Chapter 21. Chapter 21: Agriculture: Raising Livestock

What food safety issues are associated with meat products...?

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Guiding Question 21.1

What food safety issues are associated with meat products like beef, and how might their risk be reduced by producers and consumers?

Why You Should Care

In the United States, beef is what's served for dinner—and lunch. Maybe not for breakfast, but that's likely still to have pork and eggs. According to the USDA, the United States is the world's largest consumer (both total and per capita) of beef and chicken and the third largest consumer of pork. Why is this a cause for concern? The current production methods of meat products in North America are a serious threat to human health, the environment, and our ability to produce food in the future.

Air pollution flows wherever there is atmosphere, so where it is produced and the areas it impacts downwind can be separated by continents. It truly has a global impact because the global wind patterns spread out the pollutants wherever the wind blows. Areas closer to the source will have higher levels and those effects are more acute, but even at the North Pole, where there are no humans or human activities, there is measurable air pollution.

Meat puts consumers at risk through infectious disease (and several diseases related to diet). The threat of infectious disease comes from the unsanitary, factory-like conditions of modern food animals. Cattle, pigs, and chickens are raised for at least part of their lives in high-density feedlots that create environmentally hazardous amounts of manure (that can eutrophy surface water and taint ground water). That, coupled with the animals' immune systems being compromised by their stressful environment, makes treating animals with antibiotics almost essential to keep them alive until they reach their target weight. The manure in these facilities contains bacteria, some of which are normal inhabitants of the gut and harmless, but also some that can become harmful if ingested (certain strains of E. coli), and others that are always pathogenic (Salmonella, for example). It is easy for meat to be contaminated with these bacteria as it is processed in packing facilities. To compound this problem, the rampant use of antibiotics makes it likely that the bacteria will be resistant. There is also a risk of infection from crops fertilized with feedlot manure.

Currently, meat production in the United States is based on corn agriculture and high-density operations. Modern corn production uses unsustainable amounts of water, fossil fuels, and fossil fuel–based fertilizers and pesticides. Moreover, corn is human food, not typically eaten by cows and not particularly healthy for them, which leads to more antibiotic use. Corn-fed beef is also fattier and less healthy for humans to eat. It is healthier to feed cows grass, which also doesn’t require using land to produce food for cows instead of human food.

Because of the resource use and environmental degradation caused by modern meat production, the potential is high for the current meat-centered diet in the United States to eventually lead to the permanent degradation of agricultural land. You as a consumer can help reverse the problem by eating less meat and eating meat that is free-range, grass-fed, or organically grown. Buying a community-supported agriculture (CSA) share in a local farm will provide you with local, environmentally conscious, and tastier meat year round. By voting with your wallet, you allow smaller operations of sustainable meat producers to gain a larger share of the market. Eventually, if enough consumers demand it, large companies may follow their lead.

Question Test Your Vocabulary

Choose the correct term for each of the following definitions:

Term Definition
EPjfCVNrEtRsG9DiZaR0JN3dgIAlZGsKedA56Qw7+0Vsn2dufGxvFjVmtANPrlPznXV4vuR5eYAl375Qa3KTbNd6RRLiBETmhNdVqUTG6tG81/OwQnkokyvNb2WqE3fu7ssV3wycKYGniNjnACEv2hR4hC7bj8f6EL5CJg== The amount of water consumed by a given group (person, population) or for a process (raising livestock).
gJolC1u8r0ZURO1saGm/bUgiRuBvbD94ojxlymnkiOhUsYsRE6MJfLHXKo4Mqzqm2YZHo18hNHJSh6+vJtmp39xj24GIb+7H4vuXkXwA//dRKk5/jEIed01VN5fycC0WaOOlwXNzr5cyYY7dhRI1co0l9dX58xaYJRS75g== Many meat or dairy animals are reared in confined spaces, maximizing the number of animals that can be grown in a small area.
shrnqpn8jpGpRuQBU/OPnBDUmgma9zufRk2ZVMOhODtdTGSojP+r4fvxrKljEaG+HlK0D9uAiTRvvZiOA/I6KNYxO2yGdqxrNL9Bwz/gHLgx8v/szg+NsbxJ2Pd8rU3TKCMFuCCjCeXSCfipOYqR4FhNh5INQVWLRj+uIw== Overarching legislation that deals with many aspects of production and sale of farm-raised commodity crops, including programs for consumer food assistance, soil conservation, and farm subsidies; updated every 5 years.
3r2NBHt2MunImflxxrNlYM6NZTgYCITFcwhIJ+7ASc4Ppaaa2UA7T9IUc/TG9V3Cx5DXjqHgrAuQtzVKLQYN0ibxA9e59AwfdKDf2xKzpyTZATdQB67Kob+ES4/FdeMFSE+hcefXUuvlHklshw7vNX24XrZi1LIs3R+/qA== The amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) or other greenhouse gas released by an action; a concern because it contributes to climate change.
eHpR7EDI0gnV7yjNLeGlPHWqaPc2uoC8PLN20vidKfQzWox4PNuXrgdU+1ahh1E9Y0pbMpj26DEf2rjB6cXtom0Xi5+T2SmFMUDrkX67r6hMc0mi8xhFToGkHVHLDbUaVH37jpzlN00Jo/NrEgsqv7mFApMJl4BbvTvS8w== How much edible food is produced per unit of feed input.
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Infographic 21.1

Question 21.1

WwVXmIS082fBm4TqF+LgbRsNfUEj+kH/LIza5RZSd6aY5JxrK2b4YsOFom+A9fAreE0jZXO+NvoOn0chLpLttgeuiKrGZA4Mu0mjIeUpbrut5FpF48mbmxeKiv+CCpnuGUWJHBLAtOqL18wB4d6pT5RpyAUI/oTj3AeMtiL2pBYU0cKTIwxhAqdg5vj3L6nLVtmyhYXUYHQNCZwC9/R5tzz/iRrNPGt80XVmOXqwthRJgYXjr4hNUV4qyFujaYc/aC3ty/U/om0vUOjsKHP99Cf7ER79txRzuNS26k6vRRq7zMzqc5Rn8Lm9JqDF9IjcLYOPeqmMTccWP2oVXRsizxR8NZ8D6wvZX8NnFoonMU2QohAeEbjq/BmYvAxs0w6casjKh/qKcHD+A4ZVYyiAKGcSTYE3Ep6/gipgz0sqaC/KvlKywVrtvL2cKzvUN521dbL4LiLS5onDWZiaWn2vBw==
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Question 21.2

kLm5KRCfjwuVyF30nPcvRH84hq3EmCmNf4Nwt/uxu+2cyDTUa5u56ms9jYUAENApOAuDapim+zxgm3x3YAIqGSeUahhsQIEjq/nSdy4qbxsMg8EvpWHHfl086IobEQl8Y7ZbCu6vomwxO2MctAdkEmIHZ2JoFu7p0FGJ/d0XaBHgWHVbzfXp2uoQsBAQiUMz4fX6vXmKdFPE2l08+t4DHgQfXyMXSWeEPJsSHo4Wf+s/5avRB57Ehi1Dgxy/SLiC/ImpP5rtJnt7iEp1DawjpGW3RHIuIaGBSYjIDmitsQae5T+xzwVcfvkh7PN0g6lQWZ1AJ+t/PiTDjwquZsRtBiAn3PjGwZ9V
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Question 21.3

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Question 21.4

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Question 21.5

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This is a question whose aim is to get you to defend your opinion. The most important thing to do is to make your argument clear and logical. An example of one answer would be that habitat destruction is the biggest cause for concern because it affects the future of food production. Food safety could cause the least concern because new safety measures seem to be bringing the number of new cases down.
Infographic 21.5

Question 21.6

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Question 21.7

9IGHDcKDnbDXAkK+0uEEsgw8AvDqVJUXgXfrG7+5K7RNPWkEY4VUDBy1XCEsllbVuf4muHxvpAxUQbXaUIBPIdeAkfWVhICXHfgJwRcrvJ6FiNvtdFdaQFJ7yp45tX1dAVW0qd8jlbKGGD93ccZySybNhlpGFs2uUli0T4/a/bZG81xOzn0myR1nRL7RoYXshYFvMdlad5bJwF/JWK54YH7XVoAUvKoph6simCQaUwrOLnQAhsfskHEl4mh4FBzwbT3HkpLvSW9OjK3fv22u4D0BOEAIbE9Z+p8hMW88s7Q0WHfb9+chSPjGcARwqJuIUOdbp/8HoEM=
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Question 21.8

J3gb39EES2Tl1kHA945G7E6LMDFKPjFvCoNPV8u3khucSqkZoyPqNX/vDWSRaY1F6If3Ye4vZY1KwmC2wpuXVNlZ14ASFR1z7fEzAZPNK3rYfsz4tXGEK1d7rCqkdwFRfpnCVFiYh6zkVi6kZyYyjHsuiSEZgQulSxuTKL6PzTMNeco8Pbqw9DMO+HapBmJ7B2V7fLp4KHcFiwD1Dh3LZal+BfjNRN1t8nbfNTKynC9qd5BAFp0O/jgrpkTZEYT2mAKLITqozCPLAmaM8RQAlnCrwVMY44NRBQ7iNb9ovNlcJTiw3U7mSdptNPuLtbkXVSjivA==
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Correct. If there were 282,000,000 people in the United States, and we are counting them in groups of 100,000, then that means that we have 282,000,000/100,000. This equals 2,820 groups of 100,000 people. Multiply 2820 groups of 100,000 people times 2 cases per 100,000 people, and you get 5,640 cases.
Incorrect. If there were 282,000,000 people in the United States, and we are counting them in groups of 100,000, then that means that we have 282,000,000/100,000. This equals 2,820 groups of 100,000 people. Multiply 2820 groups of 100,000 people times 2 cases per 100,000 people, and you get 5,640 cases.

Question 21.9

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Question 21.10

SHZVuhBNgvb1MMPs8FQJ5H20Jn4fkrUZZ49sYSlaK4KKBljc+0itaTkXASZ5gzvfdz4u9sDBKVviCKT0mCVPCRvsDH8OekbzW212th1B2AogPpLmX2UfgHzPdYJmIZK5QGoUF3y0ivT/tY7wFALk4eL16NpAaGJ3bRweNVMU6xviqiwPs0SLKIUIaO4e4RQaq9nl6ZDVpvzYyLfJ5FFlwv3YL1k3lwET9mTfGsREvdoRyz8DGKXbWdyUJ9nePLSJs8KHmc65DUQLxS3p54UPWvyorX9sRroX7UhY5k9R6VP+NTf96Tw7wd7oy/dGIBD1crl0B9BNxmn9ldm9pzOXEmu4aDXsi12hC4a90mrG8sf2o1/j
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Correct. There were around 20 outbreaks in 2005 according to the graph: 4,500 cases/20 outbreaks = 225 cases per outbreak.
Incorrect. There were around 20 outbreaks in 2005 according to the graph: 4,500 cases/20 outbreaks = 225 cases per outbreak.

Question 21.11

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999
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Correct.
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