PETA Recap/Summary

[glatt]

I missed the debate. Oh well. Let me create a new category for me.

I love meat, and wish I could eat it, but I don't think (beef anyway) is all that safe right now, at least in the US.

I've stopped eating beef since the mad cow thing, and for purely selfish reasons, I'd like all of you to stop too. A huge boycott of beef will pressure them to make it safe again. Once it's safe, I'll fire up the grill. [homer] Mmmm hamburgers on the grill. [/homer]

[jinx]

Originally Posted by glatt

I've stopped eating beef since the mad cow thing, and for purely selfish reasons, I'd like all of you to stop too. A huge boycott of beef will pressure them to make it safe again. Once it's safe, I'll fire up the grill. [homer] Mmmm hamburgers on the grill. [/homer]

I totally agree with you glatt, I don't think beef is safe to eat. Mad cow aside, the antobiotics, growth hormones, grain feeding, and need for irradiation because the meat has been covered in feces turns me right off. Hamburger gives me nightmares.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by jinx

I totally agree with you glatt, I don't think beef is safe to eat. Mad cow aside, the antobiotics, growth hormones, grain feeding, and need for irradiation because the meat has been covered in feces turns me right off. Hamburger gives me nightmares.

I'm with you, jinx, on the antibiotics. Antibiotics should be for people only. We should stop this crazy bacterial strain improvement program that the meat industry is performing through overuse of antibiotics. By the time I'm an old man, I doubt any antibiotics will work on the monster germs we'll have by then.

Growth hormones don't really concern me that much, but mostly because I'm ignorant about the effects of eating growth hormone enhanced meat. How is it different than regular meat?

How is grain feeding bad? Never heard that one, but there's a lot I don't know.

The irradiation doesn't bug me much at all. There's some talk that it may destroy some of the nutrients in the meat, but so does cooking. Shit in the meat is a gross thought, but if you cook it enough, it isn't a health concern.

Mad cow disease freaks me right out, because you can't kill it by cooking it. Not even when you burn it to a crisp.

[jinx]

Originally Posted by glatt

How is grain feeding bad?

Because cattle are ruminants, they are supposed to eat grass in large quantities, not grains. Grains cause an acidosis in the rumen which can lead to ulcerations. Stomach ulcers and the resulting liver abcesses (from bacteria migration) are a major reason for therapeutic antibiotic use.
Grain feeding is also the reason why beef is bad for you. Grass fed beef has an omega 6:3 ratio in the neighborhood of fish. Grain fed beef can have a ratio of 20:1 or higher and contain up to 50% saturated fats (less than 10% in grass fed).

Growth hormones?

And I just don't trust Monsanto (rBGH rBST).

[glatt]

Interesting. I had no idea.

HAve you ever eaten grass fed beef? How's it compare in flavor?

[jinx]

Originally Posted by glatt

HAve you ever eaten grass fed beef? How's it compare in flavor?

Yes I have, my uncle actually raised one last year. It was ok... nothing to write home about, but it didn't strike me as 'different' either. The grain feeding is where the 'marbling' comes from, so it's leaner for sure.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by jinx

Because cattle are ruminants, they are supposed to eat grass in large quantities, not grains. Grains cause an acidosis in the rumen which can lead to ulcerations. Stomach ulcers and the resulting liver abcesses (from bacteria migration) are a major reason for therapeutic antibiotic use.
Grain feeding is also the reason why beef is bad for you. Grass fed beef has an omega 6:3 ratio in the neighborhood of fish. Grain fed beef can have a ratio of 20:1 or higher and contain up to 50% saturated fats (less than 10% in grass fed).

Growth hormones?

And I just don't trust Monsanto (rBGH rBST).

Just to clarify, There's nothing wrong with supplementing their diet of hay or grass and silage with grain, especially in the winter. The problems develop from feeding them all grain and no roughage like they do in commercial feed lots.
I prefer locally raised beef because it's more tender and less greasy.