Beef? Giggity.
(photo by flickr)
I am a carnivore. I am an animal who loves to savor the taste of perfectly-cooked flesh on his tongue. I am a shark sniffing for blood in the water when it comes to meat. Feed me, Seymour…
Yet I also recognize the value of fruits, nuts and vegetables in a balanced diet, although you wouldn’t know it if you took a peek inside my freezer. As my meat mind ponders breaking news about a beef recall, I wonder – whatever shall I do? Sure, I’m taking hard money loans and a faxless payday loan or two to feed my fleshy fanaticism, but it’s a small price to pay. If I don’t consume those animals, they will unionize and find a way to slay me in my sleep.
Ground beef recall nationwide
United Press International reports that the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has announced a nationwide beef recall of 95,898 pounds of possibly tainted ground chuck.
Valley Meats LLC, a Coal Valley, Illinois company has recalled the beef after learning it might be contaminated with E. coli bacteria. According to officials, there are several brands involved, including 3S, Grillmaster, J & B, Klub, Thick ‘N Savory and Ultimate. As a way of further identifying the meat in question, look for the following establishment number: “EST. 5712.” This number would appear inside the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s mark of inspection, report experts.
E. coli symptoms and where to call
The bacterial contamination which has prompted this beef recall was discovered during an epidemiological investigation by the Ohio Department of Health. FSIS officials claim E. coli-related illnesses have already been reported in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Illinois. E. coli bacteria is potentially deadly. Symptoms of infection can include bloody diarrhea, dehydration and kidney failure (and that only in extreme circumstances). It sounds horrible.
If you have further questions about the beef recall and whether your products are safe, consumers are being advised to call (309) 799-7341 for further information.
If this beef recall can happen, why do people still eat meat?
Well, for one thing, it’s delicious. I understand that some people can’t palate the taste; I’m speaking from my own experience. But there are indeed some health benefits, according to sources like Webb Family Farms. They are not necessarily exclusive to meat eating (like the high protein content), but they’re benefits nevertheless. First of all, try to eat all-natural, high-fiber, grass-fed beef. Not grain-fed, as that is not the natural diet of cattle. It makes their digestive tracts more acidic, which makes it more of a breeding ground for E. coli.
Green grass that is high in Omega-3 fats and Vitamin E is great for cattle. A high grain diet robs them of their Omega-3 storage ability and their main source of Vitamin E. Omega-3 is a good “fatty acid” that is essential for normal growth and development. Webb Family Farms notes that it is also important in preventing heart disease, cancer and arthritis. And since our bodies can’t make Omega-3 fats, we must obtain it from our diet. “Give me meat!” I growl.
But that’s not all. Webb Family Farms also points out that meat from grass-fed cattle is one of nature’s best sources of Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA). CLA is believed to be a great defense against cancer, due to its anti-carcinogenic properties. And it so happens that grass-fed cattle tend to have five times as much CLA as those that are grain-fed. If all cattle were grass-fed, the concept of a beef recall would be much less familiar.
However, don’t discount vegetarianism
Image by flickr
I give my cousin a nod here, as she’s been a vegetarian since childhood. Beef recall announcements don’t impact her life. Vegetarianism can be a very healthy lifestyle choice, so long as you remain vigilant is seeking out the necessary vitamins and nutrients you need. There are many sources online that detail the benefits of becoming vegetarian; here’s one of them.
- Personal health – A vegetarian diet can easily be lower in fat and less prone to causing cancer (particularly if you ate fattier meats). Just make sure you’re finding the nutrition you need elsewhere.
- Saving money - Let’s face it, meat is generally more expensive than beans, fresh fruits and veggies, etc. With a vegetarian diet, the most expensive thing you’ll buy would typically be soy products. However, they’re still relatively inexpensive and easy to cook. However, men must pay attention to the risk of infertility problems when it comes to soy.
- Feeling better - Carnivores, admit it. After a nice, juicy burger or steak dinner, do you ever feel tired? It’s because there are problems with toxins in non-organic meats. The cheap stuff is generally more prone to pesticide, hormone and pollutant exposure, as the cows are treated in more of a mechanized fashion. If you can afford organics, go for it. It’s worth avoiding the toxins.
- Weight loss – Vegetarian diets are lower in fat almost by default, even if you only consumed lean meats. Moreover, if you consume the higher-fiber foods generally associated with a vegetarian diet, and you do so on a regular basis, you will feel full longer. That’s a natural appetite suppressant.
- Eco-friendly - There are those who believe that a few days of a vegetarian diet can benefit the environment. I believe that we have a responsibility to take care of our world (at least until we colonize the cosmos, which will be essential to survival of the human race). Producing meat for market does contribute to water pollution and greater use of electricity. It also means more grains and grass for cattle, foods that could go to famine-wracked countries.
But then again, I believe the problem of global starvation has much more to do with governmental bureaucracy and over-commercialization of the environment (hear that, land developers?) Hard money loans and a faxless payday loan for global enterprise is one thing, but we should care about where such microloans are going. I can weather a beef recall, but not the mass corruption and lack of foresight we see in the business world.
Related Video:
Discussion of Beef Recall | Can Blood and Chard Co-Exist?