If almost 10 years of writing about the meat industry has done anything for me, it’s made me more immune to the common tactics used to turn people away from eating meat.
When I was 7 or 8 years old, my favorite reading material included Ranger Rick magazines, comic books and some of my mom’s Hardy Boys books — pretty innocent stuff.
If a disease outbreak occurs in today’s interconnected global economy, the stakes are higher than usual: Expect lost domestic and international sales, a damaged reputation, and even a hit to the U.S. economy from lost trade and employment.
Fifty-six copies of enforcement letters have been posted to the FSIS Humane Handling Web site in 2013. A review of these letters underscores the importance of a systematic approach to animal welfare and helps identify common issues to resolve.
When Harris Ranch renovated and expanded its cattle receiving and harvest floor at its Selma, Calif., processing plant earlier this year, it unveiled a design that maximizes animal welfare, food safety and ergonomics.
When it comes to humane livestock handling, the quality of an animal’s handling experience is largely dictated by the skill and patience of the handler. However, quality facilities don’t hurt.
One day last spring, one of the leading veal producers in the country opened his doors to a group of culinary instructors and students, allowing an up-close look at today’s veal industry.