Farmed
Animal Watch
A Project of Animal Place
December 20, 2001
(To Search This Page Press Ctrl F)
Issue #46
CONTENTS
1. Senate Amends/Postpones Farm Bill
2. Making Birds Grow Faster
3. The Trials of Factory Farming
4. Tyson Foods Indicted for Illegal Aliens
5. Salmonella Testing Failure Wont Shut Meat Plants
6. New Reports on Diet and Health
1. SENATE AMENDS/POSTPONES FARM BILL
Democrats have ceased trying to pass the Senate version of the Farm Bill this
year. Republicans are strongly opposed to the $73.5 billion measure which they
consider to be too costly and contrary to free trade. The Bush administration
has argued that subsidies in the Democratic bill will overstimulate production
and depress prices. The subsidies are also said to primarily benefit big
agricultural operations. Republican leaders contend there is no need to hurry
with a vote since current farm programs do not expire until next year. The House
version of the Farm Bill was passed last month.
Last week, the Senate killed a Republican amendment to the Farm Bill which would
have made it easier to overturn federal regulations deemed harmful to farmers’
economic safety or security. Opponents of the amendment had argued that it would
make safeguards, such as the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act,
unenforceable. The Senate also voted down a proposal to scrap $2 billion in
dairy subsidies. Critics say the subsidies will encourage herd sizes to
increase, potentially requiring the government to buy more surplus milk to
prevent a collapse of the market.
“Democrats Pigeonhole Farm Bill Till 2002,” The Washington Post, John
Lancaster, December 12, 2001.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3473-2001Dec19.html
“Senate rejects effort to ease regulations affecting farmers,” Las Vegas
Review-Journal, Tony Batt, December 16, 2001.
http://www.lvrj.com/lvrj_home/2001/Dec-16-Sun-2001/news/17675791.html
“Senate Oks Dairy Farm Subsidies,” Associated Press, Philip Brasher,
December 11, 2001.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27821-2001Dec11.html
2. MAKING BIRDS GROW FASTER
“Broiler” chickens in the U.K. have been bred to reach 5.72 pounds in 6
weeks. Lameness and heart failure are common afflictions resulting from this
rapid growth rate. The two dominant breeding companies plan, in the next 5
years, to make chickens reach 6.61 pounds in the same amount of time. Animal
welfare advocates allege that the birds will suffer even more. The companies
claim health problems will be fewer because the birds will also be bred to be
more robust. This article quotes the responses of leading supermarket chains to
the news. Generally, they state that growth rates should be limited if they
cause welfare problems.
In the U.S., efforts are underway to chemically increase the efficiency of
chickens’ digestive systems. Other researchers are attempting to speed the
growth of turkeys by injecting eggs with a substance which accelerates protein
absorption. The poults hatch 10% larger and could reach market weight in 50 days
rather than the 60 days it current takes. The digestive efficiency of domestic
birds is contrasted with that of their wild cousins.
“Stores Call for Limits on Chicken Growth Rates,” The Independent, December
11, 2001.
http://webpublisher.lexisnexis.com/index_edit.asp?layout=story&gid=1130000913&did=44MS-CVY0-0105-4027-00000-00&cid=480004048&b=s
“Turkeys gobble young,” Nature, Helen Pearson, December 12, 2001.
http://www.nature.com/nsu/011213/011213-13.html
3. THE TRIALS OF FACTORY FARMING
A National Law Journal review of recent trends lists the environmental liability
of factory farming among newly successful litigious actions. The article
recounts specific legal actions against various pig and poultry operations,
including the largest-ever such “environmental nuisance” judgement, a $19.7
million judgement against Buckeye Egg Farm in Ohio.
In a Business News article, two agricultural economists explain the trend toward
“mega-farms”and why they believe it is slowing. Environmental regulations
and risks to the food safety are cited.
“New ways to win,” Miami Daily Business Review,” Margaret Cronin Fisk,
December 13, 2001.
http://webpublisher.lexisnexis.com/index.asp?layout=story&gid=1130000913&cid=480004048&did=44NK-Y110-00D9-N1H7-00000-00&b=s
“Agricultural Economist Thinks Trend toward Mega-Farms is Slowing,”
Post-Bulletin, December 16, 2001.
http://rooster.yellowbrix.com/pages/rooster/Story.nsp?story_id=26165227&scategory=Food&ReturnURL=&StoreName=&utype=b&ID=rooster&
4. TYSON FOODS INDICTED FOR ILLEGAL ALIENS
Executives of Tyson Foods, the world’s largest poultry producer, have been
indicted on charges of conspiracy to smuggle illegal immigrants. The aliens were
enlisted to work at 15 Tyson plants in 9 states. The company is alleged to have
“cultivated a corporate culture in which hiring of illegal alien workers was
condoned to meet production goals and to cut costs to maximize profits.” The
36-count indictment stems from a 2-1/2 year investigation by the INS. The scheme
is believed to date back to 1994. Tyson’s denies the charges and points out
that they are “limited to a few managers who were acting outside of company
policy....” In 1998, the company agreed to pay a $6 million fine to settle
allegations that it had provided gifts to a former U.S. Agriculture Secretary.
“U.S. Charges Tyson Foods with Alien Smuggling,” Reuters, December 19, 2001.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20011219/ts/crime_tyson_dc_3.html
5. SALMONELLA TESTING FAILURE WONT SHUT MEAT PLANTS
A federal appeals court confirmed a lower court decision that the USDA cannot
shut down meat plants that fail Salmonella testing. The decision is a blow to
the modernization of meat inspection which the USDA began implementing 5 years
ago. The standards are based on average plant contamination levels around the
country. The case arose when the USDA shut down a now-bankrupt processing plant
which had failed Salmonella testing 3 times. (The contaminated meat was allowed
to be sold. The plant was a major supplier of ground beef for school lunch
programs.) The USDA considers the testing to be a good indicator of a plant’s
sanitariness. The meat industry argued that the contamination occurred in the
slaughterplant, and was not the processor’s fault. The court ruled the
USDA’s action was not in line with the 1906 law that allows the agency to
prevent contaminants from being added to meat. It noted that, since Salmonella
is “present in a substantial proportion of meat and poultry products, [it] is
not an adulterant per se....”and can be destroyed by cooking. In his column,
meat industry commentator Steve Bjerklie explains why the standard’s
implementation, rather than the standard itself, was flawed. The USDA has vowed
to continue testing and to shut down plants that don’t meet statutory
and regulatory requirements. Recently, the Senate rejected legislation designed
to ensure the USDA could close plants that violated Salmonella limits.
“Meat Processors Can’t Be Shut Down,” The Washington Post, Marc Kaufman,
December 12, 2001.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28917-2001Dec11.html
“Perspective,” Meat News, Steve Bjerklie, December 18, 2001.
http://www.meatnews.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Article&artNum=2338
“USDA to Keep Testing Meat Processors,” Associated Press, Philip Brasher,
December 18, 2001.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20011218/pl/meat_safety_2.html
“US meat safety takes ‘backward step,’” New Scientist, Kurt Kleiner,
December 19, 2001. http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99991711
A lengthy article on the mobile slaughter/processing unit reported in the
previous issue of Farmed Animal Watch can be found at: http://web.lexis-nexis.com/more/sosland/19469/7791698/4
6. NEW REPORTS ON DIET AND HEALTH
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher warns Americans that they are heavier and
more sedentary than ever. In a new report, he points out that excess weight is
gaining on smoking as the cause of the most preventable disease and death.
Obesity among adults has doubled since 1980, with an estimated 61% of U.S.
adults and 13% of children and adolescents being overweight. Heavy people are
more likely to have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, asthma,
arthritis and certain cancers. Among other things, Satcher encourages Americans
to eat more fruits and vegetables. He also notes that, at the very least,
schools need to comply with a USDA regulation that no low-nutrition foods be
available to children at mealtimes.
People who consume a diet high in meat and/or dairy products are at
substantially higher risk for certain cancers. Researchers at the National
Cancer Institute and Tufts University surveyed residents of Nebraska. They found
that those who ate the most meat had 3.6 times the risk of esophageal cancer and
twice the risk of stomach cancer. Those who consumed a lot of dairy products,
and tended to also eat a lot of meat, had double the risk for both cancers. The
findings adds to previous studies that have linked meat eating to certain
cancers, most notably colon cancer.
“Surgeon General Orders Americans to Lose Weight,” Reuters, Maggie Fox,
December 13, 2001.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/htx/nm/20011213/sc/health_obesity_dc_3.html
“Study Links Meat Consumption with Cancer Risk,” Reuters, December 20,
2001.
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20011220/hl/meat_1.html