNOW WHO THE BIG CHEESE AT THIS FARM INDUSTRY IS, HE WHO NOBODY DARES INCRIMINATE. SO, LET ´S ADDRESS HIM AND TELL HIM: “MR. M., YOU HAVE PROBABLY REALIZED BY NOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING IS WRONG. RIGHT? LET´S ADMIT IT, YOU PROBABLY STARTED YOUR BUSINESS WITH THE BEST OF INTENTIONS, WANTING TO BECOME A MAN OF SUCCESS, RIGHT? AND THEN, YES, WE KNOW, GREED AND MONEY GOT IN THE WAY SPOILING EVERYTHING. YOU DID NOT REALIZE WHAT YOU NEEDED WAS TO BECOME A MAN OF VALUE. ONCE YOU ADMIT YOU FELL INTO THAT TRAP YOU ARE READY TO DO SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF, BECAUSE, LIKE CONFUCIUS (551 BC-479BC) SAID “OUR GREATEST GLORY IS NOT IN NEVER FALLING, BUT IN RISING EVERY TIME WE FALL”, “IT IS EASY TO HATE AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO LOVE. THIS IS HOW THE WHOLE SCHEME OF THINGS WORKS. ALL GOOD THINGS ARE DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE AND BAD THINGS ARE VERY EASY TO GET” (CONFUCIUS QUOTES.BRAINYQUOTE).
WE ARE POSITIVE THE FOLLOWING 6 WELL-KNOWN THINKERS WOULD POINT OUT THESE MORAL VALUES TO YOU, MR. M.:
1. WANG YANG-MING (1472-1529), CHINESE PHILOSOPHER: “ THE VIRTUE OF A MAN LIES IN HIS ABILITY TO CORRECT HIS MISTAKES AND CONTINUALLY MAKE A NEW MAN OF HIMSELF “ (WANG YANGMING-WIKIPEDIA). AND THIS IS WHAT WE ASK YOU TO DO TOO, TO QUIT THE BAD PRACTICES AND START FROM SQUARE ONE AGAIN. ONLY THEN WHATEVER YOU DO WILL HAVE SOME MEANING TO THE WORLD, TO YOUR SOUL AND INDEED TO GOD.
2. FRANCIS OF ASSISI (C. 1182-1226), ITALIAN RELIGIOUS LEADER: “ IF YOU HAVE MEN WHO WILL EXCLUDE ANY OF GOD´S CREATURES FROM THE SHELTER OF COMPASSION AND PITY, YOU WILL HAVE MEN WHO WILL DEAL LIKEWISE WITH THEIR FELLOW MEN”
“START BY DOING WHAT IS NECESSARY; THEN DO WHAT´S POSSIBLE, AND SUDDENLY YOU ARE DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE” (FRANCIS OF ASSISI QUOTES).
3. CLIVE STAPLES LEWIS (1898-1963), BRITISH NOVELIST: ” EDUCATION WITHOUT VALUES, AS USEFUL AS IT IS, SEEMS RATHER TO MAKE A MAN A MORE CLEVER DEVIL” (C.S.LEWIS QUOTES-.BRAINYQUOTES).
4. ALBERT CAMUS (1913-1960), FRENCH–ALGERIAN WRITER: “A MAN WITHOUT ETHICS IS A WILD BEAST LOOSED UPON THIS WORLD” (ALBERT CAMUS QUOTES-BRAINYQUOTES).
5. RALPH WALDO EMERSON: “ TO LEAVE THE WORLD A BIT BETTER, WHETHER BY A HEALTHY CHILD, A GARDEN PATCH OR A REDEEMED SOCIAL CONDITION; TO KNOW EVEN ONE LIFE HAS BREATHED EASIER BECAUSE YOU HAVE LIVED. THIS IS TO HAVE SUCCEEDED” (SUCCESS QUOTES-RALPH WALDO EMERSON).
6. ALBERT EINSTEIN: “IT HAS BECOME APPALLINGLY OBVIOUS THAT OUR TECHNOLOGY HAS EXCEEDED OUR HUMANITY“. (ALBERT EINSTEIN QUOTES-BRAINYQUOTE).
MR. M. , YOU HAVE GOT STILL TIME TO LIVE UP TO YOUR NAME, AND MAKE US CHANGE OUR MIND ABOUT YOU. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE GOT TO LOSE TO WIN LATER ON. IT IS TIME TO LOSE. ACCEPT IT AND START AGAIN LIKE ONLY A MAN COMMITTED TO STRIVING FOR THE WELL-BEING OF ALL OUR BROTHERS AND SOCIETY WOULD DO. WELL THEN, MR. M., YOU ARE OUR LORD´S SON, AND MY BROTHER AS WELL, AND SO THE ONLY LEFT PATH TO GO IS NEITHER HIGHWAYS NOR ROUNDABOUTS BUT PRAYING. TALK TO OUR LORD, EVEN IF YOU HAVE NEVER DONE IT BECAUSE NOBODY EVER SHOWED YOU THE WAY, AND TELL HIM: “ THANK YOU LORD, I LOVE YOU LORD, HELP ME GET OUT OF THIS MESS AND START DOING SOMETHING GOOD, SOMETHING I CAN FEEL PROUD OF”. ASK GOD TO HELP YOU FIND IT EASY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS NOT, TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE LIFE OF OUR BODY IS OUR SOUL, AND THAT THE LIFE OF OUR SOUL IS GOD”.
SOME MONTHS AGO I HEARD A RADIO PROGRAMME ON THE SUFFERING ANIMALS ARE GOING THROUGH, SPECIFICALLY ON PIGS´ BRUTALIZED PRACTICES, ONCE THEY ENTER THE SLAUGHTERING PLANT. SLAUGHTERING PLANT WORKERS SAID MANY PIGS START TREMBLING THE MOMENT THEY SEE OTHER PIGS ARE PUSHED INTO BOILING WATER ALIVE. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE PAIN AND STRESS THESE PIGS BEAR UNTIL THEY DIE IS TREMENDOUS. THERE IS A NAME FOR THIS AND IT IS BRUTALITY. THIS SADISM HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS ALL OVER THE WORLD AND IT SHOULD BE PENALIZED. WE, HUMAN BEINGS, ARE NOT ENTITLED TO MAKE ANY OTHER BEING GO THROUGH UNNECESSARY SUFFERING. IF A PIG HAS TO BE SLAUGHTERED, SIMPLY GIVE HIM AN INJECTION SO THAT THE PIG IS NOT AWARE OF WHAT FATE AWAITS HIM. IT IS THE LEAST ONE SHOULD DO, UNLESS HE WANTS THAT BRUTALIZATION REBOUND TO HIM SOMEHOW, SOMEDAY, SOMEWHERE. THIS TERRIFYING TESTIMONY HAS BEEN ON MY MINE EVER SINCE, FEELING SORRY FOR THESE LOVELY INNOCENT CREATURES.
ANOTHER TERRIFYING TESTIMONY A BRICKLAYER SHARED WITH ME HAD TO DO WITH PIGS AS WELL. HE SAID THAT ALL THE TIME HE WAS WORKING IN THE PIGGERIES HE SAW PIGS´ FEET COVERED WITH CANCER. THE MOMENT I HEARD THAT TERRIBLE FACT I FELT BAD FOR THE PIGS THEMSELVES, AND FOR OURSELVES AS CUSTOMERS, WHO BUY HAM. AS A MATTER OF FACT, LATELY, TO BE MORE PRECISE, FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS, AFTER EATING HAM WE DO NOT FEEL AS WELL AS WE USED TO. NO WONDER WE LOOK EVEN WORSE AFTER EATING HAM FROM PIGS WHO ARE SICK AND WHOSE FEET AND OTHER ORGANS ARE CARCINOGENIC. IN SPAIN ABOUT A YEAR AGO AUTHORITIES STATED HAM LABELINGS REGARDING THE DIFFERENT QUALITIES WERE NOT RIGHT. WELL, TIME IS KICKING OUT AND HAM IS NOT WHAT IT WAS NOR WHAT SHOULD BE. MOST OF THE TIME BESIDES BEING DIFFICULT TO FIND ACORN HAM (=JAMÓN DE BELLOTA) ANYWHERE YOU LOOK, IF YOU HAPPEN TO FIND IT, ONCE YOU EAT IT, YOU VERY LIKELY GET CONSTIPATED FOR 2 DAYS BECAUSE OF ALL THE CHEMICALS THEY INJECT INTO THEM. THIS DID NOT HAPPEN SAY 6 YEARS AGO WHEN WE ALL ENJOYED GOOD HAM. THERE ARE ONLY TWO GOOD THINGS OUT OF ALL THIS MESS: ONE IS THAT MANY OF US SPEND LESS MONEY BECAUSE MANY OF US DO NOT BUY HAM ANY MORE; THE OTHER ONE IS THAT WE DO NOT GAIN WEIGHT AS MUCH AS BEFORE AND KEEP IN SHAPE BETTER. REGULATORS ARE DOING A DISSERVICE TO CUSTOMERS NOT DOING THE INSPECTIONS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO TO KEEP US ALL UNDER SAFETY CONDITIONS.
ALL THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH PROBLEMS ARE BECAUSE HUMAN BEINGS INSIST ON MAKING THINGS COMPLICATED INSTEAD OF MAKING THEM SIMPLE, JUST LIKE JOEL SALATIN DOES. HE IS A NOBLE EXAMPLE FOR ALL OF US. IT IS A REAL PLEASURE TO HEAR HIM, SEE HOW RESPECTFULLY HE TREATS EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING, AND HOW HUMBLE HE IS. IT IS TIME FOR ALL OF US TO CHANGE. WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME AND WE ALL NEED TO HAVE DONE SOMETHING WORTH LOOKING AT DURING OUR STAY HERE.
NEITHER MOE PARR NOR CAROLE MORISON DESERVED BEING PUT OUT OF BUSINESS. WE DO NOT DESERVE TO DO WITHOUT MOE PARR AND CAROLE MORISON, AS RIGHTEOUS FARMERS THAT WE ALL WANT TO HAVE NEXT TO US.
THE FACT THAT AMMONIA KILLS BACTERIA IS NOT AN ARGUMENT TO BE USED AS A PROCESSING TOOL FROM THE FOOD SAFETY POINT OF VIEW. AMMONIA COVERS UP THE INCIDENTS OF E.COLI 0157:H7 HARMING PEOPLE´S HEALTH. NO THANK YOU! WE DO NOT WANT HI-TECH FIXES SUCH AS AMMONIA. WE DO NOT WANT HAMBURGER MEAT CLEANED WITH AMMONIA TO KILL E.COLI. WE WOULD RATHER STICK TO THE WHOLESOME WAY, JUST LIKE JOEL SALATIN DOES. OH YEAH! KEEP IT UP, JOEL!
I WISH I COULD EAT THAT LOVELY BREAD FROM QUINTANA MARTÍN GALINDEZ (BURGOS.SPAIN), RIGHT NOW, LIKE I USED TO, WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GIRL ON MY SUMMER HOLIDAYS OVER THERE. THAT WAS THE BEST BREAD I HAVE EVER TRIED. IT WAS HEALTHY. NOW IT IS NOT THE SAME. I ALSO MISS SHERYL GORDON´S CORN BUNS. SHERYL GORDON WAS MY FOSTER MOTHER IN THE U.S., AND I CAN SAY THAT I ENJOYED THOSE CORN BUNS A THOUSAND MORE TIMES THAN GOING TO THE MANY RESTAURANTS WE USED TO GO TO, BECAUSE MY AMERICAN FAMILY WAS FOND OF EATING OUT. I REMEMBER SHERYL SAID IT WAS HER MOTHER´S RECIPE. I WISH I HAD ASKED HER FOR IT. IF THERE IS ONE PLACE THAT BRINGS ME GOOD MEMORIES AS TO EATING OUT IS CASA POLI IN SANTURTZI (THE BASQUE COUNTRY), WHERE YOU FOUND POLI HIMSELF CHARCOAL-GRILLING SARDINES, ALWAYS WITH THE SMILE ON HIS FACE. OH GOD!, TODAY WE CAN NEITHER FIND THE BREAD WE WANT TO, NOR THE SARDINES WITH THE LOVE AND HYGIENE POLI PRACTICED. WE WANT THESE OLD-FASHIONED PRACTICES, NOT THE HI-TECH ONES, WHERE HYGIENE IS CONSPICUOUS BY ITS ABSENCE.
IF SOMEONE THINKS THAT WAS REALLY STRANGE JUST WAIT FOR THIS. IT IS ABOUT THIS NEWS WE READ ONLINE ON MAY 17TH THIS YEAR ABOUT A NIGERIAN RESTAURANT WHICH WAS SHOT DOWN BECAUSE THEY SERVED HUMAN FLESH, HAVING BAGS PACKED WITH HUMAN BEINGS´ HEADS IN THE KITCHEN. HOW ABOUT THAT FOR DESSERT? INDEED, THE FOOD SYSTEM IS REALLY IN QUESTION!