#7d

Chapter 9 – What’s in the meat?

In 1997 an outbreak of E. Coli 0157:H7 hit Colorado and contaminated 35million pounds of Hudson beef. The nations industrialized and centralized food system is causing more breakouts because of the mass-production system. Many new food born pathogens are being discovered because of this production system. The hamburger was originally considered food for the impoverished and White castle changed the face of the burger. This caused beef consumption to be pushed beginning mass production, causing major E. Coli 0157:H7 breakouts. E. Coli 0157:H7 is mutated bacteria found in the digestive system. It kills children and harms adults producing bad stomach aches, cramps, anal bleeding and diarrhea can cause harmful diseases overtime, it gets into the meat through the animal fesses. Meatpacking industries filthy factories in early 1900’s caused change but quickly they dominated the FDA ultimately giving it no authority. Slaughterhouses constantly have E. Coli 0157:H7 breakouts and suitable meat is distributed anyways. Instead of changing their procedure companies simply “clean” the meat with ammonium nitrate. The cheapest meat in the U.S.A is cooked in the public school systems and causes many E. Coli 0157:H7 outbreaks.

Gems

• “The USDA plan, however has been significantly watered down during negotiations with the meat packing industry and Republican members of Congress. The new system would shift many food safety tasks to employees. The records complied by those employees-- unlike the reports traditionally written by federal inspectors -- would not be available to the public trough the freedom of information act. And meat-packing plants would not be required to test for E. Coli 0157:H7, a pathogen whose discovery might lead to immediate condemnation of their meat. Instead, they could test for other bacteria as a broad measure of fecal contamination levels; the results of those test would not have to be revealed to the government; and meat containing whatever organisms the test found could still be sold to public.” • “The USDA chose meat suppliers for its National School Lunch Program on the basis of the lowest price, without imposing additional food safety requirements.”

Thoughts & Reflections

This brings back memories from when I was in middle school and elementary school. I felt the pressure to fit in so I would have my parents stop packing my lunch and eat the horrible cafeteria lunch. Fellow students and me always wanted to protest this food and attempted to change the quality of food in our school but we had no idea as to why the food was so horrible and, now I FULLY GET IT! We didn’t even get REAL PLATES OR FORK AND KNIFES, OR WATER. Only milk, Styrofoam trays, and sporks. The government does not care about the people. This also brings me back to my “health” classes where we were brain washed. All the information our P.E teacher gaves us came from the U.S.D.A so if the supposedly know what is best for us, then why do they ignore this fact when it comes to the money. We should have been educated on the TRUTH!!!

Chapter 10 - Global Realization

After Communism collapsed and WWII ended Mc Donald’s opened its visit franchise abroad in Plauen, Germany. This was the first symbol of their Globalization. Many natives of the countries opposed Mc Donald’s but with time gave in because of the corporations dominating monstrosity. Countries such as Turkey whom highly opposed it became a country dominated with Franchises highly imitating American "culture". The Mc Donald’s raised the obesity rates in many countries, and brought with them their mass-production methods for their ingredients changing the face of the earth. Many people tried destroying Mc Donald’s but in doing so were intimidated and hushed by the corporations, giving Mc Donald’s the leeway to continue domination.

Gems

• “The success of McDonalds, Pizza Hut, and T.G.I Fridays in Germany has helped spark a franchise boom.” • "Today 44 million American adults are obese. An additional 6 million are 'super-obese'; they weigh about a hundred pounds more than they should. No other nation in history has gotten so fat so fast"

Thoughts & Reflections

I come from an itsy-bitsy town in the south France, St. Raphael. I’ve visited every summer since I was 5. The feeling I love when landing and sense the motherland, its indescribable. One summer I realized the place I loved so much for its cultural roots was no longer the same, WE NOW HAD MC DONALDS! I didn’t even realize the tremendous difference between the bloods inside of me until; one root began growing in the other. Mc Donald’s was the opposite of the culture we come from especially my family who is in the business of food, and now here it was taking over. It made me so mad to see it and to eat it when I was there. I remember once my whole family had a huge event and for some reason there was no food and we were all starving so my aunts husband thought hey, Mc Donald’s, so we ate Mc Donald’s on my grandmothers dinning room table, all 17 of us. She was the only one who didn’t eat it. I look at it now and see it as the utmost disrespect. It pains me and ingrains in my head even more that I will never eat fast food again. It is one thing to hurt your own culture, but to hurt others that’s where I draw the line!!

Epilogue – Have it your way

Dale Lasater raises cattle the old-fashion American way very un-conventional compared to the dominant discourse. There is still chance of natural farming; Red Top and In-N-Out are fast-food restaurants that use higher quality ingredients and better staff conditions. Corporations don’t have all the power they also have to obey the laws, and with change in legislation the American people can make a change. We can also vote to change every time we eat by choosing the right food and not giving our money to mass-production.

Gems

• "Throughout the Cold War, America's decentralization system of agriculture, relying upon millions of independent producers, was depicted as the most productive system in the world, as proof of capitalism's inherent superiority" • "Every month more than 90 percent of the children in the United States eat at McDonald's.”

Thoughts and Reflections

I thought this book was amazing and it has truly inspired me to get involved in changing American legislation and food ways. I am starting with baby steps by putting love into our schools roof garden and hopefully we can start a project exemplifying how all NYC roof tops should be covered in green, imagine how many acres that would be!! I am also participating at added value an urban farm, and getting the word out there to who ever will listen. I also think the further information at the back of the book is really insightful.