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American Beef
- Thread starter Stewart
- Start date
novella
Active Member
I believe that the US lifted the ban on Canadian beef imports in order to obfuscate their own inadequate testing procedures when the truth about how much BSE is present in the US is known. Canada will be handy scapegoat.
Robert, as a matter of fact, the US testing procedures and extent of required testing are terribly inadequate compared with the procedures demanded in Europe, Japan, and Australia. There is no evididence that US beef is BSE-free, because there are no tests that show that. In fact, adequate testing is openly discouraged by the Dept of Agriculture.
Robert, as a matter of fact, the US testing procedures and extent of required testing are terribly inadequate compared with the procedures demanded in Europe, Japan, and Australia. There is no evididence that US beef is BSE-free, because there are no tests that show that. In fact, adequate testing is openly discouraged by the Dept of Agriculture.
Kenny Shovel
Active Member
Congratulations, you just got me to google 'cow tipping'. To quote a line from Blackadder, "The long winter evenings must just fly by".leckert said:
Robert
Active Member
novella said:
I don't buy it, novella. You don't just throw tons of money at a problem just because it's politically correct to do so. The amount of money invested in an issue should be proportional to the size of the problem And fear mongering aside, this one is still very small.
novella
Active Member
Robert said:
What exactly don't you buy?
That the required procedure and type of testing in the US is cursory compared with Europe and Japan? This is just a fact. The US only tests 'downer' cows (which have been eating the same food as nondowner cows) and only uses two tests that have proven to be very unreliable. The latest positive result from US beef was done in a UK lab.
That BSE is present in the US? It is definitely present. It cannot exist in isolated cases, but when the USDA is notified of a potential positive case, they treat it as an isolated incident (despite the way it is transmitted).
That BSE is fatal to humans? It is.
BTW, the USDA often throws tons of money at things just because there is political pressure to do so (political correctness not being relevant in this case). Aid to tobacco farmers and ad campaign for milk products are just two examples.
mehastings
Active Member
Robert said:
I don't want to start a war, but I'm wondering if I am missing something. I'm confused as to how political correctness is related to the way we inspect food. I mean, of course politics are involved, but to me "politically correct" is supposed to be a slur aimed at people using "sensitivly neutral language and attitudes" (like changing mail man to mail carrier). Has it evolved into something else?
Overall, I do agree with Novella. Our inspection procedures could be much better. Its really our own fault though. I think people in the US have become very lazy when it comes to what they eat. The sucess of major fast food resturants is proof of that. I would expect people in general to be more interested not only in meat inspection processes, but also the chemicals/hormones/antibiotics/etc. That go into the meat, milk and produce that they consume.
The last half gallon of milk I bought was about to expire the day after I bought it. I was complaining to a friend of mine who works at the super market (mostly about my own stupidity for not checking). She said it's probably because "nobody buys that organic stuff you drink. It's an extra $.25 per half gallon". For only $.25 I know that the milk I drink this week doesn't have antibiotics, pesticides (through grazing) or rBGH. I also try hard to get meats and eggs from local companies with good reputations. It doesn't guarantee anything, but it makes me feel better than buying a big slab of god-knows-what at Stop & Shop. For me its well worth the extra expense.
leckert
New Member
mehastings said:
The fall out from WWIII will get you health nuts first, because you haven't been building up your tolerance!
Guys like Robert and me (and, please God, some women like us!!) will be around long after the cockroach has gasped his final breath. We'll walk out of the cloud of radioactive dust, scratch our gonads, and say "Hey, I wonder if they nuked all the beer and twinkies?"
So we, the belly scratching, twinkie eating, tainted meat lovers will repopulate the earth! (sorry to speak for you Robert, but I feel a connection here!
)
Stewart
Active Member
Robert said:
Well, would you rather eat a bit of beef not knowing whether it was safe or diseased or eat something that has been certifiably proven as safe? I don't get your attitude; your government and its affiliates are playing with your life by not acknowledging something that can be strictly regulated and you support them for it.
mehastings
Active Member
Robert said:
This was probably the general consensus in the UK in 1995. What happened there in 1996 could easily happen here.
Caelda
New Member
Stewart said:
With all of the issues that our "governement and its affiliates" are playing with our lives . . . well, let's say Mad Cow is probably the last on my list of worries. Even if the government placed their stamp of approval, would that make you feel any better? Maybe it will give some the warm, tingly feeling of being looked after, but I wouldn't stake my life on it.
With that being said, the burger I ate last night was pretty good.
Mehastings, where do you live? Organic milk for $0.25 more? If the price was like that everywhere, I think more people would buy. It's a good $2 more a half gallon where I live--if they have it at all.