Beef recall: How on earth do I possibly keep eating beef after the horrifying video I just saw??

Question

I am appalled. I am not naive. I know that delicious slab of steak comes from a big ol' brown eyed beast. But please, the cruelty involved is senseless. The inhumane treatment even when things are not spinning out of control like they are with this current recall- is horrific. It makes me so sad.

Answer 1

I can understand how some individuals not directly involved in the agricultural industry were shocked and offended by the videos coming from the processing plant located in California. Some basic understanding of the production of animal derived food products must be within grasp to see that the conduct of the employees of this facility is not a regular occurrence in the industry.

Animals placed under severe stress, such as displayed by the videos will not yield a product acceptable for market. Cattle that are highly stressed within the days, hours, and minutes before harvesting will become "dark cutters." In essence blood capillaries rupture and a high amount of cortisol, the stress hormone, is released into the system. The animal's meat turns dark and is not palatable for consumption. So you see, treatment of the animal like this is not conducive to the financial well-being of the facility slaughtering the animal.

In addition, the USDA has regulations in place prohibiting the slaughter of "downers." In other words, non ambulatory animals which cannot enter the facility underneath their own power must be humanely dealt with and then marked by a state or federal meat inspector as "condemned" so as they will not enter the food chain.

Post-slaughter of healthy animals, a meat inspector conducts somewhat of an autopsy and views the glands and organs of an animal to make sure that it is safe to enter the food chain., if it is deemed unacceptable or questionable the entire carcass is condemned and will not reach grocery store shelves.

Inhumane treatment of livestock, at any stage of production, is economically detrimental to the industry. In a business where your bottom line rests with a healthy animal reaching market, Inhumane in simply unpractical.

Rest assured, that in no way is the treatment shown in the videos commonplace or common practice.

Answer 2

Then don't eat beef.

I'm sorry, that sounds really stuck-up of me.

But that's all I can say.

Yeah, I saw it too (it was mean >_<)

But horrible things happen in the world all the time.

What can ya do?

Negative, but hey, it happens.

Answer 3

Cooked over an open flame, medium rare, potato with all the trimmings, ice cold beer to wash it down.

Thats how I do it.

They are cattle, thats what they are for.

Answer 4

You can search the internet for distributors that only get meat from cruelty-free slaughterhouses. The United States Humane Society might have some information for you.

Answer 5

You've been brainwashed into thinking that meat is delicious and that we all NEED to eat meat.  But when you honestly think about the reality that you're eating an arm or a leg, it's pretty disgusting. Not to mention you are ingesting their  antibiotics, hormones, and fecal matter. We've been trained to think that we need to eat animals, but we really don't have to.

People think of places like China as "barbaric" and inhumane because they eat cats and dogs and we keep them as pets, but that's very hypocritical. There is not a dime's bit of difference between eating cats and dogs and eating cows and pigs. They are all innocent animals who did not want to end up on someone's dinner plate. Why people feel it is perfectly okay to torture, kill and eat animals is something I have never been able to understand. That's why I am a proud vegetarian and have been for years. It's a lot healthier and you feel better not supporting the cruel meat industry. (And it is very cruel! Don't listen to anyone who tells you it is humane. It is not! ) Meat is not even healthy for us. Most people are overweight nowadays because of their habit of eating meat. It is extremely fatty and blocks the arteries in the heart. I can't tell you how many meat-eating people I've met who have had terrible heart disease that they suffer from high cholesterol, heart attacks, strokes, and have had to have triple bypass surgery.  Also, your risk of Cancer greatly goes up by eating meat. If you're truly horrified after watching the video of what is pretty commonplace in these places, then I would suggest you become vegetarian. You will definitely feel better about yourself.

Answer 6

It's not just the beef that is produced like that...there is abject cruelty in all meat production...have you ever seen how a battery chicken lives...

Animal cruelty is the reason I became vegetarian twenty years ago....

Animal cruelty...not in my name thank you very much.

Answer 7

All recalled beef is frozen type.

Buy fresh from your grocer and be safe.

Answer 8

If you ate any beef from In&Out or Jack in the Box in 2007 till January 2008 you will die of Mad Cow in 5 years. Period

Answer 9

I saw it too. And though it was hardly my 1st realization of animal cruelty, it still broke my heart.

Each & every time we buy beef (or any meat) from mass grocery stores, this behavior & cruelty is what we are supporting.

I fully understand that God gave us animals to eat, but He also gave us the responsibility of caring for the animals.

The best advice I can give is to buy your beef/ pork from your small, LOCAL farmers or ranchers, preferably one you know well. We do this, and I know for a fact that our beef comes from a very happy cow, that had a good & happy life, even until the end.

PLUS I know it has been corn fed, and not pumped full of growth horomones and/or antibiotics.