179 Reasons to Eat Grass Fed Beef

The Washington Post writes that everyone should see Food, Inc. I liked it so much, I bought it. Basically, Food, Inc. does for the supermarket what the movie Jaws did for the beach. Here’s the compelling story. Food, Inc. lifts the veil on our nation’s food industry, exposing how our food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of American farmers, the safety of workers, and our environment. Food, Inc. reveals surprising—and often shocking—truths about what we eat, how it is produced, and who we have become as a nation. You’ll never look at dinner the same way again.

At the time I ordered the groundbreaking Food, Inc., I also ordered The Polyface Farm DVD, featuring one of the stars of Food, Inc., Joel Salatin. For my money, Joel is one of our most important Americans. I know of no one who understands food in general, and grass-fed meat more specifically, better than Joel. I have purchased all of Joel’s fine books (available at www.moonstarfilms.com). Joel’s Polyface Farm is one of the world’s finest working examples of an environmentally friendly family farm.

One of the dozens of reference sources I am using in bringing you my multipart food series is David Kirby’s Animal Factory. Among the most terrifying facts found in Mr. Kirby’s fine book is that feedlot odors contain some 179 separate chemicals, many of them known to cause respiratory ailments, diarrhea, depression, violent behavior, and other health problems. The eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay produces one million tons of manure a year, enough to fill a football stadium to the top row. Pretty unpleasant.

Next week I’ll continue with info on one of the best Internet sources I know for the grass-fed-to-finish meats and wild-caught fish that you should seek out for your family’s health. In the interim, if you are considering buying any farm-raised seafood or corn-fed beef for your gang, I’d suggest you rethink the move. You’ll be compromising your family’s health. Make it a grass-fed week.