Natural Zest

This article is a part of the current Organic Center newsletter. I have been conscious of my food choices relating to meat but had not really committed to it. In early April after seeing Eric Schlosser (author of Fast Food Nation) and Howard Lyman speak I decided it was time for me to do something. So I vowed to not buy/eat meat from conventional animal production lots. Read on for some reasons why.

The Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production (IFAP) has released their report on the history of factory farms and concentrated animal feeding operations. The report discusses the many risks associated with this practice as well as providing recommendations to attempt to rectify this terrible problem. To read the report please go to: “Putting Meat on the Table: Industrial Farm Animal Production”

For a quick overview of some problems:

- pollution of water and soil, in, around and near the farms

- overuse of antibiotics in animals

- public health concerns from both the pollution and antibiotics

- long term environmental impact

- animal rights