Slaughter The FDA

Posted By: shadowfax
Posted on: Feb. 18, 2008 at 12:48 PM

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I don't know where to begin but here goes. I can't hardly work because this is on my mind so maybe if I share how I feel, I can possibly get some work done to merit a paycheck.

Yesterday and today I heard and saw the news of animal abuse in a slaughterhouse in CA. They warned of graphics, etc. I saw cows trying to walk on their knees because of broken legs and they were calling out for help. It was sickening and brought tears to my eyes. What the hell is the FDA all about anyway if they don't monitor where and how our food supply is provided? I'm no vegitarian but I don't believe in cruelty.

Not only do I want to see this company fined to the extent of possibly going out of business but the owners and employees who knew of this or who participated in this need to be held responsible as well. The kind of people who abused those kind, helpless animals are a detriment to our society. Because if you think that they are only inhumane at the slaughterhouse, think again. These people are sick and the FDA needs to get off their sorry asses and start doing their jobs!

In this day and age with all of our technology, there is no excuse for animal cruelty especially in their last hours alive so that we can have meat on our tables.

Tags: FDA slaughter house CA animal cruelty inhumane vegitarian

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prometheus

Feb. 18, 2008 at 01:28:21 PM

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I would say that you don't want to see the cows being slaughtered in the "FACES OF DEATH" DVD series. All of the animals that we eat are executed. PERIOD. I did a speech in collage on the pros of eating only fruits and vegetables vs the cons of meat eating. I showed that nasty film clip to the class . . . It was quite upsetting. Once I saw farmers taking a calf away from it's mother and every cow in the field was up against the fence moo-ing in protest! A few weeks ago in California I saw a couple guys taking a baby sheep from it's mother . . . one guy stays between the mother and the baby, while the other guy steals off with it. I understand that they are at some point a food product. But the guy who had the baby by one hind leg swung it like a sack of potatoes onto the ground before throwing it into the truck? I won't ever eat any baby animal.

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Free Thinker

Feb. 18, 2008 at 01:29:06 PM

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Shadow,

I saw the images too as well as my 9 year old son. It was to say the least, disturbing!

I worked in a meat department back in the Midwest for a grocery chain and had the "opportunity" to visit a slaughter house and it really made me think about what I was consuming. Even back in the day, these people would prop up these animals to get ready for the inspector. Typically, these inspectors were in an area where the animals went through pretty much one by one to see if they had visible signs of disease. I know the process has since changed, but the point is that these inspectors typically were relegated to one area and I saw these processors get these animals ready for the inspectors. An animal was worth a lot, so it is my opinion that these processors did what ever they could to get the animals through the initial inspection.

The second set of tests were more rigorous where they actually did contaminate inspection with proper equipment. At the time, I felt that the bar of acceptance was low, but it was what the guidelines were at the time.

All in all, that visit was one of the most disgusting things that I had ever seen. Like I said, it really changed what I ate. Now don't get me wrong, I do eat meat, but it took a long time for me to get those images out of my head, not to mention the smell.

These processors really are all about getting every piece of inventory through the system. It is all about the money for these guys.

The only thing that I hope comes from this is that we get the system as humane as possible. But, when the dollar gets in the way, it is hard to stop the right thing.

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Patricia L Johnson

Feb. 18, 2008 at 03:51:07 PM

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To: Shadowfox

FDA screws up enough on meds - they shouldn't get the rap for beef too - beef inspecition is the responsibility of the USDA, and they're obviously not doing much of a job.

Animal abuse is very serious business, but what should take topbilling in this mess is the fact that 25% of this beef was shipped to schools for student comsumption.

Animals are unable to call for help, but neither are children.

Wonder what happens when we start eating cloned beef?

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www.MoronInCharge.com

Feb. 18, 2008 at 08:18:11 PM

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Here I am to take the political slant.

I thought the free market was supposed to regulate itself in the most optimal way possible. Why are abuses like this happening?!!!

Well, the long reach of the Bush administration even gets to your Western Bacon Cheeseburger. When you start dismantling government agencies, and replacing agency heads with like-minded ideologues or offering the jobs to unqualified cronies, you will naturally bear witness to an erosion in government services. Everything he touches goes broken, whether it's the military, to our intelligence agencies, to the USJD, to the IRS, to the EPA, to FEMA, and to the USDA and their ability to perform beef inspections.

Government is not the problem. The people who BREAK government and then tell you government is the problem, are the problem. Do not buy their rhetoric that our public commons must be privatized to fix the problems they themselves have caused through their corruption and politicization of every facet of government.

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Patricia L Johnson

Feb. 18, 2008 at 08:53:41 PM

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To: www.MoronInCharge.com

Don't think it's as complicated as that - I don't have the numbers in front of me because I'm not at my computer, but it seems to me that over the past few years, Bush has had all agencies reduce their budgets by a flat percentage. If you have less money to work with, sooner or later you're going to have to cut into your staff and I think that's the whole problem. All these agencies are operating with reduced staffs and we're the ones that are suffering the consequences.

If we weren't spending all our tax dollars on offense we could have a USDA inspector walking every cow to the slaughter house :)

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Free Thinker

Feb. 19, 2008 at 07:07:09 AM

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Patricia,

You are correct on the slashing of budgets. On top of that you need to add the fact that some of these inspectors are really not performing to standards that are needed. I saw a report last night from an unidentified worker at one of these slaughter houses and they knew the routine of the inspector, so they were able to work around the when he was not visible. Shouldn't an inspector do his job randomly? Wouldn't that be the way that you could insure proper inspection?

One other question that comes to mind that has been touched, but not addressed is what damage has this caused to the consumer? No one has answered this yet and maybe it is to early to really know. I am just concerned as I have a 9 year old who eats lunch at school and I curious as to where that beef comes from. I personally have not heard of any problems, but who knows if they have not been disguised as another issue. If anyone knows any information about this, I would love to see it here!

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Phaedrus

Feb. 19, 2008 at 07:47:03 AM

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[This is a reply to comment by Free Thinker on Feb. 19, 2008 at 07:07:09 AM]

Free Thinker
Feb. 19, 2008 at 07:07:09 AM

Patricia,
You are correct on the slashing of budgets. On top of that you need to add the fact that some of these inspectors are really not performing to standards that are needed. I saw a report last night from an unidentified worker at one...

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I think from what I've read that all this beef went to FL, from the story. But there is little reason to believe that this processing plant is any better or worse than any other.

Also, the problem with the cows was broken legs, or just plain stubborness - and none appeared to have Mad Cow Disease.

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Free Thinker

Feb. 19, 2008 at 08:49:12 AM

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Phaedrus,

You are right about the disease factor with Mad Cow. The processes to detect that would have caught that. I guess the concern that I have is that a weak or injured animal is open to getting some sort of an infection or disease.

I just saw the story about Florida as well, but I also see the Arizona is now investigating sources of meat for the schools. I called my son's school this morning, but I was directed to the District Office for questions. They are the ones that do the purchasing.

I also saw a report that any secondary infections that one of these animals may pick up through processing would be taken care of with proper cooking. That still seems to provide little comfort to me.

I just hope that this really makes some radical changes to this system.

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adam

Feb. 19, 2008 at 12:05:32 PM

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I am a filthy spammer, I deserve to be castrated in front of a live televised audience... Thanks for listening to me.

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Patricia L Johnson

Feb. 19, 2008 at 12:16:48 PM

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[This is a reply to comment by Free Thinker on Feb. 19, 2008 at 07:07:09 AM]

To: Free Thinker

Some first hand knowledge - My husband grew up on a dairy farm and the inspections are supposed to be random, yet his father knew the exact dates (perhaps through bribes) the inspector was going to show up each month and took whatever precautions needed to pass the inspections. As long as this country fails to realize the importance of work ethics, we're going to run into this type of problem. Rules and regulations are in place for our safety, but if they're not followed, they're worthless.

It appears there haven't been any reported cases of illness caused by this beef and operations at the Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co. have been suspended.

The Q&A sheet from the USDA on this subject may be found at the following link and might answer some of your questions

http://www.usda.gov/documents/usda_action_QA.pdf

Seems like every time we turn around there's another beef recall and you have to wonder if it doesn't go beyond the obvious. There hasn't been any secret made of the fact that our weakest link is our food supply chain.

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