Farmed Animal Watch - April 27, 2001

Farmed Animal Watch
April 27, 2001 (To Search This Page Press Ctrl F)
Issue #4

CONTENTS

1.    EPA Reports Dioxins in Animal Products
2.    New Foot-and-Mouth Woes
3.    Animals Killed on “Welfare Grounds” to be Used as Food?
4.    Consumers Switching to Alternatives
5.    Consumer Groups Urge Greater Precautions Against “Mad Cow” Disease
6.    Global Safe Food Alliance Announced
7.    South Carolina Blocks Pig Factories
8.    CAFO Runoff Rule Comment Period Extended
9.    Environmentalists Win Arizona Grazing Appeal
10. Rolling Blackouts Deadly for Chickens
11. Maryland Governor Rejects Meat and Poultry
12. Ethics Matter

1. EPA REPORTS DIOXINS IN ANIMAL PRODUCTS
After nearly a decade of study, the EPA released a draft report which estimates 95% of human exposure to dioxin comes from eating animal fat and dairy products. Dioxin, a byproduct of burnt fuel and forest fires, is believed to cause cancer in humans. Animal agriculture groups criticized the report and have called for further review which could delay the final report for several years.

“EPA Nears End of 10-Year Study of Dioxins in Meat,” Reuters, Randy Fabi, April 20, 2001
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010420/hl/meat_1.html

http://www.epa.gov/sab/dioxinpage.htm

2. NEW FOOT-AND-MOUTH WOES
Though it appears to be slowing, Britain is facing new woes from foot-and-mouth disease. Environmentalists are warning that the burning of hundreds of thousands of animal bodies is releasing hazardous levels of cancer-causing dioxins, and three people are suspected of having contracted the disease. European Union ministers are backing plans to extend the ban on the use of animal remains in farmed animal feed which was due to expire in June.

“Britain Fears Three Human Foot-And-Mouth Cases,” Reuters, Kate Kelland, April 24, 2001
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010424/sc/food_disease_britain_dc_3.html
“Britain reassures European neighbors over foot-and-mouth,” Associated Press, Paul Ames, April 25, 2001

3. ANIMALS KILLED ON “WELFARE GROUNDS” TO BE USED AS FOOD?
Animals killed on “welfare grounds” - those stranded on farms due to movement restrictions imposed to contain foot-and-mouth disease - might be allowed into the food chain to reduce the backlog of yet undisposed bodies. To date, about 420,000 such animals have been killed in the U.K. Disposing of the animals’ remains is proving problematic; the county of Devon alone has 133,500 animal bodies awaiting disposal. The use of napalm to disintegrate animal remains has also been suggested, as has been done in the U.S.

“Uninfected Culled Animals May be Allowed into Food Chain,” Guardian Unlimited, Ananova, April 25, 2001
http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/breakingnews/UK/0,2478,870822,00.html
"Inflamed debate: Renewed calls for napalm as the least-worst way of destroying animals culled in the UK's foot and mouth epidemic," New Scientist, April 25, 2001
http://www.newscientist.com/dailynews/news.jsp?id=ns9999656

4. CONSUMERS SWITCHING TO ALTERNATIVES
Daunted by animal disease outbreaks, European consumers are shunning beef and trying alternatives. Beef consumption in the European Union (EU) dropped 23% in March followed by an 18% drop in April. Since “mad cow” swept Europe, beef consumption dropped 40% in Germany, 30% in Italy, and 20% in Spain, France and Portugal. “Mad cow” and Foot and Mouth disease has cost the EU 94% of its beef exports, 73% of its pork exports and 31% of its poultry exports. Horse, kangaroo, ostrich, emu, crocodile, and, of course, chicken are all increasingly being used for food. Vegetarianism is also on the rise, with 1.5 million people in England claiming to have recently become vegetarian according to an April poll. Americans have also been affected, with a recent survey showing 14% of 815 primary household shoppers have changed their dietary habits out of fear of the diseases, most having reduced or eliminated ground beef.

“Disease Fears Still Limit European Beef Consumption,” AgWeb News, Darcy Maulsby, April 24, 2001
http://www.agweb.com/news_show_news_article.asp?file=AgNewsArticle_20014241240_299&newscat=GN
Animal Advocates Fight to Keep Horses Off the Menu,” LA Times, Scott Gold, April 15, 2001
http://www.latimes.com/news/asection/20010415/t000032051.html
“Australia refutes European kangaroo meat critics,” Reuters Worldwide, April 12, 2001
“Consumers’ fear carry over to food decisions,” USA Today, Anita Manning, 8D, April 19, 2001
http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20010419/3247546s.htm
See also: “More Horses Go to Slaughter to Feed Europe,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, Amy Worden
http://inq.philly.com:80/content/inquirer/2001/04/24/front_page/SHORSE24.htm
“Europe’s tastes are changing,” USA Today, Ellen Hale, April 11, 2001
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2001-04-11-foot-europe-food.htm

5. PUBLIC INTEREST GROUPS URGE GREATER PRECAUTIONS AGAINST “MAD COW”
At an April 16^th public meeting, public interest groups urged the FDA to implement greater precautionary measures against “mad cow” disease by prohibiting the use of blood and blood products, pig and horse proteins, plate waste, and gelatin in feed for ruminant animals. Milk and milk products are also currently allowed in ruminant feed, though the FDA’s originally proposed banning all ruminant proteins from ruminant feed. The groups further urged the FDA to prohibit the feeding of any mammalian protein to any mammal.

“Consumer groups want broader feed ban,” Feedstuffs, Sally Schuff, April 23, 2001
http://www.feedstuffs.com
Additional information on the risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (“mad cow”) disease in the U.S. can be found at: “Mad cow USA: America denies having BSE, but has yet to prove it,” Deborah MacKenzie, New Scientist, February 10, 2001
http://www.newscientist.com/nsplus/insight/bse/madcowusa.html

“Fighting to Keep `Mad Cow Disease’ Out of U.S. Herds,” FDA Veterinarian, March/April 2001
http://www.fda.gov/cvm/index/fdavet/2001/Mar_Apr.PDF
“USDA Mad Cow Strategy: Don’t Look, Don’t Find,” VegSource Interactive, Jeffrey A. Nelson, April 3, 2001
http://www.vegsource.comhttp://www.vegsource.com/articles/bse_usda.htm

6. GLOBAL SAFE FOOD ALLIANCE ANNOUNCED
The formation of a new coalition addressing food safety issues, and meat production in particular, was announced on April 24^th. The coalition members include animal protection, consumer, farm, labor and faith-based organizations. Speaking at the press conference were representatives of the Animal Welfare Institute, Farm Sanctuary, the Government Accountability Project, Public Citizen and United Poultry Concerns. The Alliance plans to mobilize grassroots support against factory “farming” and other food safety hazards. Major media outlets covering the event included Fox News, CNBC, NBC, and ABC Radio.

Public Citizen Press Release, April 24, 2001
http://www.citizen.org/CMEP/rad-food/GSFA/PressReleasePCjoinsGSFA.htm

7. SOUTH CAROLINA BLOCKS PIG FACTORIES
Fearing environmental degradation similar to that experienced by neighboring North Carolina, the governor of South Carolina imposed a 15-day moratorium on the construction of large pig production facilities in the state. The emergency order, intended to give regulators time to considering a permit for Smithfield Foods to build two huge pig factories, may be extended. Smithfield already has 30 such operations in the state, with an average of 5,000 pigs in each. North Carolina has a moratorium on such operations.

“S.C. Mulls Factory-Style Hog Farms,” Associated Press, Jennifer Holland, April 24, 2001
http://wire.ap.org/APnews/?SITE=NEKEA&FRONTID=HOME

8. CAFO RUNOFF RULE COMMENT PERIOD EXTENDED
The EPA has delayed finalizing water pollution limits for large-scale poultry, pig and cattle operations (also known as concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). The public comment period will remain open until July 30^th, reportedly to give farm groups additional time to analyze costs and submit recommendations. The rule, proposed last December, would require large operators to obtain discharge permits and formalize a plan for managing animal waste. The American Farm Bureau said the regulations are unwarranted and voluntary, incentive-based programs should instead be used.

“EPA Extends Review Time on Feedlot Runoff Rules,” Poultry USA, April 2, 2001
http://www.wattnet.com/Newsroom/ViewNews.cfm?PG=1&nwsNum=10674
EPA Feedlot Rules Under Review,” Associated Press, April 2, 2001
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20010403/pl/farm_pollution_1.html
See also: http://www.epa.gov/owm/afo.htm
“Zero Tolerance,” Beef, Clint Peck, March 1, 2001
http://industryclick.com/magazinearticle.asp?magazineid=13&releaseid=5619&magazinearticleid=66366&SiteID=5

9. ENVIRONMENTALISTS WIN ARIZONA GRAZING APPEAL
The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) has won an appeal of the grazing permit in the Coronado National Forest, a 4,000 acre wilderness preserve east of Tucson, AZ. The initial decision to allow cattle back in the area included construction of new water facilities. The Sierra Club and Sky Islands Alliance joined CBD in the appeal and will continue to emphasize the inappropriateness of such wilderness utilization.

“Environmental Groups Win Grazing Appeal in Arizona,” AgWeb News, Darcy Maulsby, April 13, 2001
http://www.agweb.com/news_show_news_article.asp?file=AgNewsArticle_2001413917_429&newscat=GN

10. ROLLING BLACKOUTS DEADLY FOR CHICKENS
California’s potential rolling power blackouts could prove fatal to millions of chickens this summer. Birds are said to be the animals most susceptible to hot weather in that they require a constant flow of chilled, fan-blown air. As many as 150,000 chickens are kept in each building, and they could suffocate in as little as 15 minutes. Most larger operators in California’s $1 billion-a-year business reportedly have backup generators but many smaller ones do not.

“Rolling blackouts a life-or-death proposition for poultry,” Associated Press, April 4, 2001
http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/

11. MARYLAND GOVERNOR REJECTS MEAT AND POULTRY
For nearly two years now, Maryland Governor Parris Glendening has abstained from meat and poultry, reportedly for health reasons. This has not endeared him to Maryland poultry farmers whose business accounts for 40% of the state’s agricultural. While an industry trade group representative expressed concern for the governor’s new diet, a Purdue contractor expressed concern about the antibiotics and animal byproducts in the chicken feed she is obligated to use.

“Discouraged by Governor’s Diet,” The Baltimore Sun, Sarah Koenig, April 21, 2001
http://www.sunspot.net/bal-te.md.vegetarian21apr21.story

12. ETHICS MATTER
A recent survey by the Leatherhead Foresight Group found ethical matters (and food safety) to be among the five most important issues for the future of the food industry. The survey results are reported in the March 2001 issue of Egg Industry.

http://www.wattnet.com

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