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folklaur
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| Posted: Aug 20 2008 at 1:27pm | IP Logged
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OKay. I don't eat beef. Why? Because of thinking red meat is bad for me? Because of fat, or cholesterol concerns?
No.
It is because I am absolutely terrified of mad cow disease.
I want to think this is silly. I want to think our food is safe. But when things like tomatoes and spinach start having trouble, I have an even harder time trusting the Beef Industry, and I have read a lot of info that leads me to really question if they are being honest about MCD.
So.
Am I being an idiot?
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Mary G
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| Posted: Aug 20 2008 at 1:55pm | IP Logged
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Well, I certainly wouldn't call you an idiot or silly ... but I do have to say that my dh, who worked years in the Poultry Industry and is pretty A/R about food safety, doesn't have much of a problem buying any kind of meat. Altho he refuses to eat at Arby's or Hardees .... 
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MaryG
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nissag
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| Posted: Aug 20 2008 at 2:06pm | IP Logged
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Not silly at all. What about purchasing beef from a local organic/grass-fed farmer. CJD (mad cow's disease) comes from cows being fed the carcasses of other cows, specifically brain matter. If you have a trustworthy farmer near you who pastures his cows in season and/or a CSA near you where you can buy fresh, organically-grown produce, I think you'll feel much more confident.
I can relate entirely. I lived in the UK when they had that awful outbreak of CJD back in the late 90s. It was terrifying. I went off beef entirely. All those herds that were culled in UK and also Europe during that time - fairly makes your hair stand on end.
Blessings,
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Nissa
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organiclilac
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| Posted: Aug 20 2008 at 2:34pm | IP Logged
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I don't think it's silly. We buy our beef from local farmers, and this is one of the reasons. You can read more about Mad Cow here. I don't know if there's conclusive evidence to support everything on this site, but it certainly raises questions and I think further testing is justified.
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Angie Mc
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LAURA! That's name-calling and we don't name-call in this family ...at least that's the goal and what I just said to one of my children who shall go unnamed  .
I went through a food worry phase...lasted awhile...but what helped me eventually was to see food, all food, as a gift from God. It is for God to provide food or not for me and may family. It is for God to provide yummy, healthy, perfect food for my family or not. I cannot be afraid of food. No can do.
When I was at my heyday of eating healthy and as perfectly as possible, I was part of a natural foods co-op. I asked a local mom if she wanted to join because she was the mother of 14 children at the time, 10 she birthed, and there was bulk food available. She told me, "Angie, I would love to be able to buy better food, but for now, I get my food from a food bank and I just ask God to bless it." Her complete trust in our Lord to bless the food she had, made a huge impact on me at the time.
So I do the best I can with food, and let the fears go as best as I can.
Love,
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Angie Mc
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Red Cardigan
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Laura, our family hasn't eaten beef for years (well except once or twice at friends' or relatives' houses 'cause we try to be good company). Initially my DH was worried about Mad Cow but as he researched the way cattle are raised today we just couldn't get beyond some of the cruelty and disregard for disease (and I'll spare everybody the details, but the info's out there!).
But since Americans probably eat too much meat in general and esp. too much red meat which is usually a "treat" in other cultures, I don't feel too bad about giving it up.
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organiclilac
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| Posted: Aug 20 2008 at 7:18pm | IP Logged
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Red Cardigan wrote:
| Initially my DH was worried about Mad Cow but as he researched the way cattle are raised today we just couldn't get beyond some of the cruelty and disregard for disease (and I'll spare everybody the details, but the info's out there!). |
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Yes, these were bigger issues for us than mad cow also. Probably the biggest, though, is that we do not want to support the meatpacking industry for the way it treats its workers. There is a lot on this in the book Fast Food Nation. (I understand that it has been made into a movie, but I think I remember hearing that it had some inappropriate content, FYI.)
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Tracy, wife to Shawn, mama to Samuel (4/01) and Joseph (11/11), and Thomas (2/15)
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dollylima
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cactusmouse:
If you live in a rural area or near a rural area you can look into "going in on a cow" with some other like-minded families. Basically what you do is find someone with the land and the desire to raise the animal, you then purchase a calf together and give money for room and board for the animal. When it comes time to slaughter the cow you split it amongst the group. This works really well with pigs, as they are cheaper to raise and require less room. Lots of people we know do this with great results. This way, you know where the meat was raised, what the animal was fed and how it was treated.
So, if you live in or near a rural area or have friends who do, this might be an option for you.
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Heather
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: tell me it's silly
