The market judges our food

[msgadget]

>Cattle markets have been slammed on the daily charts but on weekly and monthly charts we have much further to go, probably historical lows. It could be the world is waking up to the fact that the USDA testing methods for Mad Cow (BSE) here in the United States are pathetic. The U.S. Cattle industry would love to see the borders be reopened to Japan because before the ban the U.S. exported 1.4 billion dollars worth of cattle to Japan. Japan tests every cow for human consumption and the USDA test nothing, would you want U.S. cattle probably not. High Prices and Weak Fundamentals. The rest of the commentary will remain the same and maybe the USDA will get up to par with the rest of world and stop trying to cut corners, who cares if testing would add a few cents per pound (large fast food chains probably). Human safety is a little more important. Let's touch base on Japan they imported last year about 1.3 billion dollars worth of beef from the United States. Japan has banned U.S. Beef because of the Mad Cow found in Washington State last December. Japan tests 100 percent of all cattle for human consumption and Europe tests 1 in 4. What does the USDA test here in the Unites States??? The European Comm.'s risk assessment of the U.S. states that young age at slaughter makes it unlikely that full clinical cases could be detected. Half of the U.S. cows don't make it past 4 here in the U.S. before being turned into hamburger meat. Europe test about 2000 times more cattle then what the U.S. does. Testing of every cow slaughtered for human consumption in the U.S. is the only way to ensure the safety of the American people and foreigners that import. What happened in Washington last December of discovering Mad Cow Disease is not surprising what is surprising is that the inadequacy of our testing program actually found it. Traders should avoid the long side of this market and build long term put positions. Live and Feeder Cattle are still trading near historical highs when they should be at historical lows. <

http://futures.fxstreet.com/Futures/content/100530/content.asp?menu=commodities&dia=3122004

Edit for spelling.

[aquart]

1. Yet we still refuse to test.

Which is more expensive? Testing or not testing?

[RC]

2. Up front, not testing

In the long run, 5 to 10 years, it could get very expensive.

[Kali]

3. one more time

We DO test - granted not every animal, but we DO test. We test the most likely animals to have the disease, and so far have only seen one single case. If the disease was established in this country these animals would be the ones to be showing it. Two comments, one the only BSE case we have seen so far in this country was from an imported animal. This hints that we are not infected, and thus allows for the argument that intensive testing may not be needed. Combined with the fact that even in the UK where the disease probably originated and was truly widespread, the numbers are still fairly rare for human linked disease (around 130 people detected from '96 to '02). You have a much better chance of dying from the fat content in overfed beef than from varient CJD.

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs113/en/

[msgadget]

4. Who decides which animals should be tested?

And, even though it's rare, what harm could there be in testing all of them when you find even one, imported or not? Lastly, why the exasperation? I don't want to eat diseased meat and would think the federal agencies responsible for keeping the food supply safe would do more to make sure I don't have to.

[Kali]

11. exasperated

because I have posted about this so many times - not your fault just a busy board. I also hate to defend megacorp-controlled USDA. Read Joel Salatin's books on raising food and the sections on inspections and food safety! Buy direct from a farmer you know if you are REALLY concerned.

The rational for not testing every animal in this country is the same for not testing EVERY baby born in a hopital for EVERY possible disease. There is expense, but there is also some scientific and logic problems involved. If the disease was present in any significant numbers of livestock it likely would have shown up by now. They are testing all downer or dead animals and any showing unusual behavior in feedlots and also any older animals - and trust me there are plenty of older cull animals that move into the feed chain so plenty of oppertunity to pick it up. On top of that if you will READ the info in the link I posted, the numbers of people getting sick from this are pretty rare. Yes its a horrible sounding way to die, but the plain truth is you are more likely to die of heart disease, or in a car accident. Even if we had a huge outbreak. Personally I think if the customer wants it they should test 'em all, just hope folks ARE ready to pay for it. And realize this is one of those really good "scare the shit out of people" stories that just does not match the hype. Your car is way more dangerous than your hamburger. Really.

[msgadget]

17. I did read how rare it is

and, although bse is troubling, the more serious issues of antibiotics, salmonella, e. coli, listeria and the like are even more so. No amount of proof that mad cow is rare comforts me when I'm shopping to feed my family because it's not the only danger, just the most recent. I don't trust the USDA to favor me in a hard decision that would benefit the consumer but harm the industry.

[Kali]

19. Again

(don't know if this thread is still active) if you can afford to do so, your dollars say more than almost anything else you can do. Buy local from someone you know. Lots of small family farmer/ranchers are trying to do something different from the factory-food model. The problem is it costs more to do it this way. Some small guy selling 30 or 40 head of cattle as BEEF has to make more per lb than the huge processers that are butchering 1000's every single day. He can't afford to sell you hamburger for a buck 50 a pound. But you will get to know where and how your food was raised, and get to know WHO is doing that for you. They in turn know who that product is going to and have the incentive to do things right. With the factory model once that calf is off the farm its forgotten.

[msgadget]

21. I've been buying organic

but, again, I often wonder if I'm getting I'm paying for. I will look more diligently for local meat but it's not going to be easy since I'm near a metropolitan area.

I appreciate the education, thank you.

[Kali]

22. try

googling "local meat" and your state or city

[Kali]

23. Even better try this

this is a good source:


http://www.eatwild.com/products/

[msgadget]

24. WOW

That's one interesting site! The healthier the farm method the more space and labor intense so it's a miracle there are this many still in business. It's incredible, I never heard of beefalo before or Burbon red turkeys...and I can get YARN (not to eat, of course, but yarn is a good thing). This is a good link to add to the Progressive shopping page.

Thanks so much, Kali! :hug:

[IllegalCombatant]

5. Japan to test all cattle for BSE

"Japan has introduced new BSE controls today that will make it the first country in the world to test all cattle for BSE before they are slaughtered for consumption."

http://www.food.gov.uk/bse/bsearchive/116

[msgadget]

6. This seems reasonable

>All remaining healthy-looking cattle will, on slaughter, have their brain and spinal cord removed and two pieces of tissue from the medulla oblongata will be given rapid tests using the ELISA method.<

Surely it wouldn't hurt for us to do the same. Thank you.

[IllegalCombatant]

7. agreed

PROFIT over PEOPLE is killing us.

:hi:

[CatholicEdHead]

8. He who controls all the food

controls the population.

Ed Schultz's book has a very good discussion on this.

[Kali]

15. Also Beyond Civilization

or any of Daniel Quinn's books. Talk about getting a new perspective on current events!

[msgadget]

18. Which one?

Beyond Civilization... ?

[Kali]

20. any

[msgadget]

9. Damn, I could cry.

I mumble that very sentiment daily and it's just good to see someone else say it for a change.

I hate beer but, :toast:

[IllegalCombatant]

10. Thank GORE he 'INVENTED' the INTERNET's!

:evilgrin:

we are not alone :huggs:

[Kali]

13. ever buy meat in Japan?

First, their consumption is low, second they have found it in Japanese cattle already before 100% testing, and third, the prices are already so high a slight addition isn't going to be as noticable as it would here in the land of really cheap and pretty damn safe food. (overprocessing and sedentary lifestyle are our bigger risks) Again don't attack me, you can do a lot to make it even safer, its just the context with other risks in our lives that gets me. Its like peole who are afraid to fly but get into cars every day. It is a false perception of danger. (not to say it doesn't FEEL real, and scary but the odds just aren't there)

I have no problem with testing, just want the reality of what you are talking about to be understood.

[depakid]

12. Just DONT EAT BEEF

Problem solved.

Next question?

[Kali]

14. till the next

scary THING comes along and OH MY GOD its in your tofu!!! Or its in your onions (oops that one already happened) A little common sense and moderation allows you to live comfortably, eat well and enjoy life without being subject to the latest fright from the fearmongers.

[depakid]

16. or the alfafa sprouts

Actually, there's nothing you can do to prevent getting salmonella from alfalfa spouts- except not eat them.

I'm not insensitive to the issue- quite the contrary- but I am cynical (realistic?) about the prospect for rational reform in the beef industry. Last term, we reviewed and presented over 100 studies about this and other public health issues, many if not most of which left the class shaking their heads at how profoundly callous this administration and the Republicans in Congress are with respect to our food supply.

Here's the last bit from one of those Journal reviews (about a multinational outbreak of salmonella enterica due to contaminated alfalfa sprouts.

Conclusion
Globalization of food production and distribution raises public health issues requiring the multi-jurisdictional coordination of active surveillance, regulatory policy and preventative measures. However, certain raw food commodities are not only well suited vehicles for food borne disease, but due to the multiple opportunities and avenues for infection, effective testing and monitoring may prove impractical and economically infeasible. Alfalfa seeds are particularly troublesome; no kill step exists that does not compromise germination potential and once germinated, the sprout’s botanical structure shields pathogens from chemical treatments.

Overall Impression: The study demonstrates the need for consumer and caregiver education, especially among high-risk groups, although this reader also intends to forego alfalfa sprouts.