Meat/Dairy Products
Concentrated Animal Feeding Opeations (CAFOs)
The production of dairy and meat products, like the production of all foods, has drastically changed over the past 100 years. Animals are being housed in confined spaces and in large numbers called Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). CAFOs were first established as an efficient way to provide meat to the growing population. Unfortunately, it is now appreciated that housing animals in CAFOs causes detrimental effects to the animal’s health and because of the diminished nutritional content, the health of humans as well.
Because so many these animals are in small confined spaces, there is an excess in manure, which can become a health risk both to the animals and plants but also to humans.
What You Can Do
- Support local farms
- Buy organic meat and cage free/free-range/organic eggs
Source: CAFOs in agriculture
Hormones/Antibiotics
In 1989, American meat was banned frm being sold in any country within Europe. Why did the Europeans take this stance?
America’s response? Unfair Trade Practices.
Thankfully, this news caught the attention of the American public and raised concern over the quality of our meat. What is the story? Dairy cows are now injected with a hormone, known as rBHT, rBGH or rBST, to increase milk production. Beef cows, chicken, and pigs are also injected with hormones, antibiotics and other chemicals to enrich the flavor and juiciness of the meat, promote growth/weight gain and to control conception.
What You Can Do
- Avoid meats and dairy products that contain hormones, antibiotics and other chemicals
- Buy organic meat and drink rBHT-free milk.
- Find a local farmer near you by visiting Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) at www.pasafarming.org.
