The Real Issue Facing Canadian Cattle Producers

[farmers_son]

And by the way... Rkaiser asked what I thought Canada’s response would be to a BSE urine test that could be used on live cattle. At first I thought how would I know? Who does Rkaiser think I am, Prime Minister Stephen Harper? But after giving it quite a bit of thought I would presume that Canada’s response to such a test would be to follow the OIE recommendations. We have consistently followed the OIE recommendations and I see no reason why that would change no matter which government was in place at some point in the future when and if such a test was adopted.

[per]

Farmers_Son you are picking fly feces out of pepper. You underestimate the intelligence of the consumer. The very interesting book of acceptable amounts of debris is available to the public and some have avoided certain foods because of it. If it was possible to clean pepper 100%, I am sure someone would market that product and the industry would have to adapt or "re-educate" the consumer. I am not aware of any redeeming value of rodent hair (maybe fiber) but certainly, the bugs and the larva could be considered a source of protein. Most of us here are in the business of value adding sunshine into beeves or all the way to beef in a box. The old status quo is like driving down a muddy road stuck in a rut with no 4WD. No one here has argued that minimum OIE standards must not be met. I have heard arguments that we could set ourselves apart by exceeding the standard. I happen to agree with that. What you are afraid of, is it that some of the consumers will turn away from beef altogether. Again, I do not think they will, as they are more intelligent than you give them credit for. It would be nice if you could help steer the truck down the road and not into the ditch. We all have the same end goal in mind…” A viable and sustainable beef industry.”

[PureCountry]

Food safety should be left to science instead of democracy? That's absurd. They MUST coincide to ensure safety. You use the word science in the context of a warm, fuzzy-feeling happy place we all like to go to while dreaming about high-school chemistry days or something. The "Science" that monitors food safety on this continent is multi-BILLION dollar business, and if you think that they always hold our safety as priority #1, you are dillusional.

Thinking like that is exactly what tries to over-regulate our industry to death. There are millions of dollares lost from the farm gate every year, just because folks like me can't sell fresh, raw milk to my neighbors, can't take certain foods or goods to the farmer's market, and so on. What ever happened to free choice? If you go to a car salesman and get a creepy feeling as soon as he shakes your hand, you'll go elsewhere. If you get that feeling from someone selling farm-fresh meat, eggs or produce, go elsewhere. This type of agriculture is the only truly sustainable agriculture, and people saying science must dictate food safety without the help of democracy, are obviously blinded by more than just science.

[cakadu]

Farmers_son, I would argue that the average consumer does not have any idea about acceptable limits of things in their food i.e. that the "flax" in their whole wheat bread could be the % allowed for bug body parts etc. or that their honey has an allowable bee parts that is considered safe.

Most consumers would presume that their food is cleaned and 100% safe.

The thing is that things are considered safe until they aren't anymore. Take e-coli for example - what we know about it is barely understanding the tip of the iceberg. The more we understand about it, the more we realize that there is much more to learn and understand.

Sometimes I wonder if a few bug parts are the safer end of the things that end up in so many of our processed foods.

[DiamondSCattleCo]

"Like it or not, when it comes to food safety, the customer is not always right and food safety is determined by science not a democracy."

Oh oh, best not let the "real people" (versus us Agriville rebels) see this quote.

My god man, what you are saying is that the people no longer have control over what they feel is safe? Are you kidding me? What this leads to is fascism, pure and simple. So farmers_son, what freedom do I get to lose next? Why don't you pick one, since democratic choice is so distasteful to you.

Its pure ARROGANCE to think that science is the be all and end all. Do you not see how many times science has screwed up in the past few decades? Allowed us to consume or use something safe, and then come back said 'oh SNAP, that crap will kill you'. There are dozens of examples. There are also many examples the opposite direction.

Eesh, now I understand how the ABP thinks. 'To hell with the producer, he doesn't actually know whats good for him'. Perhaps this should be on a plaque at CCA headquarters?

Rod