Is It Safe to Eat Meat?

[Clive Nevell]

Taken from today's Sydney Morning Herald,  Australia,11/06/02
Clive

"Deadly superbug found in supermarket chickens...Choice magazine reports that 13 per cent of chickens bought in Sydney and Brisbane supermarkets contained traces of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). The potentially life-threatening "superbug" is not killed by one of the last-defence hospital antibiotics, vancomycin..."

[Suzanne]

Br. Richard informs us that Paul Harvey, the renown newsman on his October 14, 2002 broadcast called our attention to the prophecies of Ellen White regarding meat eating. He (Paul) brought this out in connection with the largest recall of meat the U.S. has experienced.

WASHINGTON--Pilgim's Pride Corp, is recalling 27.4 million pounds of ready-to-eat chicken and turkey products in what U.S. officials called the largest recall in the nation's history

Pilgrim's Pride, the second largest U.S. poultry company behind Tyson Foods Inc., suspended operations at its Wampler Foods Inc. plant in Franconia Pa., after testing found the presence of listeria monocytogenes. The bacteria causes an estimated 2,500 cases of flu-like illness and 500 deaths annually. "We found pretty extensive listeria throughout the facility," said Steve Cohen, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The recalled products include roasted turkey breast, chicken breast and cooked deli-style chicken. All products bear the establishment code "P-1351" inside the USDA inspection seal.

Two of the 3 largest meat recalls in U.S. history have occurred this year (2002) as the USDA is under pressure from Congress to improve meat and poultry inspections. ConAgra Foods Inc. in July recalled almost 19 million pounds of ground beef from a plant in Greeley, Colorado, some of which was contaminated with E. coli bacteria.

Listeria can cause high fever, severe headaches, neck stiffness and nausea, according to the USDA. It can be fatal in young children, the elderly and people with weak immune systems and can cause miscarriages and stillbirths.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention earlier this month said turkey deli meat tainted with listeria monocytogenes may be the source of more than 120 illnesses and 20 deaths from food poisoning in the Northeast and Midwest.

Contaminated foods cause an estimated 76 million illnesses and 5,000 deaths yearly in the U.S. according to the USDA.  --Los Angeles Times, Oct. 14, 2002.

Comment: Brethren, isn't it high time we listened to the counsel given by Inspiration many years ago?

"...We read constantly in the daily papers about the inspection of meat. Butcher shops are continually being cleaned out; the meat being sold is condemned as unfit for use." --Ellen White, Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 413.

"The disease upon animals is becoming more and more common, and our only safety now is in leaving meat entirely alone. The most aggravated diseases are now prevalent...It is in eating meat so largely in this country that men and women are becoming demoralized, their blood corrupted, and disease planted in the system. Because of meat eating, many die, and they do not understand the cause. If the truth were known, it would bear testimony it was the flesh of animals...The thought of feeding on dead flesh is repulsive, but there is something besides this. In eating meat we partake of diseased dead flesh, and this sows its seed of corruption in the human organism."  --Ibid. p. 412.

~Suzanne~

[This message has been edited by Suzanne Sutton (edited 10-17-2002).]

[Sister Marie]

It is true that Jesus did eat fish. But when He was here on this earth eating fish was not harmful like it is today. (clean fish that is) Our streams and lakes are in such awful shape today that the fish are not clean enough to eat.

Ellen White said that the time was coming when we would have to stop drinking milk due to how impure it would become. We have come to that day now. Same goes for cheese, etc...

I really feel that to say that because Jesus ate fish, we can eat fish, is not something we can bank on. If Jesus were here today, beleive me, He would not be eating the fish we have.

We need to look at the facts and realize that we are living in the end times and that we must not only clean up our Spiritual act, but our WHOLE ACT. We need to be as pure as we can be in every way. When talking about Jesus example, we need to think of what He would put in His body today, concidering the facts we are faced with, not what was clean to eat then when He ate fish.

------------------
With Christian Love,
Sister Glass

[Suzanne]

"Consumer Reports" Finds Harmful Bacteria in Chicken

The January 2003 issue of Consumer Reports, announces that it has found harmful bacteria, much of it drug-resistant in almost half the chickens it bought from stores across the nation.

The bacterium campylobacter, which can cause food poisoning, was found in 42 percent of 484 fresh broiler chickens tested. 12 percent of the chickens had salmonella, another bacterium. Both bugs can cause diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain and even death.

The report pointed out that people sickened by the bacteria would stay sick longer, and treatment would be more difficult for doctors, because 90 percent of the campylobacter samples and 34 percent of the salmonella resisted treatment by commonly used antibiotics such as tetracycline.

"That's a very uncomfortable starting point, and it goes to reinforce the growing concern about the use of antibiotics in livestock production," said David Pittle, vice president for technical policy at the magazine's publisher, Consumer Union.

~Suzanne~

[Suzanne]

Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria in Meat a Growing Problem

Several new studies have confirmed what medical scientists have known for years: that antibiotics are dangerously overused to enhance the growth of farm animals, etc. This results in bacteria that builds up a resistance to commonly used antibiotics, such as ampicillin, erythromycin and ciprofloxacin--which many will remember as Cipro, the drug of choice in last year's anthrax attacks.

Resistance is one reason public health officials frequently warn against the overuse of antibiotics in treating people. Indeed, it was not too many years ago when the common cold and the flu, (viral infections) were treated with an antibiotic prescription, even though antibiotics are useless against viruses. Today, some doctors are much less likely to prescribe antibiotics, even if they suspect a mild bacterial infection.

However, the use of antibiotics in animal feed is another issue entirely. These drugs are being used primarily to promote growth--to make animals grow bigger at a faster pace. The Union of Concerned Scientists estimates that 70 percent of antibiotic consumption in the U.S. goes into animal feed.

Bennett Lorber, chairman of infectious diseases at Temple Univeristy's School of medicine, warns: "We're looking at a very large public-health problem...." Indeed, scientists point out that one species of bacteria can transmit resistance to another species. Lorber notes that some localities are already coping with resistant cases of Shigella, Typhoid fever and gonorrhea.  --end of article.

~Suzanne~

[Richard Myers]

Sister Glass, you are so right. Jesus is not our example when it comes to eating today. Circumstances have changed. His counsel is to keep our bodies healthy and there is no safety in eating fish today. Also, Jesus ate meat from sheep. We know that the sheep today carry scrapie which is the same thing as "mad cow disease."  Jesus would not eat it today.

Richard

[Suzanne]

Brucellosis Infects Herd of Wyoming Cattle

A herd of cattle in western Wyoming's Upper Green River Basin is infected with brucellosis, prompting concern that other states might ban imports of Wyoming's cattle.

The infected herd is near Boulder in Sublette County, about 100 miles south of Yellowstone National Park and next to a feedground where elk have been known to have brucellosis.

Neighboring cattle herds are being tested and officials are awaiting results to determine the extent of the infection.

Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal is extremely concerned about the possible impact on Wyoming's livestock industry. This state had been classified by the federal government to be brucellosis-free since 1985.

Colorado officials were quick to prohibit any Sublette County, northern Lincoln County or Teton County cattle from coming into their state. "We get a number of cow herds coming here to graze for the winter on corn stalks," Colorado State Veterinarian Wayne Cunningham said. "Until we know what the extent is, we feel it's very prudent to stop movement from there"

Idaho had a similar scare in April 2002, the last time cattle in the U.S. were known to have contracted the disease.

Animal health officials drew blood samples from the Boulder herd, estimated at 400 head. The herd was quarantined and will be slaughtered to prevent the spread of the disease.

Brucellosis is a bacterial disease that can spread among and cause abortions in bison, elk and cattle. Though rare in human, it is potentially debilitating and can be transmitted by drinking unpasteurized milk or handling infected cows. --The Riverside, Calif. Press-Enterprise, Dec. 6, 2003.

Comment: Brucellosis is a highly contagious disease of cattle and other farm animals, causing abortion and lowered milk production. In humans it is known as undulant fever, Malta fever or Bang's disease and is characterized by fever, night sweats, extreme tiredness, weight loss, headache and joint pain. These symptoms are strikingly similar to those of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and its cousin, Fibromyalgia (once called fibrositis). In addition, according to an article in Longevity, July 1993, brucellosis is thought to contribute to Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

~Suzanne~

[This message has been edited by Suzanne Sutton (edited 12-14-2003).]

[Michelle]

Suzanne--thanks for all these messages.  I was at the supermarket a few weeks ago and one of the baggers was asking the checkout person why she never put X kind of meat with Y kind of meat.  She said, we never put lunch meats with raw meats because they might cross-contaminate.  I thought, whoa, talk about living on the edge, never knowing what you're getting in your protein sources--yuck!

M

[Sister Marie]

I wonder how long the news of Mad Cow Diease will stay news or if the money of the beef companies will shut it up.
I heard a statement on t.v. the other day where someone was asking a dairy farmer about using everything, and he said, yes, of course everything is used; we have to stay in business. If they are careful to use (or get money for) everything, every part of the cow, then how much more important to the farmer with the cow to get rid of it and make money on it regardless of if the cow is sick or not.
I would like to think that the world will have it's eyes opened. But I rather have my doubts that it will be long lived. I know there will be some that are honest in heart however, and they will see it is time for a change.   (better late than never!)

------------------
With Christian Love,
Sister Marie

[This message has been edited by Sister Glass (edited 12-25-2003).]

[seed]

The Bible tells us that in the last days God will have a people that will have no guile in their mouths.  I believe guile can be found in all forms -- in not adhering to the spiritual development of our beings as well as the food that we eat, especially flesh food.  

The antideliuvians were destroyed for many reasons -- one reason was because they ate flesh food which at that time had not been allowed by the Creator.  According to EGWhite, it was allowed after the flood because there was no vegetation.

Now, as we seek to go back to the Edenic state, we must lay aside all of these health destroying habits that will deter us spiritually.  The physical state of flesh food is no different that the physical state of man -- diseased.

The blueprint is found in Gen. 1:29.  We need all the help we can get as the SOP tells us that Adam had 20 times the vital force that men have today.  We must deligently prepare as much as we can and then leave the rest to our Creator.  After we have done what he has outlined for us to do to preserve our physical well-being we can go to Him guilt free for help.  

[Suzanne]

UTIs and Meat Consumption

A recent report shows that women suffering from urinary tract infections (UTIs) eat more chicken and pork than women whose UTIs are easily treated.  This study adds to the evidence that UTIs are antibiotic resistant when originating in animals likely to have been fed antibiotics that can be passed to people through meat consumption. 

About 70% of the antibiotics and related drugs in the U.S. are used to promote growth and ward off disease in livestock that are not sick, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.  This practice creates an ideal breeding ground for antibiotic-resistant disease.  --"Foodborne Pathogens and Disease,"
by Amee R. Manges, et al., Dec. 1, 2007.

Comment: Another reason to embrace a plant-based diet.

Suzanne

[Suzanne]

Salty Subs

Even the healthier-sounding chicken or turkey sandwiches at popular chains can pack a lot of sodium--up to 830 milligrams and 1,000 mg, respectively, in a 6-inch sub.  Reduce sodium by ordering a veggie sandwich....  --Consumer reports on Health, June 2008.

Suzanne

[Richard Myers]

The USDA would have us believe it is safe to eat the muscle tissue of a "mad cow" and a "mad sheep". But, it is not safe to do so even though the risk is reduced much below the risk when eating brain or nerve tissue.          Nature Medicine

[Richard Myers]

This topic has been split with the new topic moved to Laodicea Eating Meat in the Church

Please continue that discussion in that topic. Thank you.

[JimB]

Drug-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium linked to a wide range of human diseases, are present in meat and poultry from U.S. grocery stores at unexpectedly high rates, according to a nationwide study by the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen). Source

In a joint study, researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Arizona State University found evidence suggesting that a class of antibiotics previously banned by the U.S. government for poultry production is still in use. Results of the study were published March 21 in Environmental Science & Technology. Source