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flourman, That is a very interesting and deep subject. So a few questions to ponder,. Would you rather they they let them stay sick and then take sick animals to be butchered , that we could eat them? My real concern is steriolds and growth harmones ( maybe not spelled right)and manore feed to chickens?!?. After all we are what we eat?!?. As for what have I done about it. I buy beef from a local farmer that dosen't give them the growth harmones or steriolds. and raises his own grain and hay. As for antibiotics, only if needed. I don't think that you can remove "chemicals", can you? Unless you raise your own, your at the mercy of those that raise it for us.

flourman, I addeda comment to your question, but for some reason B.C. wouldn't let it post. Yes, I do wonder about all the stuff that they give to the animals that we eat. But, what is the "worst", giving them the antibiotics or letting us eat animals that are sick.? What really concerns me is all the "steriolds and growth hormons" that they give them,. And then what they "feed" chickens. So, what do I do about it, I buy beef and eggs(when I can) from a local farmer that dosen't do that to his beef.

 Hi Granna2 - not sure why your post was flagged, but I have approved it - thanks!

Patty

 P.S. Flourman - I would advise that if you are concerned, you should purchase your beef from a local farmer who practices organic farming. Not sure what part of the country you live in, but it seems that sustainable/local farming trends have flourished all over the country. Good luck!

Thanks Patty,

I have my own personal quams about the misuse of antibiotics in the world and an even bigger issue with the thrill of organics, but with respect to what you're asking I think your facts are slightly skewed to what is portrayed on TV or in the popculture media outlets. There are several food safety plans and guidelines which are strictly enforced in various countries around the world which monitor and regulate the administering of antimicrobials to animals by vets and/or farmers. There are standard withdrawl periods where an animal might not be allowed to go to slaughter or a cow milk not have milk for sale to humans which therefore means there aren't antibiotics in the product anymore at time of sale. Furthermore, these products are tested for residues of antimicrobials in the product prior to sale to public. Antimicrobials are used in animal production because of the structure and risks which are now highly associated to modern farming. It's economical more feasible to farmers to treat say a flock of chickens at certain ages for things like bronchitis or other fungal infections which thereby reduces the loss of chickens to illness or stress. Alternatively, antimicrobials could be used to help an animal get through a stressful time, or to help them gain weight. The antibiotics are also used at different levels, much like we humans get different doses depending on our illness level. I think the thing we really need to remember in cases like this where everyone says "Organic is the only way!" is that organic farming has it's own risks as well and is not the failsafe food either. No food is completely safe and people often forget that. Organics may have higher bacterial counts or I know in some cases, what is classified as "organic" just means that certain pesticides or antibiotics may have actually been used, but under a different guideline. There is a lot of grey area in the classification. Personally, I'd be more concerned about the ridiculous amount of antimicrobial hand sanitizers there are out there and the even higher number pumped out into the water system before I'd worry about the meat I'm eating. Be smart about the product you buy, buy it fresh if possible, handle and store it properly, and cook it properly (including eggs!!!). Just thought I'd be the devil's advocate here.

Thanks everyone for your input on this matter. Please keep this thread alive. I thought I'd bring it up because it should be addressed.

I also have been kicking around the issue of sugar and fat. I know its a subject that many don't want to hear or even talk about, but its important to bring it out in the open and see where it goes as well. Thanks flourman

I also would like to add that the average American  consumes 200 pounds of sugar a year. The sugar consumption includes soft drinks. To me thats alot of sugar. What does all that sugar do to your heart rate and blood pressure? Can all that sugar consumption alter your normal mood patterns? Can it cause a high and low mood swing? Whats your take?

 Fat Kid, thanks for the informative reply.

Yeah...Thanks for your insight...fatkid .. that deals with the heath risks associated with antibiotics in the food chain. First off I don't watch tv or what you refere to as pop culture media outlets..I use common sense to guide me and not the mainstream media. And NO I'm not ."slightly skewed" about the facts. No there's no "gray areas" in the classification of any foreign chemical substances that are entered into the food chain. Its a fact that the scientist have warned of those foreign chemicals people consume on a daily basis, and its up to you to take the preventive measures. I always boil hamburg in salted water and drain and rinse it several times.... if its has a alot of "blood matter"..... The chemicals do exhist in the blood and if you want to eat it, boil it or take the chances the next time you get a blood test. When you do and if the test comes back as a high count of "white blood cells"..ask yourself ...what did I consume in the last week or month? Chemicals in your blood and urine will most certainly give a false positive reading.

And as far as the "egg issue" try my egg noodles...they are boiled and thereby free of chemicals, unless you eat them raw.

Fat Kid:

 There are several food safety plans and guidelines which are strictly enforced in various countries around the world which monitor and regulate the administering of antimicrobials to animals by vets and/or farmers.

Not to be a nudge fatkid because I do value your thoughts but, do you really think "There are several food safety plans and guidelines which are strictly enforced"? I emailed the fda about those tainted tomatoes and told them the outbreak is from fresh manure on fields where the tomatoes are grown. They are now using a alphanumeric unique identifer to track the produce because they can't locate the source AKA ...a bar code.... I did give them a clue as to where to locate the source.

"I said if you want to find the source use your nose. Fresh manure on fields stinks and people talk about the smell." So Patty if you was wondering where I was all this time, I was dealing with the fda.

flourman:

I emailed the fda about those tainted tomatoes and told them the outbreak is from fresh manure on fields where the tomatoes are grown. They are now using a alphanumeric unique identifer to track the produce because they can't locate the source AKA ...a bar code.... I did give them a clue as to where to locate the source.

"I said if you want to find the source use your nose. Fresh manure on fields stinks and people talk about the smell."

                                                      UPDATE:

The fda and cdc have acknowledged that jalapeno  peppers are ALSO  identified as tainted.

The source of the contamination WILL NOT be identified by a " alphanumeric unique identifer" ..YET

The source will be located by  interviewing residents near farms that remember a bad odor in march-april.

Hi, I find all of this very interesting. But I do have a question, Fatkid, if all of this is so closely checked, Why are we getting saminella and e-colei (spelled wrong) from meats? and other foods, coming from the food it's self? I remember a Dr. telling my granddaughters mother, that in his opinon, what the Cow was being feed and given is why so many babies/children can't drink milk. It for sure is worth considering and paying attention to!  Do any of you remember when the subject of '"atty tumors" on chicken was talked about ? That's a fatty looking blob, usually under the breast skin.

flourman, Dosen't it 'amaze" you at how "DUMB!" some of our Gov. offices and agents can be. So much for regulations and close checks. Maybe the real answer is to quit importing foods from country's that have this problem "so much". How often is the problem from a company in the U.S.?

 If they can't find the source then they could request to the packaging company's to wash the produce in a mild soap and water spray.

What do you think about that idea?

Maybe I'd rather wash it myself. I don't know if I ment "organic" beef,?!?, I don't think? But, then I'am not sure what "Organic" really means, since it seems to mean different thing to different people and places. We lived in an area when I was a teen, back in the '55-'65, that a local farmer used human waste from the septic tanks that he pumped on his garden. My step-dad always used processed waste from the local sewer plant on his garden, and none of us was ever sick or got any deases.But then he tilled it in really good and there wasn't any smell, or at least I don't remember any and the neighboors never complained, and I can tell you, if you've ever been out in the country when some farmer was "stirring" his pond,"you know it"! Well, guess I got off the subject. The "fatty" ( missed a key in the post) tissue or blob in Chicken is "tumors". They can be "cancer" but supposedly not "dangerous" to humans. I remove them anyhow.. And yes all the stuff they add and do dose concern me.

granna2:

We lived in an area when I was a teen, back in the '55-'65, that a local farmer used human waste from the septic tanks that he pumped on his garden. My step-dad always used processed waste from the local sewer plant on his garden, and none of us was ever sick or got any deases.But then he tilled it in really good and there wasn't any smell, or at least I don't remember any and the neighboors never complained...

Decomposed animal/human waste does not contaminate the environment or its surroundings because its decayed and free of bacteria. It has little if any smell. Granna2...back then and well before that time Decomposed animal waste was used so your correct. The cancers you refer to may be caused by a chemical spill in the area that the animals feed in.

Thanks for the feedback. 

How about providing field workers with proper sanitary places to go to the bathroom and wash their hands after using said facility.  Where do you think a field worker goes when he/she has to "go" when they are working 8-9 or more hours in the fields?  I think that is just as great a source of contamination as cow manure that is spread on a field.  I think the cow manure is less of a concern than the human waste that is deposited on the fields.  (Either by workers or by spreading) 

mittens:

How about providing field workers with proper sanitary places to go to the bathroom and wash their hands after using said facility.  Where do you think a field worker goes when he/she has to "go" when they are working 8-9 or more hours in the fields?  I think that is just as great a source of contamination as cow manure that is spread on a field.  I think the cow manure is less of a concern than the human waste that is deposited on the fields.  (Either by workers or by spreading)

Excellent point mittens. If you could figure that out then...." why can't the FDA and CDC figure that out as well."  ? The tainted produce IS CAUSED by un-decomposed animal/human waste and you can be assured the authorities know it. They act so BIG and BAD, but when it comes to a fact-finding mission, they lack common sense to get er' done.