Marler Blog - Cargill and its subsidiaries have had E. coli problems in the past, and I am really not that old - Comments

susan barackman

bmarler@marlerclark.com (Bill Marler) — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 19:32:34 -0800

Fear not! All these meat recalls will soon be a thing of the past. Our wonderful USDA has a plan that will punish all those bad farmers who raised that tainted beef! Called NAIS(national animal identification system), it will require evil ranchers to be under more surveillance than illegals, drug dealers or child molesters. All those who own even one cow, pig, horse, chicken or other farm animal will be required to register their premises, microchip each critter, no matter if it is a pet or potential food. Then they must, under threat of huge fines, file birth, death and movement reports (within 24 hours) on every last critter on the place. If animal disease is even suspected in an area, the USDA can go in and kill all the animals. The purpose of this oh-so-wonderful-thanks-for-protecting-us program is to provide 48 hour traceback should a disease be suspected. The only problem with this program is that e-coli happens after the cow is slaughtered, which is when NAIS tracking stops. The beef is most vulnerable to being tainted in those processing plants. And the fact the majority of beef is raised by corporate agriculture, who will not be required to tag and track each animal because they raise them in lots, they they get only ONE number per groups of animals. Any one of those critters in that group could be diseased and who would know. But as long as there are appearances of something being done, the city dwellers will eat in peace, while granny and her few egg hens will be tracked closer than the illegals everybody is making such a fuss about and that will make our beef supply oh so safe. See nonais dot org for more info on the true impact NAIS will have on all of us who eat!

Stein

bmarler@marlerclark.com (Bill Marler) — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 19:32:34 -0800

It's time to go after Cargill again, but this time, make it known that they are one of the major ag companies that is pushing for the total destruction of the family farm, by shoving NAIS (National Animal Id System) on all of us. Funny thing is, all the small farmers would be required to comply, but claim it is not practical for them to fully comply. They proclaim that NAIS will stop ALL animals diseases that can make it to the food chain. All Cargill really wants to do is stifle the competition.
Under NAIS, they are coercing the government to give them a monopoly on the food supply, violating all the ant-trust laws that have been in existence for many years.

Gisela

bmarler@marlerclark.com (Bill Marler) — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 19:32:34 -0800

On the way home tonight on the radio the USDA is investigating the E-Coli beef recall, Apparently they are chasing Starlings that have been chipped, that poop in the grain bins that are used to feed the cattle therefore the cattle are transmitting the E-Coli .... And these are the people that are protecting us....Boy oh Boy are we in serious trouble ....One thing everyone needs to understand that grain is used to fatten up cattle, grain is not there normal forage, its grass/hay. Grain is whats causes the E-coli strain. But because Big Ag is for profits, Grain puts weight on in a short amount of time. Then you have the issue of over working your employees where accidents such as cutting the intestines and spilling the contents.

I do hope the little ones will be ok. Its time the USDA is reined in fully. They are compromising each and every one of us all for the sake of BIG AG and global trade.

We the consumer and small farmers,hobbyist are very sick and tired of all the recalls, not to mention what they intend to do to all of us with the NAIS. When looking at the numerous recalls, not one farmer or hobbyist is on that list. Its time to let you clients know to purchase there meat products locally from a farmer they trust. The meat that is in the stores are also from foreign countries pond off as USDA meat grown in the USA. Buyer beware.

Country of Origin labeling was past in the 2002 farm bill and do to big ag was pushed aside. The 2007 Farm bill we managed to get it back in with out Animal ID but time will tell if Big Ag AGAIN manages to lobby there way out of it.

And here we are suppose to have the safest food supply, what a joke.

GA Mundis, DVM

bmarler@marlerclark.com (Bill Marler) — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 19:32:34 -0800

I raise my own eggs and drink raw milk. In fact, every day for breakfast I have 2 to 4 raw eggs blended with raw milk and what ever fresh fruit is in season. I have never had an intestinal upset from my breakfast mix.
I can not say that about eating at one of our fast food restaurants.

All the microbes that cause trouble with food comes from the feeding/processing/management of the animals. Crowded conditions, feeding unnatural foods i.e. chicken poop to cows etc., stress then the need for antibiotics, hormones, arsenic and other chemicals change the animals ph so pathogenic or mutated micro organisms can gain a foot hold.

Animals grown in-sink with nature develop an excellent immune system that handles natural infections and since there is a minimum of antibiotic treatment the development of the superbugs is minimized or is nonexistent.

Grassfed beef is healthy for us as it contains conjugated linoleic acid that even protects the heart.The same is true for free range chicken and their eggs. Not only that but there are no lagoons
full of animal waste containing all sorts of toxins that need to disposed of into our rivers, streams and aquafers.

We have adequate disease control regulations that have worked for years and will continue to work if the USDA would just do its job. Because USDA is now working for the International Agriculture Corporations approving importations of animals world wide, is not inspecting imports or the slaughter houses as it should and even allowing
the processors hire their own inspectors we have had back to back meat recalls. Not only is this unforgivable for the pain, suffering and even death of consumers they now want to over regulate and kill off the only healthy animals we have (the animals owned by small farmers/ranchers/homesteaders/hobby breeders).

The American people should be UP IN ARMS at what the Factory farms have done to our food. No wonder there is so much cancer and illness, not to mention the food tastes like crap, and it is going to get worse if we don't stop the Nat'l Animal ID System. If we don't there will not be an alternative to the garbage these large companies are selling as food.

Most people that eat out of the grocery stores would not recognize the taste for grassfed beef or free range eggs, just to name a two. There is no comparison in taste, besides your body benefits from the natural compounds (without preservatives,etc.) and can heal itself with the correct nutrition.