Eating in a Sustainable way - Environment, Animal Rights and Health.

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:: EATING IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY ::

For the Environment, for Animal Rights and for your Health

 

 

Buy organic food - Buy fair trade - Go Vegetarian

 

 

FOR MORE INFORMATIONS:

http://www.sustainabletable.com/intro/ + http://www.eatwellguide.org/

 

 

 

home > an introduction to sustainability

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hormones in milk, food poisoning, mad cow disease, antibiotic

resistant bacteria in meat - what's happened to our food? And to make matters

worse, the United States is now the fattest nation in the world.

 

Sustainable Table is an introduction to issues surrounding today's

agricultural system and what is happening with our food, in particular, the meat

supply. Our goal is to help you understand the issues, offer suggestions on what

you can do, direct you to more in-depth information, and introduce you to the

exciting and hugely popular sustainable food movement exploding around the

world.

 

Rather than feeling hopeless over the problems with our food,

Sustainable Table has been created to celebrate the possibilities and realities

of this growing consumer movement. After learning about the problems we're all

confronted with, you'll be introduced to organizations, people and programs that

are changing the way we think about food.

 

Join us as we discover new ways to eat healthy, shop smart, and

enjoy sustainably-raised food!

 

 

 

What is sustainable agriculture? >>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

home > the issues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Learning about sustainable food and the problems with factory

farming can be daunting at first, but, with a little effort, you can quickly

learn enough to make the safest and wisest food choices for you and your family.

 

In this section, we introduce you to the major issues surrounding

sustainable meat and factory farming. This is simply an overview; for those who

want to learn more about the issues presented here, we've provided links to more

detailed information and organizations who specialize in that particular topic.

 

As you read down the list, remember that many of these issues are

reasons to eat sustainable food. If it seems overwhelming, simply switch to

sustainable and you won't have to worry about the problems surrounding our meat

supply!

 

Additives

Much of the food we find at today's supermarkets is highly processed

and contains numerous food additives. These substances are used to change the

way food tastes (affecting the flavor, texture, consistency, and aroma), to

change the way food looks (altering the color and texture), to improve the

nutritional quality of foods (adding vitamins and minerals), and to increase the

food's shelf life to prevent spoilage.

 

Animal Welfare

As farms have become more industrialized, animals have become more

of a commodity. They are considered units of production, rather than living,

breathing beings. But increasingly, more and more consumers are demanding better

treatment of animals.

 

Antibiotics

Because of the crowded and unsanitary conditions on factory farms,

animals are often fed low doses of antibiotics. Antibiotics are also used to

make the animals grow faster. This is contributing to the growing problem of

antibiotic-resistant bacteria in humans.

 

Biodiversity

As a result of unsustainable human activity, the world's

biodiversity is rapidly decreasing. Learn how industrial agriculture is

contributing to biodiversity loss - and what sustainable farmers are doing to

reverse this trend.

 

Buy Local

The average meal travels over 1,500 miles to reach your dinner

plate. By eating food produced locally, you are helping yourself, the

environment and your community in many ways. Find out exactly how.

 

Communities and Workers

Sustainable farms provide a welcome alternative to the problems

associated with factory farming. Unlike corporate factory farm owners who have

very little interest in the condition of local communities, sustainable farmers

have a strong connection to their communities and a demonstrated commitment to

preserving the surrounding land. In addition, workers on sustainable farms are

treated fairly and earn a respectable wage.

 

Economics

Proponents of industrial agriculture claim that large-scale factory

farming is the most efficient way to produce huge quantities of inexpensive food

and that without industrial agriculture, food prices would be excessively high.

But the price of industrial food does not take into account the true costs of

production. If these true costs are factored in, industrial food would cost more

than sustainable.

 

Environment

Agriculture has an enormous impact on the environment, but whether

the impact is good or bad depends on the type of agriculture used. Sustainable

agriculture puts back what it takes from the environment, while factory farming

pollutes our air, water and soil.

 

Factory Farming

Meat production in the United States has changed dramatically over

the past 20 years. Small family farms are being replaced by huge livestock

facilities, where animals suffer horribly, workers are mistreated, the

environment is being destroyed, and where rural communities are dying. Find out

what factory farms are.

 

Food Irradiation

Large food corporations want to raise their meat in countries with

cheap labor and few environmental laws. In order to do that, they need to

irradiate the meat. This increases the shelf life of the food, so it can travel

longer distances and stay on store shelves longer. Irradiation has not been

properly tested for safety, depletes vitamin content, increases the amount of

toxic waste in the world, and reportedly doesn't taste good.

 

Fossil Fuel and Energy Use

The U.S. burns an enormous amount of fossil fuel in order to

maintain its incredible rate of energy consumption. This excessive rate of

fossil fuel consumption causes significant damage to the environment.

 

Genetic Engineering

Genetic Engineering (GE) is the process of transferring genes from

one plant or animal to another. The technology has not been properly tested, so

no one knows if GE food is safe to eat. Currently, crops are genetically

engineered; animals are next.

 

Health

Most people agree that sustainable, pasture-raised and organic foods

are healthier and taste better than industrial food - scientific research is

even starting to prove the health benefits. Unsustainable agriculture and

factory farms also affect our health by increasing the amount of food borne

pathogens, contributing to antibiotic resistant bacteria, and through incubating

infectious diseases that can be easily transmitted.

 

Heritage Foods

Farmers throughout the world once raised thousands of different

animal breeds and plant varieties. However, since today's industrial farms rely

upon only a few specialized livestock breeds and plant varieties, thousands of

non-commercial animal breeds and crop varieties have disappeared, along with the

valuable genetic diversity they possessed. Fortunately, a growing number of

sustainable farmers are preserving agricultural variety and protecting

biodiversity by raising " heritage " or " heirloom " animal breeds, fruits, and

vegetables.

 

Hormones

Six hormones are implanted in beef cattle for no other reason than

to make the cows grow faster so they can be sold sooner. The US government

claims the hormones are safe, but the European Union has banned hormones in beef

because their scientists have found a link between the hormones and cancer.

 

Loss of Family Farms

Family farmers are being forced out of business at an alarming rate.

According to Farm Aid, 330 farmers leave their land every week. The dramatic

expansion of industrial agriculture has made it increasingly difficult for small

family farmers in the U.S., but there is hope!

 

Mad Cow Disease

In December 2003, the first case of mad cow disease was identified

in a dairy cow in Washington State. Find out about mad cow disease and what you

can do.

 

Organic

Organic food is now regulated by the USDA, and organic farmers must

follow specific guidelines. For example, animals cannot be given antibiotics or

hormones, chemical pesticides cannot be used, and meat cannot be irradiated.

Studies are starting to come out proving the health benefits of organic food.

 

Pasture Raised

Among the exciting trends in agriculture is the resurgence of the

traditional, sustainable farming practice of raising animals outdoors on

pasture. Pasture-raised animals roam freely in their natural environment where

they're able to eat the nutritious grasses and other plants that their bodies

are adapted to digest. In addition to dramatically improving the welfare of

farm animals, pasturing helps reduce environmental damage, and yields meats,

eggs, and dairy products which are tastier and more nutritious than foods

produced on factory farms.

 

Pesticides

Pesticides are sprayed on crops fed to farm animals. Residues are

stored in the animals' fat and tissue, and enter our bodies when we eat the

meat. Pesticides have been linked to many medical problems.

 

Policy and Legislation

Laws and regulations help protect us and the environment. In order

to stop the destruction of our food supply, we not only need to make informed

choices at the supermarket, we need to pass laws that protect ourselves and the

food we eat.

 

rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone)

rBGH, also known as BGH and BST, is a genetically engineered hormone

injected into dairy cows for no other reason than to make them produce more

milk. The hormone has not been properly tested for human safety and makes the

animals more prone to illness and disease.

 

Slaughterhouses and Processing

In the U.S., the meatpacking industry is dominated by a handful of

corporations which handle massive quantities of meat at huge processing

facilities. As a result of inadequate food safety standards and lax inspection

practices by the USDA, these corporations are able to operate unsanitary

facilities which produce meat contaminated with the pathogens that cause

foodborne illness.