Are you concerned about antibiotics in your meats?

[NorCal Q Man]

ya know what salmonela does? IT KILLS THINGS.... If the animals here had salmonella...they would be obviously sick. It gets there AFTER SLAUGHTER. Which brings me back to the fresh thing again, this meat sits around for Lord knows how long, in the previous mentioned countries, normal practice is kill it in the morn for dinner. Salmonella hasn't the time to breed into something like it does in our meat factories here.

This isn't exactly true. Salmonella is the predominant bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract (and stool) of normal, healthy birds, just as E. Coli is in the colon of most mammals (including cows, pigs, and humans). It gets into our food primarily through unsanitary slaughter practices (i.e. machinated). When an animal is given antibiotics, there is ALWAYS the possibility of these colonized bacteria obtaining the DNA that code for resistance. The higher the exposure to antibiotics, the greater this risk.

If, then, a human ingests enough of this bacteria to overwhelm his or her body's primary immune system, he or she will be infected with an antibiotic resistant strain of food-borne illness. Additionally, there can be cross-colonization of bacteria from animals to humans in those who live in close proximity to animals harboring these resistant organisms. Then, if a human becomes infected through a weakened immune system, he or she may be infected with an antibiotic-resistant microorganism.

There is much to worry about because the "stronger" antibiotics that we have been forced to use carry the very real risk of significant side effects, which can damage your ears, kidneys, and liver to name a few organs. Moreover, drug companies are not developing new antibiotics at any appreciable pace, and if we run out of usable antibiotics, it won't be a pretty picture. Think of people dying from a simple skin infection from a cut.

Fortunately, none of these bacteria survive heat for long, which is why the USDA recommends cooking your meat to the proper temperature. Better yet, though more expensive usually, is to purchase meat from animals that have been hygienically slaughtered, minimizing the chance of contamination from the GI tract, and from animals that haven't been given unnecessary antibiotics.

There IS reason to be concerned, and if you are, you should use your money to tell companies the kinds of practices you would like to see.

 

[NorCal Q Man]

Those were the days.....lol

Steel beach picnic for passing oppie or emat inspection and if we had been out long enough a beer day....

NO i am not worried, it is stupid to believe a company would do something to harm people knowingly. Why would they try to go out of business on purpose? They wouldn't! The American people are smart, we will not be harmed by on purpose and allow a company to get away with it without repercussions from our pockets.

Again, NO I am not worried about the use of medicines in my food, I am worried about radiation that the gov't is forcing on us. (i.e. irradiated meat, super powerful x-rays for getting on a plane, etc) The gov has no competition, the private sector does.

Firstly, irradiated meat is NOT radioactive. It has been exposed to radiation but is not a source of radiation. Secondly, though I agree that the American people and many companies are smart and wouldn't knowingly allow harm to people, many are ignorant or misinformed about the sciences of epidemiology, infectious disease, and microbiology. That being said, I believe that the actual risk is exaggerated at times.

 

[mmmmeat]

Well yeah that's what I meant...you worded it much better than I. I meant its not generally in the bloodstream.....

And you are absolutely correct with the slaughtering. When I process my deer I eliminate the digestive system before I even move forward from esophagus to butthole(yep cut that right out, same with uninary tract....

I can almost guarantee big meat plants don't take the time to do it carefully thus spilling nastiness contaminating the meat.

Posted from my fancy android fone!!

 

[NorCal Q Man]

Well yeah that's what I meant...you worded it much better than I. I meant its not generally in the bloodstream.....

And you are absolutely correct with the slaughtering. When I process my deer I eliminate the digestive system before I even move forward from esophagus to butthole(yep cut that right out, same with uninary tract....

I can almost guarantee big meat plants don't take the time to do it carefully thus spilling nastiness contaminating the meat.

Posted from my fancy android fone!!

Exactly!

 

[---k---]

I think some use of antibiotics is required. I think over-use of antibiotics and hormones is bad. But, I got a lot more things on my plate to worry about, so I don't think much about it.

 

[Desert Dweller]

Only if I am the one with the infection...

 

[caseydog]

That is why I am out to rid the world of SPAM through the power of consumption.

You right wingers just don't get the whole "supply and demand" thing.

The more you consume, the more they will make. Of course, the increased demand will also create jobs. But, those new workers will make more SPAM. It's a vicious cycle. :shock:

(BTW, giving Hormel and tax cut won't create one single job)

CD

 

[caseydog]

I am concerned, but not so much because it's in the meat, but the overuse of anti-biotics in general in an overpopulated society. I suppose if you didn't though, you'd just lose as many people, maybe more, over time as you might from the ramifications. Frankly though, I'm not a proponent of making the tings that want to kill us stronger. That's why I hate terrorists.:becky:

One of the disturbing things in the article is that antibiotics are being given to healthy animals, to make them grow faster --- to get them to market faster.

That's just foolish, IMO. Even from a business perspective, it seems very shortsighted to do something now for a little extra profit, that could lead to new bacterial that could bankrupt you in the future.

CD

 

[bigabyte]

If processed pork equals jobs, then explain congress and the unemployment rate.:becky:

 

[caseydog]

I agree that the American people and many companies are smart and wouldn't knowingly allow harm to people, many are ignorant or misinformed about the sciences of epidemiology, infectious disease, and microbiology. That being said, I believe that the actual risk is exaggerated at times.

Another problem is that there is a line between "profit motive" and "greed" that gets crossed, and corners get cut, and antibiotics are misused -- and hormones and chemicals -- because a a reasonable profit is just not enough for some people.

On the other side, American consumers like cheap stuff. We vote for these practices with our dollars.

CD

 

[tamadrummer]

Firstly, irradiated meat is NOT radioactive. It has been exposed to radiation but is not a source of radiation. Secondly, though I agree that the American people and many companies are smart and wouldn't knowingly allow harm to people, many are ignorant or misinformed about the sciences of epidemiology, infectious disease, and microbiology. That being said, I believe that the actual risk is exaggerated at times.

My main point was picked up in that companies don't want to poison the public. It doesn't help their business and my second point was people being x-rayed without regard in air ports.

If a single ct scan is cause for alarm and that is with a very highly trained tech, the goons put in place with the useless TSA that have the machines tuned up to the highest levels. (many stories showing the people being dosed with huge amounts because the employees set the machines too hot) That is my issue. I am in school to become an RN, I have been through Microbiology theory and lab and have a minor grasp. I am not claiming to be a genius in epidemiology but I am also not stupid, I do not believe the gov't gives a crap while these businesses have to care!

 

[NorCal Q Man]

My main point was picked up in that companies don't want to poison the public. It doesn't help their business and my second point was people being x-rayed without regard in air ports.

If a single ct scan is cause for alarm and that is with a very highly trained tech, the goons put in place with the useless TSA that have the machines tuned up to the highest levels. (many stories showing the people being dosed with huge amounts because the employees set the machines too hot) That is my issue. I am in school to become an RN, I have been through Microbiology theory and lab and have a minor grasp. I am not claiming to be a genius in epidemiology but I am also not stupid, I do not believe the gov't gives a crap while these businesses have to care!

I agree with you about the use of the full body scanners at airports. The increased risk of cancer, particularly among frequent fliers, flight personnel, etc., is far greater than the potential benefits of this screening over traditional methods.

/end thread hijack

 

[jalon]

Stop fear-mongering with the airport scanners, they're fine. Nuff' said.

Back to the subject on hand...antibiotics. If you are concerned, look into getting your meat from small farms or small operations that have limited production. Might find one that has a source of meat that isn't full of the bug killers.

Jalon

 

[landarc]

A couple of clarifications without getting any more boring than usual...

Bacteria do not pick up the genetic code for resistance. resistant bacteria exist, with the genetics in place, it is the wholesale use of antibiotics that reduce the overall population such that resistant bacteria then become the dominant bacteria. This of it this way, there is a field of daisies, 1000 white ones and 6 blue ones. You go out and kill all 1000 of the white ones. In a year, what you end up with is 750 white ones and 250 blue ones. So you kill all the white ones, and a year later, you have 250 white ones and 750 blue ones...repeat, repeat, repeat and 'suddenly' you have all blue ones.

Contamination actually is a secondary process, the micro-organisms are introduced after slaughter, sometimes long after slaughter. But, as long as animals are held for slaughter in feed lots and finishing lots, you must use antibiotics. In California, it is nearly impossible to get clean beef that is not brought to feed or finishing lots, as there are almost no small abattoirs left.

As a person that has personal experience with antibiotics at very high levels, who has taken off-list and experimental antibiotics and consequently has significant liver, kidney and lung damage, let me assure you, if you are exposed to some of these drugs, you will most certainly have things to worry about. Radiation is not a treat either, but, it takes a lot more than a few/lot of x-rays to get radiation poisoning. I have had the joy of experiencing both, in sequence, good times baby.

For the record, I buy organic or grass finished beef and pork, from small slaughter houses and pay through the nose most of the time. I buy pastured and air chilled chickens that are farm slaughtered, I only eat wild line caught fish and wild harvested shellfish and crustaceans. I eat cookies to take the place of the smaller portions of meat I eat. :becky:

 

[caseydog]

One of the things I like when I buy seafood, is that the product is labeled for origin, and whether it is farmed or wild caught. I love shrimp, and ALWAYS buy wild caught USA shrimp, which probably comes from the Gulf coast.

With beef, chicken and other meats, I have no idea where it came from, unless I pay a lot extra for local meats.

I am big-time in favor of labeling laws. I don't ask for hormone and antibiotic loaded feed-lot beef to be outlawed, I just want to have the information I need, on the label, to make an informed decision.

Right now, I have that information when I buy seafood, and processed foods that I don't generally eat, but not with the other proteins I buy. I can take care of myself, but only if I know the facts. The kind of regulations I want are the ones that give me the information that I need to make my own informed decision.

Is that really too much to ask for?

CD

 

[jalon]

Ahhh...if only there were wild caught cows...and giant free range chickens that once roamed this land... (thanks Bill Engvall :crazy

Jalon

 

[Oliverbbq]

I didn't even read what you posted. But (just saying) people that worry about this kinda stuff breed weak children, which will inevitably give us a weak society as a whole. I can't stomach that....I think of those kinda people like I think of the rag heads who blow up our commercial planes.

Anybody who has half a brain knows what I'm talking about. Get the fark out of my country. Because we eat raw ass red meat here. And we don't give a fark what happened to it before we ate it as long as it Isn't thrown in our faces. Darwin's theory of evolution bro. Get the fark out and don't come back.

 

[jestridge]

Those were the days.....lol

Steel beach picnic for passing oppie or emat inspection and if we had been out long enough a beer day....

NO i am not worried, it is stupid to believe a company would do something to harm people knowingly.



You sure have a lot of trust in these companies how many food , medicine, recall have we in the past several years , What about the tobacco companies? Hell yes they will do anything to make a buck.

 

[tamadrummer]

Those were the days.....lol

Steel beach picnic for passing oppie or emat inspection and if we had been out long enough a beer day....

NO i am not worried, it is stupid to believe a company would do something to harm people knowingly.



You sure have a lot of trust in these companies how many food , medicine, recall have we in the past several years , What about the tobacco companies? Hell yes they will do anything to make a buck.

Yes I do, I have NOT ONE OUNCE of faith in the garbage gov't that has moved us towards socialist communistic death of this society!

The gov't is who tells us that tobacco is going to kill everyone. Guess what, they are wrong. Were the tobacco companies at fault, yup but so too were the "regulators" that allowed their money to get in the way of the truth. 2 wrongs don't make a right but the tobacco companies are forced to be up and up and we cannot even get the idiots in the huge marble structures to fess up to our true indebtedness.

YOUR DARN right I trust companies far more than anything the gov wants me to believe, and more than that I believe in the people of this country that have the ability to think for themselves. If enough choose not to eat antibiotic meat, guess what, there is not an issue after a while. They lost money on it and they have to offer something else

 

[ClayHill]

OK I'm an organic farmer. Mostly. However I work closely with the County Extension Office and have the certificate that allows me to buy the the stuff you can't buy over the counter. That said, the use of hormones and antibiotics is an important part of livestock production. It does not matter if you approve of it or not it's part of the deal. The answer is to get the meats that are organically grown. Bitchin about it is just pissin into the wind.

I'm sorry, but organic production has is loop holes. Organically grown isnt the magic bullet. Get to know and trust your producer....