[Marlena]

Check out this article from today's NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/10/na...rint&position=

Quote:

Over the last three and a half years, government inspectors have cited Shapiro hundreds of times for a variety of safety violations, according to reports written by inspectors stationed inside the Shapiro plant. Consumer activists obtained the inspection documents through the Freedom of Information Act. According to the documents, inspectors repeatedly saw employees letting carcasses fall to the floor; "insects in the larval stage (maggots)" on floors; and black oil from machinery dripping onto meat. The inspectors also reported several cases in which meat that had been condemned because of disease or contamination was not marked or clearly removed from production. On March 26, 2002, for example, an inspector asked a supervisor what had happened to cuts of meat condemned the previous day. "Some of the meat was boxed yesterday and was shipped to the freezer," the supervisor replied. Inspectors tracked down the rejected meat in the freezer and again ordered the plant not to ship it, the inspection report reads. But the reports that stand out for their frequency involve carcasses contaminated with cattle feces. Inspectors found feces or ingesta (the contents of the stomach, which can also harbor pathogens) on carcasses on at least 23 days in 2001, according to the documents - once every 16 days on average. In the last five months of 2002, inspectors found fecal contamination about every 12 days.

Ew. Ew ew ew. I really need to rethink our regular consumption of a large amount of supermarket meat.

 

[sadean]

Ahem CK'sMama!

Actually, I don't buy supermarket meat (at least not red meat) anymore. This sort of thing being the primary reason (we get a lot of recalls around here...actually there has been an e coli breakout in the last few days...hmmm, wonder why...). I will eat fresh game and small farm raised red meat occasionally (damn it's pricey), but most of our family protein comes from nuts, beans, chicken and seafood (I know, not that much better but it is hard to wean carnivores...).

 

[Aster]

Quote:

According to the documents, inspectors repeatedly saw employees letting carcasses fall to the floor; "insects in the larval stage (maggots)" on floors; and black oil from machinery dripping onto meat.

That is just sooo grooooooosS!!

Yet another reason to buy local meat and get a local butcher to cut and wrap. The quality of non-supermarket meat is FAR superior too, it just tastes better, imo.

 

[allys jill]

yes, i won't eat that type of meat at all. not only are those things disgusting but the animals have been given grain and they aren't supposed to eat that at all. i make sure to get 100% grass-fed beef and bison from local farms.

 

[Mama2Kimmy]

Good thing we slaughter our own hogs!

 

[MamaMonica]

Glad I don't eat supermarket meat or fast food meat. Ugh.

I have eaten some free range chicken I made into soup, that's about it for the meat.

 

[Marlena]

Raising and slaughtering our own meat would be the best choice, but given that we have a deed restriction preventing us from owning livestock, I'll be looking into local meat producers (which shouldn't be TOO problematic, given where we live).

 

[OdessaEarthenMama]

Luckily we have a large group of family & friends who all get together & raise hogs. This way it keeps up the food supply pretty good & everyone has the satisfaction of helping eachother.

 

[GoodWillHunter]

Just a question, hope it's not too stupid...

Where do you get info about local beef/chick producers? I usually buy Texan (I'm from San Antonio) raised, ranch raised, natural beef without hormones, etc. I guess that's the closest I'm gonna get unless I go to Whole Foods...That's a once a month option.... Any other ideas?

 

[hvl25]

Quote:

Originally posted by allys jill yes, i won't eat that type of meat at all. not only are those things disgusting but the animals have been given grain and they aren't supposed to eat that at all. i make sure to get 100% grass-fed beef and bison from local farms.

Me too, actually my DH and my kids eat it, I won't eat red meat/pork. Only chicken and its free range.

 

[hvl25]

Quote:

Originally posted by GoodWillHunter Just a question, hope it's not too stupid... Where do you get info about local beef/chick producers? I usually buy Texan (I'm from San Antonio) raised, ranch raised, natural beef without hormones, etc. I guess that's the closest I'm gonna get unless I go to Whole Foods...That's a once a month option.... Any other ideas?

Earth Fare is about 1 1/2 hours from me too, so about once a month. Check at your local agricultural sustainment office if there is one around. Or ask at the local health food stores, maybe someone will know.