FDA still allows feeding of cow blood and chicken excrement to cows

[Sliverofhope]

Federal health officials said yesterday that in an effort to eradicate mad cow disease, they were moving toward a policy, based on the advice of international experts, to ban the feeding of any farm animal parts to other farm animals.

Current practice allows cattle to be fed chickens, pigs and other species that had been fed rendered cattle whose tissue could theoretically be infected. Such practices are widely said to have caused the epidemic of mad cow disease in Britain 20 years ago and its spread to other countries.

<snip>

Consumer groups expressed outrage that the Food and Drug Administration, which is responsible for regulating animal feed, did not close another loophole, feeding cattle large amounts of cattle blood, chicken waste and other materials that might spread the disease.

''On the most important issue facing it, F.D.A. has essentially put off issuing needed regulations to protect the public until after the November election,'' said Prof. Thomas O. McGarity, president of the Center for Progressive Regulation and an expert on food safety laws at the University of Texas.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/madcow/ban71004.cfm

[BloodyWilliam]

1. Why isn't this considered animal abuse?

Bad enough we kill them for food and clothing (I'm no vegetarian myself), but doesn't pushing them to cannibalism and forcing them to eat feces cross the line into animal abuse?

[Karenina]

2. Yes, but it's CHEAP!!!

Never mind poisoning the animals or those who eat them, the BIG CATTLE RANCHERS are making LOADS O' DOUGH!!!

[Unperson 309]

3. We are what we eat, hence this chickenshit administration! eom

[maggrwaggr]

4. I'm not sure "chicken waste" in this context means chicken feces

I think it means all the leftover chicken parts (guts and feet and heads).

Still it's disgusting.

I DO NOT EAT ANY BEEF anymore that isn't 100% grass-fed/organic, whatever. I eat Buffalo when I can.

You'd be crazy to eat generic American beef these days.

Assuming your government is gonna protect you is just plain stupid.

[Sliverofhope]

5. Actually, my impression is feces it is

The logic behind it totally escapes me, but that's what I'm getting from my readings.

[maggrwaggr]

6. wow. You're right. Read it a 2nd time

all I can say is


YUCK.

There's a reason an animal shits out shit. It's no good to the animal anymore.

Feeding animals shit just doesn't make any sense from a biological point of view.

Besides the obvious other issues.

Man, that just disgusts me to no end

[slutticus]

7. Mmmm...Buffaloes are tasty...

...I had my first buffalo burger the other day. It was fucking great!