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1. PETA Investigation Prompts Changes at Kosher Slaughterhouse
Kosher authorities and agricultural officials strongly
criticized Agriprocessors, Inc., a slaughterhouse
in Iowa, for violating kosher laws and mistreating
cows. The criticisms come after officials viewed footage
from an undercover investigation by People for the
Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), as
covered in FAW #78. Officials from the Orthodox
Union, the world's largest supervisory group relating
to kosher products, originally supported the company
by asserting that kosher law had not been violated.
However, after several rabbis visited the Agriprocessors
slaughterhouse and others viewed the video, the Orthodox
Union said it will require two changes at the facility.
First, the workers will not be allowed to speed up
death by preemptively pulling out the slaughtered
animal's trachea; second, the union said it would
investigate ways to "kill or stun cows that are still
walking even after the initial stage of slaughtering."
The Orthodox Union's reversal of opinion came after
Israel's Chief Rabbinate stated publicly that the
video showed deviations from kosher law.
In addition to kosher officials, agricultural authorities including the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) are also investigating the slaughterhouse. PETA has filed an official complaint with the USDA, saying that the video shows that Agriprocessors violated the federal Humane Methods of Slaughter Act. Locally, the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture says she would close and investigate the facility if her department had authority to do so, which it does not. The secretary said of the undercover video, "It's disturbing. Certainly it's nothing I would condone, or any of my meat inspectors or veterinarians would condone."
"Ag Secretary Judge: Postville Slaughter Video is 'Disturbing'," Globe Gazette, 12/7/04
http://www.globegazette.com/articles/2004/12/07/state/doc41b5469c7ce7f116392795.txt
"After Anger from Animal Activists, Kosher Slaughterhouse to Change," JTA Global News Service, 12/7/04
http://www.jta.org/page_view_story.asp?strwebhead=Changes+promised+at+slaughterhouse
"Kosher Authority Asks Slaughterhouse to Change Killing Methods," Meatingplace.com, 12/6/04
http://www.meatingplace.com/DailyNews/init.asp?iID=13500
"Not Kosher: Rabbinate Backs PETA," The Jerusalem Post, 12/2/04
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1101874929440
2.
Pig Welfare: Lameness; Group Housing; Research Bibliography
Scientific research concerning the physiology and
welfare of farmed pigs provides several interesting
findings related to lameness and group versus individual
housing. First, North Carolina State University researchers
discovered that "structural unsoundness" accounts
for 16% of culled pigs and 7% of the loss of "finisher"
pigs to early death. Structural unsoundness refers
primarily to feet- and leg-related issues and is caused
by several factors, including the individual pig's
genetics, production, gender, feed quality, floor
surface, and space. Second, researchers in Canada
recommend that producers use individual stalls for
sows during early pregnancy, and move them to group
housing for the rest of the gestation period. The
lead scientist says that no single system addresses
all of the five key factors for housing of gestating
sows, including freedom of movement and freedom from
aggression, among others. Finally, the industry-oriented
"Pig Site" maintains a comprehensive bibliography
of research relating to pig welfare, with a focus
on veterinary information. The bibliography can be
accessed here: http://www.thepigsite.com/biblio/default.asp.
"Factors that Affect Feet and Leg Soundness," The PigSite, Nov-2004
http://www.thepigsite.com/FeaturedArticle/Default.asp?Display=1222
"Combination of Stalls and Group Housing Recommended for Housing Gestating Sows," Farmscape #1656, 11/30/04
http://archives.foodsafetynetwork.ca/animalnet/2004/12-2004/animalnet_dec_1.htm#story2
3.
Surprise Nominee for US Agriculture Secretary Gets Favorable Response
Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns has been selected by George W. Bush to be the next US Secretary of Agriculture, replacing outgoing secretary Ann Veneman. Johanns, who grew up on a dairy farm in Iowa and has been Nebraska's Governor for two years, was a surprise choice for many observers. During his tenure as governor, Johanns has been a strong supporter of alternative energies derived from farming processes, such as ethanol and biodiesel. Those actions and his support of local animal protection groups earned Johanns an endorsement from the world's largest animal protection organization, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). According to a HSUS press release, "Gov. Johanns served on the board of directors of the Capital Humane Society in Lincoln, Nebraska and has a record of supporting animal protection efforts as governor and in other elected offices." Industry representatives gave similarly favorable, albeit more subdued reactions to Johanns, whose nomination is subject to US Senate confirmation.
"Reaction to Johanns Nomination Mixed," Meatingplace.com, 12/3/04
http://www.meatingplace.com/DailyNews/init.asp?iID=13493
"The HSUS Encouraged By President Bush's Selection for Agriculture Secretary," HSUS, 12/2/04
http://tinyurl.com/5tyet
(HSUS website)
"Bush Goes to Farm Belt for New Agriculture Secretary," Reuters, 11/2/04
http://olympics.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=6982910
4.
Farmers and Meatpackers Face Environmental Regulations, Lawsuits
In
FAW
#78 we reported on the growing threat to air and
water quality from pollution caused by industrial
agriculture overall, and concentrated animal farming
in particular. Two recent articles describe instances
where a state government and a federal agency are
responding to the threat by targeting farmers and
meat producers. In Washington State, the Department
of Ecology has proposed new regulations for large-scale
feedlots. They require feedlot operations to prove
they are not polluting waterways prior to being granted
operational permits. A similar regulation has been
in place for dairy farms for about a decade, but feedlots
have not been included until now. The new requirements
are mandated by the US Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) as part of the Clean Water Act. In a separate
matter, the EPA is suing Agriprocessors, the same
kosher slaughterhouse that was the subject of PETA's
undercover investigation and a current USDA probe
(see item #1 above). The EPA's lawsuit claims that
Agriprocessors repeatedly violated the Clean Water
Act by exceeding pollution limits at its Postville,
Iowa facility. The EPA further alleges that water
pollution from the Agriprocessors facility caused
the city of Postville to violate its wastewater discharge
permit.
"Feedlots Face New Regulations," Tri-City Herald, 12/2/04
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/business/story/5862537p-5777641c.html
"EPA Sues Postville Meatpacker," Des Moines Register / Associated Press, 12/2/04
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041202/NEWS03/412020421
5.
Consumer News: Wasted Food in the US; Red Meat and Arthritis; Food Safety
WASTED FOOD: Researchers from the University of Arizona have released a study suggesting that 40-50% of the food produced in the US is never eaten, and most of it is thrown away. The findings include waste throughout the food production process, in addition to consumer waste. The 10-year USDA-sponsored study indicates that the average US household wastes 14% of its food purchases, or about $590 per year.
RED MEAT AND ARTHRITIS: Researchers from the University
of Manchester (UK) have published a study showing
that daily consumption of red meat dramatically increases
one's risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. The
article published in the journal "Arthritis and Rheumatism"
is based on 25,000 people. It suggests that those
who consume red meat on a daily basis have double
the risk of developing arthritis than do those who
consume red meat less frequently or not at all.
FOOD SAFETY: The Consumers Union, publisher of "Consumer
Reports," has released a new study and launched a
campaign to convince the USDA to strengthen producer
requirements for food safety. The website provides
tools for concerned consumers to take action, while
the report details the food safety issues surrounding
the feeding and medication of "beef" cows, chickens,
and farmed versus wild-caught fish.
"Half of US Food Goes to Waste," Food Production Daily, 11/25/04
http://foodproductiondaily.com/news/ng.asp?id=56340&n=dh330&c=tzlvsrxywshqwyj
"Red Meat Link to Arthritis Risk," BBC News, 12/3/04
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4065433.stm
"Consumers Union Launches Food-Safety Web Site," Meatingplace.com, 12/8/04
http://www.meatingplace.com/DailyNews/init.asp?iID=13511
Consumers Union website: http://www.NotInMyFood.org
Consumers Union report, "You Are What They Eat": http://tinyurl.com/5l7qj
6.
Other Items of Interest
According to Farm Sanctuary, two new bills have been
filed in Massachusetts, including a proposed law to
ban the production and sale of foie gras by force-feeding
birds and a separate bill to ban the use of veal and
gestation crates. Both issues will be addressed in
the upcoming state legislative session.
"New Legislation in Massachusetts Seeks to Protect Farmed Animals," Farm Sanctuary's E-News, 12/4/04
http://www.farmsanctuary.org/actionalerts/weekly.htm
A group of scientists analyzed the chicken genome
and found that chickens share 60% of the same protein-coding
genes as humans. Results from the study, funded by
USDA and carried out in part by researchers from the
University of California - Davis, will be published
in the December 9 issue of the journal "Nature."
"Chicken Genome Analysis Unlocks Secrets of Mammalian and Bird Evolution," Eureka Alert, 12/8/04
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2004-12/uoc--cga120704.php
UK: A small farm in southern England had hundreds
of organically-raised geese and about twenty ducks
stolen from their facility prior to the birds being
slaughtered for Christmas holiday sales.
"Hundreds of Geese Stolen from British Farm," Meatingplace.com, 12/7/04
http://www.meatingplace.com/DailyNews/init.asp?iID=13510
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on December
6 released its final rule requiring food companies
to establish and maintain records to help secure the
food supply. The FDA fact sheet (see below) provides
an overview of the different regulations covering
different types of food, including animal-based foods.
"Final Rule Issued on Records Needed to Protect Food Supply," FDA News, 12/6/04
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2004/NEW01143.html
Also see: FDA Fact Sheet - http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/fsbtac23.html
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