Full Statement by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack

I hope that tonight's segment on the show, also sheds the light on the intense confinement that these animals, who are being slaughtered for food live in. It is unhealthy for the animals, but it is also the cause of so many of the illnesses transmitted by the meat people eat.

In rural areas of America where cattle are trucked to market, piles of fresh cow excrement spills onto the paved highways. Could this be a source of E coli H 157 and should something be done to prevent this?

Also, what about nitrosamines in meat, that increase the incidence of colon cancer in people that eat a lot of meat?

Larry, my 5 yr. old grandson was in the hospital for a month with e-coli. he had 3 mini strokes, lost funchion of his kidneys and his red blood cells were eaten up. He had to have dialysis and also blood transfusions, honestly he almost died. It was the most horrible thing I have ever gone through. this is supposedly the hamburger disease.

He did start to school, and his hemoglobin is still low, however the doctor said it would get back to normal.

I feel that if the meat, whether it's ground beef, a pork loin, or a boneless chicken breast, is cooked to a minimum internal temparature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, it will be safe to eat. If you get food poisoning after eating a hamburger, then it was not COOKED properly.

Dr. Campbell knows of what he speaks. If you take the time to read his book, The China Study, there is really nothing to dispute. He has done the research. I wonder what research Dr. Rodriguez has done to back up her statements?

I have heard that eggs, all leafy greens and canned tuna should
be avoided due to an e.coli threat. Is this true. I believe it was on your
CNN site. vicki

LISTEN TO MOTHER NATURE:: THE FIRST DIGESTIVE ENZYMES A BABY PRODUCES OTHER THAN MILK DIGESTING ENZYMES ARE MEAT DIGESTING ENZYMES & BEGIN A FEW WEEKS AFTER TEETH START COMING IN. WORLDWIDE POPULATIONS THAT ARE ANIMAL MEAT EATERS HAVE NO DIABETES, NO APPENDICITIS, & NIL CANCER. ALL THOSE DISEASES OCCUR IN PROPORTION TO INCREASES IN CARBOHYDTRATES IN THEIR DIETS.. A FULL PLANT/WHOLE FOODS DIET IS INPRACTICAL FOR MOST PEOPLE.–ORGANIC MEAT/EGG/DAIRY PRODUCTION IS THE WAY TO GO..A WEARY,MD

Health issues being discussed about meat eating should be divided into lean meat discussion and other meats. Also note that the experts are talking about 3 oz. of meat. Most Americans are eating a lot more than two 3 oz. servings a day, which will certainly cause health problems in some people. Complete proteins can be obtained with just 3 ounces a serving. Eat meat, but use some sense doing it. Some recent years' outbreaks of E coli have been from consuming spinach and lettuce, and not just from ground beef. Safety is a real issue with veterian diets as well. It has been shown that infants to two year old children need animal fats for brain development. Let's not cut them short!

Eating meat is definitely unhealthy for the animal being eaten.

subject e-coila ,the desesea has to with the cleaness of the peson handling meat ,are there hands claen is the equipmenit clean,are they weing gloves,are the poeple cooking the beef at 170 fr. hieght.that is the key to getting e-coia,i am a meat cutter hadle you product proridy.keep in the fridge till use,

Also, let me add that I went to a plant based diet over a year ago. I am feeling better and am healthier than I have ever been. People don't "need" animal protein. That is not even disputable given all the people and cultures which thrive on plant based diets. If you look at the peer-reviewed research which Dr. Campbell mentions, you can only come to one rational conclusion which is that animal protein is harmful to humans. Eliminate animal protein and you can eliminate heart disease, cancer and probably much more.

Colin Campbell's book should be required reading by everyone in this country who is involved with providing the food for our tables, by every parent, by every nutritionist!

In regard to E.coli found in plants, I'm wondering if re-cycled water is being used for agriculture? From my perspective, re-cycled water is chemically treated sewer water.

I love meat and I've prepared it for my family for decades. I don't know anyone who has ever had E. coli. Certainly no one in my family has, but some of these guests want it to seem like the sky is falling. What's wrong with people that somehow they refuse to take responsibility for preparing food safely? Wash your hands. Keep your meat cold. Cook it throrougly. This isn't tough stuff.

Maybe some of these people should move to Africa or Mexico....then come back and tell me how unsafe our food

Dr. Campbell will die someday eating whole foods!

Dr. Campbell....I have read your book ...it is one of the best books on this issue people can read....I am now a vegetarian as are my children

I have gone back in forth from whole foods veg diet to a lean meat whole foods diet......but I was always concsious of the amounts of meat I ate and purchase only organic or from a local farmer whom I can see his farm. I have a 6 yr old and it is a struggle I do all I can and realize he may have exposure to Mc D's from time to time. I so the same with produce, grow what I can, purchase local and organic in all ways possible. Our food source/supply is just sad...we have to speak up as the citizens of this nation and say NO not anymore......and organic red bell pepper should not cost more than a meal at McD's how will anyone be able to make the changes necessary to feel their family.

Even dairy-I do all possible to gift farmers in my area that I know for fresh raw milk and eggs. What a difference if you eat dairy this is the only way to eat it.....otherwise,, just remove it from the diet!!!

Organic, fresh, raw and local...........I agree so much with Dr. Weary above....!!!

Please tell that meat industry representative windbag that he is full of ****.

don't forget that beef is not the only meat, and one answer to factory farming is humanely raised animals that come from a local farm,
—a message from your local (goat) farmer

my son almost died from eating a hamburger at Jack in the box. He spent a week in the hospital. the bacteria was called Shegela and although it was not e coli, it could be deadly. this bacteria is to be found in fecal material! this happened in 1969 or 70. It is discouraging to see that this problem seems to be even worse today. I am eating much less meat - almost never and avoid hamburgers.
Nicole Treves

There is a proven difference between carnivores and herbivores?
Carnivores-Sweat by panting, have paws or claws, have pointed teeth, lap water. All herbivores-sweat through pores, have hoofs or hands, have flat teeth, and sip water.
When's the last time you panted and lapped water?

Why is no one, on this meat-eating topic, talking about the difference between GRASS-FED beef (and other animals) and factory farmed animals. Ssmall farmers that raise beef and other animals that eat grass and other pasture things, with no hormones or antibiotics, and specifically no grain, are absolutely the only kind of meat that is safe to eat. And it's good for you.

Jonathan knows nothing about agriculture or the way animals are raised. I don’t know why he was chosen to be on the program because he has absolutely no credibility or qualifications to discuss the agriculture industry. Ninety-eight percent of farms and ranches are owned and operated by families. My husband and I own and operate a ranch that has been in our family for 103 years. We love the land and our animals and have dedicated our lives to being good stewards of both. We are proud to produce a safe and nutritious product for consumers. Smart food safety practices are important. All of these tragic situations could have been avoided if the hamburger had been cooked properly.

The bottom issue is being missed. God's original plan for man in the garden of Eden was to eat only vegetables and fruit. Down thru the ages we have violated that plan by eating the parts of other animals. It's no wonder that diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, etc. have escalated. We have fallen far from God's original plan for man.

I think meat processing should go back to free range animals. I grew up on a farm and we raised cows on grass and grain in the winter, were less fatty than the meat you get in the grocery store plus they do not need so many antibiotics that they use in huge factory run places. Yes it will be expensive, but its worth it. The industry needs go back to the small ranchers.

Remember that these products end up in a factory where they can sit and collect bacteria, no environment is steril.... nothing is perfect.

As a cardiac nurse I can also say we need meat, but in moderation. Exercise is probably the best thing you can do for your cardiac health, not cut out meat. Most people I see come to our floor were past smokers. There is new research out that vegans have a higher rate of Alzheimers.

I am allergic to dried beans and peanut butter. Where do I get my protein?

Jonathan knows exactly what he's talking about. The family run farm raising animals for food from the farm to the consumer's table is in the minority. Most of the animals we eat come from factory farms where the animals are in inhumanely crowded conditions, routinely injected with antibiotics to keep them from getting sick from those crowded conditions, and given hormones for rapid growth. That's the norm in today's animal agriculture. Not the family farm. Whille the meat may be cheap, we're paying a high price in taxpayer dollars to clean up the environment and in health care. We have become immune to antibiotics because we're ingesting so many from the animals we eat. What we pay across the counter isn't the whole story.

I think that tonight's show was unfair. They obviously were focusing on plant vs. meat eating. They did not discuss the nation's food safety system and I think that needs to be addressed. Why do we not have more testing done here in America? I'll tell you. The meat industry makes LOTS of money.

I've been watching the debate on the subject "Is meat safe to eat?" Fecal material is the primary source of Ecoli0157. The Department of Agriculture Meat 'Safety program and the State co-op programs operate under a Zero Tolerance for fecal material. However, on many occasions the inspector is not present to monitor. When this happens the fecal material is washed off instead of being trimmed off per regulation and Ecoli is on the way to the consumer. .

Obesity, cancer, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney stones, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome.. and the list goes on and on.. this is the direction that the western diet, high in processed foods & meats, is taking us. Well, luckily we got the drug industry to mask these symptoms.. They sure have the right purple pill for all of them.. hmm.. The processed food industry should at least be obliged to add warning labels to these kind of foods, if you can even call them foods...

Healthy, natural eating has become such an endeavour in our modern society that it's really becoming pretty ridiculous. One has to really do their own research.

Eating is not just about satisfying one's hunger. Foods also have the power to heal and prevent disease. As Hippocrates said, "Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food". I guess it doesn't take much common sense to realize, which foods are the kind of super foods providing these healing nutrients...

In conclusion,. if one has to eat meat.. then let it be your treat and make sure you buy natural, ethical, grass-fed kind.

Go Vegan!

The cardiac nurse who advocated meat in moderation and exercise might read Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn's, "Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease". His 15 year research at the Cleveland Clinic is astounding! Dr. Joe Crowe, a 45 year old surgeon at the Clinic had a major heart attack after a day of surgery. He was trim, exercised and believed he ate healthy. Since his blockage was inoperable due to its location, he met with his colleague, Esselstyn, and ate totally plant based. In 30 months his blockage was reversed WITHOUT surgery and meds.
We don't need animal protein for health. Migrant studies and the research done with Seventh Day Adventists further solidify Dr. Campbell's research. "The China Study" should be read by everyone in the medical/health fields.
I'd like to know who funds Professor Rodriguez' research!!

One cannot possibly appreciate the peace of mind (and spirit) in cooking in a meat-free kitchen! What a blessing! No dripped blood in the fridge... No worries on the counter. No extreme wiping, cleaning, harsh chemicals, dupicate cutting boards, etc.

And the fact still remains for those who continue to consume flesh – the irridiation does not remove the poop from your meat... it just renders it "safe" to eat. Poop? Ingesting feces as part of a wholesome meal? Personally, it's one of the most unappetizing things I can think of!

Eliminating animal products from my life is the best choice I ever made. My health & outlook have greatly improved. I only wish I had done so decades ago!

As long as industrial agriculture & agribusiness has it's hand in the USDA (which they do) this statement really means nothing.

I have a hard time buying all the hype about how diligently the U.S.D.A. F.S.I.S. is working to improve food safety. For almost a year, I had been dating a person who is STILL employed by the F.S.I.S. in Atlanta. He works as a Specialist Veterinarian, and oversees 47 other DVMs whose job it is to inspect all of the food supply operations in Georgia, Florida, and Puerto Rico. Recently, I became suspicious of this person, and discovered that he was working for the USDA using fraud and forged credentials. This individual has NEVER attended veterinary school, yet the USDA believes he has been. I have been trying FOR TWO MONTHS SOLID to get anyone at the USDA, OIG, FBI, GBI, and State and U.S. Attorney's offices to listen to me. NOT ONE PERSON is interested in investigating. The OIG fraud hotline took a "report" two months ago, and nothing has come of it. Everyone else I've contacted tells me that I need to contact someone else. Let me be crystal clear: I don't have circumstantial evidence. I have exact and irrefutable proof that this person is working with forged academic transcripts and diploma from a veterinary college. I have offered to drop the evidence in the laps of the authorities, and they COULD NOT CARE LESS! Any suggestions???

We can go back in forth whether people are intended to be plant or meat eaters, but ultimately its a moot point comparing humans to a certain species. How many other species cook plants and meat? I don't see any other animals driving cars or using electricity so its comparing apples to oranges. If you think humans are meant to eat plants, try eating pasta raw like your animal reference does.

I feel terrible that there are so many people in the world that actually believe that farmers/ranchers are out to get everyone. We all have families and our children grow up on our farms and see our practices daily. We are trying to teach our kids to be good people and care for others and our animals as they would want to be cared for. I feed my family meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables that are all conventionally grown with technology and I know that if I prepare my food properly, they are eating a safe product. Farmers today are feeding the world with only 11% of the earth's surface, therefore, producing more with less is the only economic and earth friendly way to do it. I am also glad that we have the socioeconomic benefit from technology, because everyone DOESN'T have to grow their own food. I'm pretty sure Bill Gates wouldn't have had the time to come up with Microsoft if he was busy milking cows and growing crops.

Everything in moderation is what matters in nutrition. I challenge all of you that are doubting the safety, animal treatment and heath of your food supply to actually visit a farm. We all (farmers) are trying to take care of our animals and our land and without technology, no one would be able to afford to eat. I hope you all consider the other side of the story. Thank you.

I agree with Bill – banter all you want about what farmers are doing wrong, but regardless, they are still feeding our nation. What other country has as good a food supply as ours? I encourage you who are unfamiliar with animal husbandry and the way farmers do things to actually contact a local farmer and see how they care for their animals and the land – from all aspects of their operation! And to the comment about safe water – do you think farmers would feed their animals 'sewer' water? Their children and livelihood are raised on water and the materials on and surrounding the farm – it would be crazy for them to not care for it at the highest possible standards!!! I am proud to say I'm a meat eater and healthy product of a farm-raised family!

Dr (?). Rodriquez had no business being on that forum. She did not know what she was talking about and had nothing to back her up.

We need to face the fact that the meat industry in the U.S., and all its corporate players and corporate leaders, are both criminal and corrupt. They are criminal because they choose to make their food products an instrument of murder and mayhem in order to reduce their expenses and increase their products. They are corrupt because they actively cover up their criminal activities by obscuring the truth and shifting the blame for their criminal acts.

All the leaders of all these companies belong in jail - for their many acts of murder and attempted murder. The income and assets they and their families have gained through their murderous actions should be confiscated and distributed to their many thousands of victims.

Cargyll deserves special mention, both for its actions reported by the New York Times, and for the self-serving invalid opinions expressed by their representative Pat on Larry King Live on Monday evening. Being a privately owned company does not in any way excuse Cargyll from 100% protecting its 300,000,000 American customers (and all overseas customers as well) from the murderous consequences of its “expense saving” actions. Nor does it excuse Cargyll from any and all requirements and disclosures that are currently needed to force Cargyll and the others to do the right and the legal thing.

The meat companies could clean up their products in a month; maybe even in a day. They either choose to do this or they don’t. They choose to produce dangerous, murderous products to obtain higher profits. They are murderers. The executives should get 25 years to life, just like all murderers.

I agree 100% with Dr. Campbell...I have been a vegetarian for 2 years and I look and feel 100% better. Why would I trust the government? Dr Campbell is a scholar and he is living proof of what he teaches.
I do not trust the (USDA) and the government with anything, anymore. If I ever do have a craving for protein, I eat fish which is not often. To me just the thought of the flesh of another creature, trying to push its way through my digestive system is enough ....How can that be healthy? It's common sense. Meat is not safe to eat ...People should eat very little if any meat....To help clean up our environment we need to start with our own bodies first.

The point should be made that the USDA, whose task is to promote American agriculture, is in charge of inspecting meat. Does anyone else find that to be a case of the wolf tending the hen house (pun intended)?

As a family dairy farmer and beef producer, I am continually saddened by the misconceptions and prejudices held by today's consumers and fuelled by the media. Personally, I am proud to contribute safe, wholesome, and nutritious food to feed a growing world. It is truly a labor of love–love for our families, the land and animals we care for, and the people we are feeding. We don't do it for the money - believe me, I can think of a lot easier ways to lose the thousands of dollars a month we have been losing since prices dropped late last year. My greatest wish is that consumers would understand that there are many different ways to produce food in a safe and sustainable manner- and yes, many of those ways include the use of modern technologies that allow us to realize greater efficiency and minimize our environmental impact.

We should all be grateful consumers can choose what they put on their plate – whether it's an organic veggie burger or a conventionally-raised ribeye steak. I won't attack your food choices so please don't attack my profession.

Meat and other animal protein should be eaten as a condiment and not the main course.

However not all enzymes-necessary for digestion are found in plants and grains. Not everyone's system has adapted to absorb the nutrients from a plant based diet, and supplements don't absorb the same way food does.

I was vegetarian and then vegan, for almost 10 years until 2003. At the same time, I also sold health products like vitamins and supplements for most of those years. Then, I developed severe anemia and a disease called ITP-I almost died.

I took the advise of an old country doctor who considered my Irish and North American Indian heritage, after assessing me at the hospital. I added milk , eggs and small amounts of fish and lean meats to my diet. All organic and free range as much as possible…I have normal red blood platelets and iron levels today and I don’t pick up every flu or bug that comes along. My skin, hair and nails look much better than they did 7 or 8 years ago.

I believe that meat processing plants and big industrialized farms are to blame for contaminated illness, as well as poor kitchen and cooking habits. Its not the meat itself. Having said that, people do eat too much meat and protein in general, in our culture

We should eat meat raised on local farms, organic and free range as much as possible and meat and dairy should be eaten in moderation with nuts, legumes, leafy greens, beans whole grains, colorful fruits and vegetable, healthy oils and "SOME" soya.

The Japanese and the people from the Mediterranean show us the longevity is associated with lean meat and fish, dairy in moderation with other whole foods, small amounts of regular alcohol use; strong communities, low stress, purposeful exercise and life activities and healthy body weight through out the lifespan.