Websites+and+Summaries+for+Unit+on+America's+Food+Safety

= = =__PODCASTS__= [] Talks to vet about the role of large farms in providing food for the growing population in the world. [] Discusses animal welfare as it relates to food production in America. [] Response to the Report of the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production. [] Explains which federal agencies work to keep our food safe and discusses what the government can do to improve food safety. [] Food Irradiation Podcast (PRO) =__**NEWS ARTICLES**__= 1. Food Irradiation Controversy (CON) []
 * Farms decreased but size increased – not necessarily coorp. (still 95% family operations)
 * Large farm – watch animals closer and can meets needs better (efficient to segregate and separate livestock for special care)
 * Challenges: watch all animals bc in larger groups (may not see individual animals)
 * Bigger operation: less attention to individual animals? (harder to watch individual animals but can divide into small groups so can watch groups more closely than large group) – more people, more specialization of jobs
 * Large farms important to feeding world? Efficiency is the key (less and less ppl feeing popln of world, less than 3% in America makes enough food for world)
 * As demand increases, middle class increases in world – use more and more animal protein (meat and milk demand increases) – farmers become more efficient – genetic means (milk production has greatly increased!)
 * Food animal practices changed how? – concerned about heard operation (individual animals to preventive medicine to production animal medicine and now concerned about whole farm operation – whole team – geneticists, bankers, food, etc.)
 * Most abundant, most wholesome food supply in the world!
 * Low stress animal handling has become better
 * Pushing biological limits in livestock production – dairy cows
 * Management of operations
 * Positive developments: handling improvement, guidelines for body index
 * Need to communicate with public
 * Video cameras on farms, webpages – open up electronically to show what we do so public is award, show a well-run dairy or slaughter plant
 * Americans want the safest food possible
 * PEW report their response to farm animal production so that food is healthy and safe and used as basis for proposed legislation
 * Key concerns: criticized for not being census based
 * Some ppl want congress to decide what drugs can be used on animals (restrict antibiotics that can be used – already approved by FDA)
 * Vets have background in human and animal health so should be able to make the best decisions – limits ability for vet to protect food supply (in European countries with similar bands increased livestock disease with no real benefit notice to humans noticed)
 * How is federal government at keeping our food safe? Best system in the world
 * Which agency responsible for both? 15 or more agencies (USFDA, FDA) meat vs other products (veggies and fruit)
 * Becoming more dependent on imported food so become susceptible to the problems they have in food safety (need to have standards for those export countries)
 * Can make foods safer, tested and safe (doesn’t make food radioactive – approved by FDA, doesn’t change food taste, content but makes food safer)
 * Reduces number of harmful bacteria such as E. Coli (still need good processing)
 * Irradiated – fresh meat and poultry, seasonings, fresh produces, FSIS insects meat, poultry and egg products
 * Can you eat irradiated meats raw – no
 * Cants tell if restaurant uses irradiated meat
 * FSIS and FDA have good info on irradiation

2. How Safe Is Supermarket Food? []
 * scares with important food
 * boxed meals made with over 50 ingredients, changes foods many times
 * FDA only tests about 1% of food imports (so they go to a plant and test everything!)
 * Big companies usually run audits
 * Big companies often check suppliers bc no they cant be unsafe so usually can trust food in supermarkets
 * Questionable stuff goes to cut-rate restaurants and discounted supply stores

3. Monsanto monopoly of seed market []