America's horrifying new plan for animals: highspeed slaughterhouses

[demmiblue]

There is still time to stop an imminent program that would allow facilities to increase slaughter speeds, while reducing the number of trained government inspectors

Source: The Guardian

If you care about animal welfare or food safety, this news will concern you: the nationwide expansion of a risky US Department of Agriculture (USDA) high-speed slaughter program is imminent. But the good news is there is still time to stop it.

The USDA is now accepting public comments on its proposed rule that it euphemistically dubbed the “Modernization of Swine Slaughter Inspection”. As a former undercover investigator who worked inside a pig slaughterhouse operating under the pilot project that was, at the time, called HIMP, I’ve seen firsthand the hazardous and cruel nature of this controversial program and can say with certainty that it’s anything but “modern”.

This expanded program, formally called the New Swine Slaughter Inspection System (NSIS), would allow facilities to increase slaughter speeds, while reducing the number of trained government inspectors on the lines. In other words, the responsibility of food safety oversight is largely shifted into the hands of slaughter plant employees. Combine this with faster speeds on the kill floor and the result is problems that can – and do – go unnoticed.

For nearly six months, I worked undercover inside Quality Pork Processors (QPP), no typical pig slaughterhouse. An exclusive Hormel Foods supplier, QPP kills about 1,300 pigs every hour operating under the high-speed pilot program. That’s more than 21 pigs per minute, making QPP one of the fastest pig-killing facilities in the nation.

QPP has widely been considered a model for the USDA’s nationwide expansion of the pilot program through NSIS, but when no one thought the public or USDA was watching, behind the slaughterhouse’s closed doors, I documented pig carcasses covered in feces and abscesses being processed for human consumption, and workers – under intense pressure to keep up with high line speeds – beating, dragging, and electrically prodding pigs to make them move faster.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/mar/06/ive-seen-the-hidden-horrors-of-high-speed-slaughterhouses

[lostnfound]

1. So glad to be vegetarian... Nt

[Duppers]

2. I'm quickly becoming more committed.

NO red meat whatsoever for me but I do eat seafood, fish, and turkey. And consume lots of dairy.

[MLAA]

5. Me too. I believe it was Paul McCartney who said

*if slaughterhouses were made of glass we would all be vegetarian/vegan*

[Demovictory9]

12. me too

[wcollar]

3. Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.

Time to dust off that copy of Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle".

[Duppers]

4. Here's the PETITION

https://www.change.org/p/not-so-fast-usda-stop-the-unhealthy-inhumane-high-speed-slaughter


Please sign, folks. Remember pigs are smarter than dogs! Any doubters need to Google that fact.

[Duppers]

6. Thx for posting this.

Please consider cross-posting in the Animal Rights group:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1131

[demmiblue]

8. You're welcome!

I usually don't post about animal exploitation/abuse because it stays with me for quite some time.

Brain bleach (helpful, but not helpful ):

An adorable quartet of pretty pigs, including the very stylish Priscilla and Poppleton were comfortably snuggled inside a shopping cart with their good pug buddy Pigtail riding shotgun while their human went shopping at the local Tractor Supply Company .

It’s not unusual for this fivesome to be seen like this. They bathe, together ride around outside together, hang out by the pool together, swim in the backyard together and go to the beach together, just to name of few of the things they do together.

https://laughingsquid.com/pigs-and-ride-around-store-in-shopping-cart/

[jalan48]

7. I really believe if the public could see what goes on inside a slaughterhouse the consumption

of meat would drop dramatically. There's reason laws have been passed making it a crime to video what goes on in these places.

[Bayard]

10. I think this is true

True of about all commercial operations where animals are involved......slaughterhouses, industrial farms, research. Animals are commodities. If they are abused, its like mistreating a piece of lettuce to these people.

When they are processing millions of animals like this, there's no way in the world comprehensive inspection can be done. Its only been in the past few years that they outlawed throwing downer cows into the food chain. And just because there are regulations, doesn't mean they are followed 95% of the time.

With so much emphasis put on speed, I wonder when science fiction will take over......newborn piglet to pork chops in two days. I've said for years--if serious research was put into making replicators of Star Trek fame, most of the world's problems would be solved regarding food, housing, resources. Not much need for money.....

[Duppers]

14. "Lab-Grown Meat Is Coming, Whether You Like It or Not"

02.16.18

Scientists have been culturing meat in labs for years, but Just and other startups like Finless Foods, which is growing fish meat, have been feverishly pursuing this so-called “clean meat” of late. Just is chasing a cultured chorizo and a cultured nugget in addition to the foie gras. And Tetrick claims his startup has finally made the process cost-effective enough to take to market: At the end of this year, he says, Just will officially introduce an as yet undisclosed lab-grown meat, the first time the stuff will hit shelves.

https://www.wired.com/story/lab-grown-meat/


If they can replicate the flavor, then I'm all for it.

[milestogo]

9. Go vegetarian - not only because of the brutality, but also for the environment and for your health.

[Gabi Hayes]

11. First entries into the newfangled pork processing facility:

https://www.cnn.com/2017/06/12/politics/trump-cabinet-ranked/index.html

The story is pretty funny.....ranking the cabbies in order of thei obsequiousness

The loser, in last place, at number

23. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt
"I actually arrived back this morning at 1 o'clock from Italy and the G-7 summit focused on the environment. And our message there was the United States is going to be focused on growth and protecting the environment. And it was received well."

I admire Pruitt slickly getting the whole I-work-super-hard-and-super-late thing into a short statement. But, this was WAY short on direct praise for the President. Do better, Pruitt!

[IluvPitties]

13. I love pork.

I hate to see them being killed inhumanely, but I hate vegetables.