Mad cow, related illnesses, and meat processing

Post by **XMEN Gambit** » Mon Jan 19, 2004 11:59 am

<a href="http://www.wired.com/news/medtech/0,128 ...  This article describes how some of those "processed meat products" come about, and how those processes could contribute to a mad cow outbreak. On another level, I find that who is arguing what to be quite curious. The meat producers want to keep things they way they are, insist the process is safe, and point to all the extra meat that is usable by doing this. But if no one could produce as much of that processed meat, the people buying it would have to buy other meat, which would be more expensive than the processed stuff and drive up demand AND prices. Wouldn't that possibly benefit the industry? The "consumer groups" want to eliminate the machines, forcing the producers to go back to a manual trimming process, which the industry says was a very dangerous job for the trimmers. I believe that danger (read Sinclair's "The Jungle!"), and would like to prevent people from having to do jobs like that. You'd think the "consumer groups" would, too. Then there's the possibility of someone's finger, tissue, or blood ending up in the meat products somewhere, and you'd think the consumer groups would be VERY much against that, too. Anybody else seeing strange things here? Is there a pattern?

XMENRudeJelly · Post by **XMENRudeJelly** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 8:00 am

On the surface, it does seem backwards... However, in the case of the meat processors, I think they are more concerned with profit margin rather than the actual meat prices. If the meat prices rise because there's less meat available on the market, it's not necessarily a plus for them if their processing costs also rise(having to resort to human workers to trim). I think this machine allows them to lower their costs and thus raise their profits. They will of course try to claim that their only concern is lower prices for consumers. On the other side of the issue, "consumer groups" who appear to be in favor or increasing the risk of human blood (AIDS anyone?) and tissue mixing with the processed meat, would seem to be ironic. However, I don't think these groups are what they claim to be. They aren't as much concerned with the safety of the meat supply as they are with something else. To me, they seem to be made up of folks who lean towards the animal rights camp. They are squeamish watching a machine chew up and spit out cow remains than watching a human worker do it. In the long run, for them as with many activists, they are more concerned with feeling good about an issue than with actually making a difference. I think in both cases, true motives are masked by a facade. <img src="http://webpages.charter.net/1ibcnya/mongheesm.jpg" style="border:0;"/>


Spreadin' the love with a butter knife...

XMENrudejellyDTM{FF}

XMEN Ashaman DTM · Post by **XMEN Ashaman DTM** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 4:47 pm

If you are any how aware of how things are done in the meat industry, you'll not want to worry so much about farmers. You'll worry MUCH more about the feed producers. They're the ones that grind down extra animal parts for feed. They're also the ones that haven't exactly been compliant with the regulations. Though that is also a part of the government for not stepping in when it should on those operations that aren't compliant. <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif ALT=";)"> Makes you wonder doesn't it? Also, there are cuts of meat that should be good to eat because they contain no nerve tissue. You'll want to avoid hamburger, cuts from the spinal cord area, and ones that involve vertebrae. You can still buy a cut of meat and have it ground into hamburger though. <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif ALT=";)"> This is going from the fact that scientists have never found any of the offending protiens (that cause BSE, and variant CJ disease in humans). Also, the fact that only about 170 people got variant CJ disease in Britain, out of millions, should put the numbers in perspective. BUT! I am going to eat buffalo myself. No antibiotics, hormones, and they use natural feed (like grass). <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D"> The meat isn't as gamey as you'd think, and it's actually healthier for you than beef. <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif ALT=";)">

BlackRider · Post by **BlackRider** » Tue Jan 20, 2004 5:11 pm

There's actually a buffalo farm with in an hour's drive from me. <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif ALT=":)"> I tend to eat more lamb than any other meat. Lamb's much better... really good in omelets w/ green peppers, red onions, and various cheeses. :P COLORS!

XMENRudeJelly · Post by **XMENRudeJelly** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 8:37 am

We lived near a buffalo (actually bison, but hey who really cares) farm when we lived in Mansfield, TX. It was off of Cannon Drive. I drove by there frequently. But I'm here to tell ya...I never once saw any buffalo with wings. I'm thinking that Hooters must import their buffalo wings from somewhere else. <img src=http://www.boomspeed.com/natila/headscratch.gif ALT=":scratch"> <img src="http://webpages.charter.net/1ibcnya/mongheesm.jpg" style="border:0;"/>


Spreadin' the love with a butter knife...

XMENrudejellyDTM{FF}

Post by **XMEN Gambit** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 10:45 am

Hey, RJ, did that farm sell the meat? If so, you'll have to send me the info. I wouldn't mind having a good supply of the stuff close by.

XMENRudeJelly · Post by **XMENRudeJelly** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 2:31 pm

Sorry Gambit, I never had any contact with them other than to stop in the road and let my kids marvel over the great beasts. Take Matlock north all the way up to Cannon in Mansfield and turn left. Down at the bend in the road, is where the farm is, if I can remember clearly (it's been a year and a half since I've been to Mansfield.) <img src="http://webpages.charter.net/1ibcnya/mongheesm.jpg" style="border:0;"/>


Spreadin' the love with a butter knife...

XMENrudejellyDTM{FF}

XMEN Ashaman DTM · Post by **XMEN Ashaman DTM** » Wed Jan 21, 2004 5:22 pm

<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/laugh.gif ALT=":lol"> Buffalo == Bison. <img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/tongue.gif ALT=":p"> Out here you can ask the butcher in the meat department of the store to order some buffalo. They'll get their hands on it. Most stores don't sell it because people have never heard of it.

Mad cow, related illnesses, and meat processing

Mad cow, related illnesses, and meat processing

Re: Mad cow, related illnesses, and meat processing

Re: Mad cow, related illnesses, and meat processing

Re: Mad cow, related illnesses, and meat processing

Re: Mad cow, related illnesses, and meat processing

Re: Mad cow, related illnesses, and meat processing

Re: Mad cow, related illnesses, and meat processing

Re: Mad cow, related illnesses, and meat processing