Animal Welfare and Human Disease

1. Animal Welfare and Human Disease Why how we raise our food matters

2. Do Now • QUIZ!! • Take out the CQ Researcher Reading and a pen/pencil • Everything else needs to be put away!

3. The Facts • From Jan 1. – Oct. 14 2002, 49 MILLIONLbs of meat was voluntarily recalled by the industry due to contamination with disease • Approx. 30% of poultry products carry Salmonella • 15% of beef carcasses carry bacterial infections • Food Borne Illnesses account for 76 million cases a year and approximately 325,000 hospitalizations.

4. Salmonella • Large Industrial producers claim that outdoor access increases the cases of Salmonella • Research does not support these claims. • It does support that enclosed and overcrowded housing causes an increase in disease spread and transmission • Use of antibiotics in chicken feed may have lead to antibiotic resistant Salmonella

5. Salmonella • Increased stress and breeding focused on production have caused most poultry in industrial farming to have weakened immune systems. • “the doubling of salmonellosis incidence in the last two decades has accompanied modern food industries’ centralized production and large-scale distribution…”

6. Turn and Talk: • According to Robert Hadad, Director of Farming Systems: • Salmonella is a known problem in this country and the burden is put on the consumer to handle and cook meat properly since it must be considered as contaminated. • Is this ok? Should the industry expect only the consumer to take on this burden?

7. E. Coli • Found in the intestines of most animals • Is beneficial to humans, but not all variations are good • Variations of the bacteria however can cause severe kidney issues • E. Coli O157 • Survives Freezing • Requires cooking to kill this bacteria • Again putting the responsibility of the consumer to make sure their meat is safe to eat • E. Coli O157 has been found in 63% of cattle feedlots that have been tested

8. E. Coli • E. Coli contamination that is found on vegetables is most likely caused by fertilization with contaminated cow manure • http://youtu.be/vfKnjOJd51Y

9. Turn and Talk: • According to Professor Hugh Pennington • "It is vital that farmers are made fully aware of their responsibility to send animals to slaughter in a clean condition“ • Do you agree with this? If proper cooking and handling by the consumer can avoid illness should the farmers be responsible?

10. Are Antibiotics the Answer? • According to the industry in a report published in 1990 : • 90% of poultry feed is supplemented with antibiotics • 60% of pig feed is supplemented with antibiotics • Why is this a problem? Turn and talk to your partner. Are there any issues with giving too much antibiotic? What are they?

11. Antibiotic Resistance • According to the WHO more than half of the antibiotics developed in the world are being used in the animal industry • This has resulted in both E. Coli and Salmonella to develop antibiotic resistant strains

12. Antibiotic Resistance • The antibiotic typically used in animal feed is related to the antibiotic used in humans as a “last resort”. This human version is becoming less and less effective in times of need.

13. Turn and Talk • "It is therefore interesting that in this study V-resistant E. faecium were isolated from a selection of farm animals and the carcasses of uncooked chickens. Hence VRE, may be entering the community via the foodchain“ • Discuss with your partner. What do you think this means? Is this acceptable to be happening? How do you feel knowing this information?