Cattle and Cattlemen often get a bad rap when it comes to the media. The February 2008 recall of 143 million pounds of beef was designated a Class II by the USDA. The USDA 's Class II designation stated that there was a remote chance for illness upon consumption of the beef from the packing plant in California. While the packing plant was at fault, and there is no denying a slipup occurred, there is no reason to believe that children were in danger of becoming dangerously ill from the meat which had been sold to schools. The meat in question had already been eaten, distributed two years ago before the recall was in effect . There has been no proof that any of the meat was bad and there have been no reports of illness caused from eating the meat.
The abuse of the animals shown in the video was inexcusable and inhumane and could have been the contributing factor in the decline in the health of those animals instead of a communicable disease such as BSE. The USDA's BSE safe guards are the most stringent in the world. There have been three confirmed cases of BSE in cattle here in the United States and all were euthanized and the carcasses destroyed. The USDA inspectors were able to follow the information from the eartag on one of the animals, it was found to have been shipped from outside of the USA before the borders were closed between the USA and Canada. Along with BSE another illness that we read about is E.coli, usually in the same breath as ground beef. E.coli exists everywhere, in animal feces and most notably even that of the human species. Washing our hands and countertops before,during and after preparing raw meats and avoiding cross contamination by not placing vegetables, fruits and cooked meats on the same plate with raw meat are guide lines for safe preparation of food. It is simple enough to avoid illness with smart, healthy handling when preparing food. Washing vegetables and fruits even if the package states it is pre-washed reduces the chance of becoming ill and when using ground beef, cook it thoroughly. Cooking ground beef to a temperature of 160 degrees F. kills E. coli O157: H7 bacteria, as well as most other pathogens.
While the media has repeatedly hammered the beef industry surrounding disease related illnesses due to beef consumption, Dateline NBC covered reports of E.coli caused by substances other than beef. Those reports were enlightening because they touched on some of the most common place food items in our homes and restaurants, things we take for granted, seeming innocent things that are served and eaten everyday, from the ice in our glass, the pre-washed and bagged salad served on our plates or water in a water cooler at a golf tournament. Victims who consumed them were struck down by severe gastrointestinal symptoms and in the case of a teenage boy in Arizona who only drank water from a cooler while at a golf tournament ; death. The culprit in the water was Norovirus. Officials believed that a sick employee who had not washed his hands had contaminated the ice in the coolers, not E-coli from beef.
Most beef producers are responsible caretakers of the animals they raise and of the land they live and work on. The ones who mistreat their animals and over use the land get a great deal of notice compared to those of us who care for our sick or injured animals and cull out the ill and infirm not fit for market. We could not stay in the business if we did not care for our animals or about the people who eat our product, the consumer. Our food sources are still the safest in the world, especially beef, it's what I feed my family. There is no excuse for being uninformed and it isn't enough to listen to just one side of an issue or to accept information just because it comes from a news source. Any information should be backed up with substantiated facts.
Cattle supply more than the steak on your plate. Here are some acts about cattle by-products that you might find interesting
Food:
Gelatin candies, dairy products, desserts, diet products, jellies and marshmallows.Household Products use beef by-products.
You'd be surprised at the number of products in your home made with cattle by-products No matter where you live, you likely have several of the following products in your home made from fats and proteins: |
- Candles
- Ceramics
- Crayons
- Cosmetics
- Deodorants
- Detergents
- Floor Wax
- Insecticides
- Insulation
- Linoleum
| - Mouthwash
- Paints
- Paper
- Perfume
- Plastic
- Photographic film
- Shaving Cream
- Soaps
- Synthetic Rubber
- Textiles
- Toothpaste
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Pharmaceuticals:
Since cattle are organically similar to humans, our bodies easily accept medication or a treatment made with animal components: |
- Blood factors (for treating hemophilia, killing viruses and making anti-rejection drugs).
- Chymotrypsin (promotes healing of burns and wounds).
- Collagen (used in plastic surgery and to make non-stick bandages).
- Cortisol (anti-inflammatory).
- Glucagon (treats hypoglycemia or low blood sugar).
- Heparin (anticoagulant used to treat blood clots).
- Insulin (for treating diabetes or high blood sugar).
- Pancreatin (aids in digestion of food).
- Thrombin (coagulant which helps blood clot).
- Vasopressin (controls intestinal and renal functions).
- Vitamin B-12 (prevention of B-Complex deficiencies).
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Textures/Apparel:
Cowhides provides us with leather, which is used to make clothing, shoes, boots, belts, purses, wallets, gloves, luggage, and automobile and furniture upholstery.
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Travel:
Cattle by-products help us to get us where we're going- whether it's by land, air or sea: |
- Antifreeze contains glycerol derived from fat.
- Asphalt contains a binding agent from beef fat.
- Beef fats and proteins are used to make auto and jet lubricants, outboard engine oil, high performance greases, and brake fluid.
- Glue from beef protein is used in automobile bodies.
- Tires have stearic acid, which makes rubber hold its shape
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For more information go to the following:
Dateline NBC... Msnbc.com ...key words... E.coli in Spinach
USDA ... FSIS Recalls
Colorado Cattlemen's Association...www.coloradobeef.org
National cattlemen's