Other Health Issues and Information
Health problems caused by modern farming techniques
Bacteria and antibiotic resistance
- The intense confinement, dirty conditions, and poor health of animals in factory farms provide ideal conditions for bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli to spread.ref Consumer Reports magazine recently published an article about the commonly dangerous bacteria levels in chicken – even in “premium” labels.ref
- The excessive and continuous use of antibiotics to combat animals’ infections is largely responsible for recent antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria affecting humans. The World Health Organization, the American Medical Association, and other health advocates are calling for the reduction or termination of this abuse of antibiotics.ref
- The 2006 outbreak of E. coli bacteria in California spinach was traced to contamination from bacteria-ridden feces from cows and pigs on a nearby farm.ref
Mad Cow disease
- Mad Cow disease is potentially a very serious issue. The number of people currently infected with the human form (variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease) is not yet known, as the incubation period is thought to be 10-30 years.ref
- Currently, less than 1% of slaughtered cows are tested for Mad Cow disease. At least one meat company wants to test and certify all of its animals, but the U.S. Agricultural Department (which regulates testing) won't allow it over fears that it could put large meat companies at a marketing disadvantage, spead public awareness of the issue, and expose more cases of infected animals. A federal judge has ruled against the Agricultural Department, which is filing an appeal.ref
- Cooking does not kill or destroy it, as it is carried in a type of protein – it's not a living organism.
- The protein that can carry the disease has been discovered in the milk of humans and animals, and it's believed that the disease can be spread by consuming milk products from infected animals.ref
- Many Alzheimer’s patients may actually have Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, as the symptoms are very similar. Studies (including one at Yale University) have shown that up to 13% of deceased Alzheimer’s victims actually were infected with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.ref Five million Americans are currently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease – and the number is expected to continue to soar.
- It’s still common practice to feed animal remains – including cow blood, other farm animals, and chicken manure – to cows and other farm animals, which can potentially spread Mad Cow and other serious diseases.ref
- Animals that appear healthy may actually be infected with Mad Cow disease, and “downers” (animals that are too ill to walk, potentially from Mad Cow or other serious diseases) are frequently introduced into our food supply.ref
Amyloidosis
- It was just discovered that the delicacy foie gras (fatty liver from force-fed geese and ducks) can carry a dangerous disease called amyloidosis. It can also be carried in meat from sheep and cows. It's believed to be transmitted via proteins in a manner similar to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.ref
Poor animal health
To see photos of the unhealthy conditions of animals in typical farms, click here. (Photos are not graphic, but may be unsettling to some viewers.)Farmed animals today are sick – these are sick and diseased chickens, pigs, fish, and cows, producing diseased and bacteria-laden flesh and pus-filled milk that even industry standards call “unhealthful.”
- During transport, many cows contract a type of pneumonia called “shipping fever.” An antibiotic that is extremely dangerous to humans is used to combat this illness.ref
- Veal calves are susceptible to respiratory and intestinal diseases because they are intentionally made anemic, and deprived of their mothers’ milk at birth.ref They are heavily treated with dangerous drugs to combat illnesses.ref
Cows (meat)
- Bovine growth hormone. Most milk contains a genetically altered form of bovine growth hormone, used to increase milk production. Bovine growth hormone greatly increases our risk of breast and prostate cancer.ref
- Pus, bacteria, antibiotics. Most milk contains excessive amounts of somatic cells – including pus cells (leukocytes), largely due to the use of bovine growth hormone to increase milk production. The added stress on the cows from this unnaturally high milk production results in udder infections, causing an increase of the amount of pus (along with the antibiotics used to try to control the infections), in the milk. The pus sometimes contains a bacteria linked to the horrific Crohn’s disease in humans.ref
Cows (dairy)
- The majority of pigs have pneumonia at the time of slaughter, and over half have stomach ulcers.ref
Pigs
- A government report found that most chickens are infected with leukosis (“chicken cancer“).ref
- Egg-laying chickens are typically packed into small, stacked cages, with huge manure pits that may not be cleaned for a year, resulting in dangerously high ammonia levels.ref Many die in these conditions, their bodies remaining in the cages. Chickens continue to produce eggs for human consumption while confined with the decaying carcasses.ref
- Worn-out egg-laying birds become such products as soups, pot pies, or similar low-grade chicken meat products in which the bruised condition of the meat is unnoticeable to consumers.ref
Birds
- About one-third of the fish and other sea animals we eat today are farmed. Most of the same problems with other factory-farmed animals exist – crowded, diseased conditions and over-use of antibiotics, pesticides and herbicides.ref
- Caution is advised when purchasing “wild” fish – investigations by Consumer Reports and The New York Times revealed that most salmon labeled for sale as “wild,” was actually farmed.ref
- Fish can be high in toxic metals and environmental contaminants – especially larger fish, and sea animals that filter the water (such as clams).ref
Fish
Chemicals, hormones, antibiotics and other drugs
- Modern meat and dairy industries – even small farming operations – rely heavily on chemicals, hormones, antibiotics, and many other drugs.ref
- A report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture revealed that chicken contains three to four times more potentially poisonous arsenic (used to promote growth, kill parasites, and improve meat color) than other poultry and meats. The arsenic-laced manure is then spread on agricultural fields as fertilizer.ref
Bird flu
- The intense confinement, dirty conditions, and poor health of animals in modern factory farms provide ideal conditions for the rapid mutation and spread of viruses. Scientists now recognize that factory farming is responsible for the recent spread of bird flu among birds and to humans.ref
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
- In 2003, Asia battled an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The disease eventually spread to 17 countries. Most researchers suspect that the disease spread to humans via pigs and other farm animals.ref
Stress hormones
- Animals raised and slaughtered under modern factory farm conditions can have high levels of stress hormones.ref Many people logically believe that these hormones may negatively affect humans when we ingest their meat.
Many American farming practices are unacceptable in European and many other countries
- Because of public health, environmental and animal welfare concerns, the European Union and some other countries do not allow many farming practices common in the U.S. – such as the use of hormones and arsenic, and the intense confinement of animals in cages and crates.