Could Almost Make You Turn Vegetarian

[Henry]

There was a segment on the news last night that had video inside a slaughterhouse in Braintree, Vt, I believe.  I have been in a slaughterhouse a few times, but certainly not any place I desire to go.  The one they showed last night just didn't look clean as you can see the floor in the photo above.  I remember going into Read's Slaughterhouse in East Fairfield.  It was cold and had a smell I will never forget.  When I watched that video last night, I could almost smell that smell again.  According to the segment:

"Meat isn't the only thing on the chopping block at Vermont's slaughterhouses. So are jobs.  The governor plans to cut seven of the state's nine meat inspectors-- a measure that would save the state about $400,000 a year."

Not sure I want to see inspections cut back as this is definitely an area some pretty good guidelines are required and enforced.  From what I saw at that slaughterhouse, not sure I would want any meat from there.

To read the article, click on the following link:

http://www.wcax.com/global/story.asp?s=10146571

[tankkingvt]

yeah, the packing business is not the most beautiful for sure, but from what I saw on the channel 3 news last night I honestly thought they ran a pretty decent show.  I service and cooling equipment for and to several custom cutting and commerical operations throughout this area ( the Royal Butcher on the news is not one of my accounts ) and what you saw last night is pretty much what you get anywhere.  Too bad they did not show the packaging and wrapping area which I would bet is spotless.
  I believe the state is making a huge mistake in cutting down the number of inspectors, food safety should be a priority, esp. for local beef, pork and poultry producers trying to market a value added product.  Locally to Fairfax residents who want to butcher, Bobs in st albans and lockes in waterville are top notch places to go and in general almost all state and federally inspected shops in vt are excellent.  Its really a tough business, alot of physical labor, insurance is very expensive esp. workmans comp, and it costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to get the building, permits, and equipment to set up.  I will admit, however that a salad is the way to go after a day working in that situation!  love this sight and I generally check in every day to see what my old friends and neighbors are up to.

[Dick Brown]

Henry           I haven't visited this particular meat-cutting store in Braintree for a couple of years, but it's always been kept really clean, has wonderful cuts of meat and is well respected in the White River Valley.....If the Governor's plan goes through for less inspectors, though, it probably won't affect the way this store operates, but it almost certainly will cause health issues for Vermonters , I fear.  Thanks for reporting this fact, and perhaps your legislators can find other places to cut.

[Loctavious]

If you're looking for a way to help you become Vegetarian - rent the movie Fast Food Nation.  Though a movie and not a documentary, it's based on facts.  Not as bad as Upton Sinclair's 'The Jungle' but pretty bad in itself.  MY son-in-law hasn't had ANY beef, pork, or chicken since seeing that movie.

[MSoule]

I also saw Morgan Spurlock's mock-umentary "Fast Food Nation".  In my mind it was more of an indictment of mass-processed foods and the manipulative marketing practices of the fast food companies towards children and less of an slant against eating meat.  Is being a vegetarian any safer, though, considering the recent safety recalls of raw spinach, peanut butter, and pistachios, just to name a few?  It all goes back to safe food handling and processing practices to protect consumer safety. 

I don't live in Vermont anymore and don't have a dog in this fight, but nonetheless, here's my question:  With this proposal, is Gov. Douglas saying that every other Vt. government employee holds a higher priority and need to the citizens of Vt. than the meat inspectors?

[Henry]

Well, I doubt I would ever become a vegetarian and will make sure I don't watch the movie.  Actually if they have any more movie clips on slaughter houses, I think I will change the channel or leave the room.

Back when we used to raise chickens & turkeys on Fairfield Ridge, it took a while before I would eat chicken or turkeys after we slaughtered them.

There sure is a big difference in smell & looks from slaughter to the kitchen table.

[cedarman]

Definately a big difference from the chore of slaughtering to what is served up on the plate.  I've been cutting my own beef for the last couple of years.  I generally have someone else help with the actual slaughter as I don't feel skilled enough to do it myself yet.   i'm certainly no professional butcher, but I know what my beef has eaten and how it was handled.   It certainly is a LOT of work.  Generally takes me most of a week (full days on weekends, and about 4 hrs per night after work) to butcher a small bull (yielding 300-400 lbs of beef).   Sometimes when I'm about half way though the job, I begin to wonder why I do it each year. I definately would NOT recommend it for most people.  It's not like cutting up a deer with a couple guys at camp. The guys who do it every day certainly have my respect.

I guess with the state's plan to cut inspectors, I'll have more resolve to continue doing it myself.   I wish the best of luck to the meat inspectors and all of the slaughter houses/meat packaging plants and butcher shops.

[chelseaclark]

I also saw Morgan Spurlock's mock-umentary "Fast Food Nation". 

Morgan Spurlock's movie was "Super Size Me"

[mirjo]

Considering the guy in the photo and in the clip on the news is actively cutting a carcass, you have to expect there to be blood and other debris on the floor. It gets cleaned AFTER the job is done. Unfortunately, meat gets a bad rap by the media. What's bad for people is saturated fat, not necessarily meat itself, but fatty meats.

Eliminating entire food groups is not a good idea, the best nutritional advice out there and it often gets buried, is a balanced diet-all things in moderation. Humans are meat eaters and need protein. Yeah, it's possible to get that protein from non-animal sources, but is it really best? Research is a tricky matter, it changes daily regarding what is and what is not the right thing to do. No one has ever gone wrong eating normal portions from all of the food groups.

[Loctavious]

Msoule,

i was referring more to actually seeing the process.  Yeah - i commented on the 'happenings' as shown in the movie - but that didn't turn my stomach as much as actually seeing it done.  I've seen countless horror movies - gore and blood and all - as real looking as it gets - but there's something more to it when a) it's an animal, and b) when you know this is actually done in reality.

I won't comment on those who can do it - but let's just say it takes a special perspective to be able to slaughter/ take life.  I guess i have a little zen buddhist in me, as i can't stand to kill anything except mosquitos.

on the flip side of how i feel though - i think we SHOULD go back to local slaughter if not personal slaughter as it was done in the old days.  I feel as though if we weren't disassociated with the act of killing and slaughtering, we'd much more thankful and appreciative for the meat we get from it.  I'm a carnivore through and through.  it would take a lot more than seeing slaughter - whether fictional or real to sway me from eating meat, but i feel as though if we ALL had to either DO or witness it, we'd have a much better sense of reverence for the animal and the sacrafice of it. 

[Mike Raburn]

BEEF.....

It's what's for dinner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not to be-little pork, lamb, and or Lama!

YUM YUM............

I hear as Moose, Elk, Musk Ox, and Caribou are good too.
Not to mention your all deer..... yum.........

If you are offended........... chomp some cauliflower.... (I like that too)