- Author: Julie Finzel
At the link below you will find an article published in the Western Farm Press that summarizes the findings of a newly published survey that asked Americans about their perceptions regarding food and its production in America today.
- Author: Julie Finzel
In a Western Ag Reporter from October 2012, I saw this article on a recent Canadian ban on the importation of horses bound for slaughter. According to the article, the ban is partly due to impending EU regulations that would require lifetime medication records accompany each horse being slaughtered for human consumption.
http://www.examiner.com/article/canada-closes-its-slaughterhouse-doors-to-american-horses
- Author: Julie Finzel
Genetically Engineered (GE) organisms, commonly known as Genetically Modified Organims (GMO), are a hot topic in society today. Below I have provided two peer-reviewed, objective articles, discussing the saftey of GE foods.
ANR GE Food Safety
Society of Toxicology Position Paper
- Author: Julie Finzel
The San Jose Mercury News published a somewhat objective article reviewing the issues surrounding Proposition 37, the food labeling proposition on the ballot in California this November.
- Author: Julie Finzel
The American Meat Institute (AMI) has released a video which explains why it is essential for cattle to treated humanely during unloading and movement through processing operations; for example, agitated cattle produce adrenalin which results in tougher meat; bruised sections must be cut away as waste - The video emphasizes that animals are stunned making them unconscious prior to slaughter; however, following stunning, it is normal to see some uncoordinated movement, especially of the unrestrained rear leg, pictures of which are prominent in undercover videos - The video advises that the consumers are generally not permitted access to processing plants because visitors could unintentionally introduce contamination; given the machinery and knives that are used in the plants visitors could become injured; employees could be distracted by the presence of visitors; and visitors can cause animals to become agitated and frightened.
* The August 24, 2012 AMI news release, titled "Glass Walls: A Look Inside a Typical Large Beef Plant" is posted at http://blog.meatami.com/2012/08/glass-walls-a-look-inside-a-typical-large-beef-plant/
* The video, titled "Video Tour of Beef Plant Featuring Temple Grandin; the Value of Calm Cattle" is posted at http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=VMqYYXswono
