Have you ever watched a movie or clip of a video that got you thinking about what you eat? Recently, I watched the movie, Food Inc., which portrays where meat really comes from: whether it is from large factory farms, multiple enlarged sheds or coops, etc. The secrets are hidden behind closed doors. This movie swayed me to be more aware of what I am eating. Animals, including humans, are part of the animal kingdom. Hunting and killing animals has been a part of humans lives since the early ages, but he population has multiplied greatly. In Pedersen’s article she claimed, “Americans eat the equivalent of 21,000 animals in a lifetime.” Back in the day, humans did not have the resources we have now. As any animal, as humans we adapted to the routine but expanded it. Humans hold dominance over animals.
There has always been a food chain present; it’s nature. Billions of years ago, animals evolved forming the animal kingdom. Since the development of the animal kingdom, it has been every animal for itself. Survival of the fittest has always been existent. There are some animals that are prey and others that are predators. Are people selfish for killing animals? No. Killing and eating animals is part of life. We need protein. Yes, as humans we are able to get protein from nuts, beans and other non-meat products, but why cut meat totally when we can just be more aware of what are bodies consume.
Furthermore, it may be in our nature to kill and eat animals, but in order for all seven billion people on earth, factory farms were built larger. Factory farms are neither natural nor part of the natural life cycle but does it make people criminals for surviving off of meats? Are we going to get rid of all the bears that snatch and kill salmon from the rivers? No, that would be ridiculous. It is in our nature at the top of the food chain to be able to eat animals. As humans though we must be aware of the diseases.
The diseases within animals used for meat production in the United States could possibly lead to death. In Food Inc., there was a loss of a very young child. This could happen to anyone of any age. The child had one bad burger and that exact burger abolished his life. Diseases are carried through animals and people must be aware of the horrible illnesses that may affect one’s life traumatically. E-coli is bacteria (located in the intestines) commonly found in meats, but also in other foods. E-coli mainly produces food poisoning but long-term effects may consist of kidney failure, neurological damage, diabetes and gastro-intestinal disease (Pritzker Law). Food poisoning appears mainly after eating meets that are not fully cooked. This can be avoided by not eating out at fast food as much, making sure homemade meals are fully cooked and not raw. Some avoid the situation completely and become vegetarians.
Food Inc. at points throughout the movie was disturbing. It may have persuaded some to not eat meat because how the animals are tortured and slaughtered or to be more aware of what they eat because what lies throughout factory animals. Personally, I have lived almost nineteen years without any troubles with eating meat. I love my meats. I would not be able to resist steak, pork, chicken, and bacon, sausage, peperoni. You get the picture. I know I have gotten away with it so I will just continue my eating habits of eating meat. I am a meat lover and though I do not like the fact that animals are being tortured and slaughtered, as a human it is our role in the food chain to eat the animals to survive. There are those that say we should get rid of factory farms in order to not eat as many animals, but if we were to do that meat lovers like myself would be frustrated because meat would be rare at that point.
On the other hand, the situation would be different if I were a farmer. I love animals. I own a dog, Chloe, who is my best friend and I cannot imagine eating my pet. When you get close to an animal, you name it, take care of it and spend some quality time with it. If I were a farmer and I owned cows, pigs, chickens, etc. I would not be able to eat meat. All I would be thinking about would be, “I’m eating my pet. I killed my best friend.” Reflecting back to a Simpson’s episode I once watched in English class, Lisa Simpson could not eat lamb after getting close in relationship to a lamb at the petting zoo. I can relate to that because if I got close to any animal and had to eat it shortly after, I would not be able to. Since I am not a farmer I do not have to worry about being close to the animals in which I enjoy eating.
Human beings have a variety of choices. We can eat meat with risks and awareness or not at all. I choose to eat meat because I was raised that way and as I grow, I have become to realize it is important that I am aware of the meats that I put into my body.
There has always been a food chain present; it’s nature. Billions of years ago, animals evolved forming the animal kingdom. Since the development of the animal kingdom, it has been every animal for itself. Survival of the fittest has always been existent. There are some animals that are prey and others that are predators. Are people selfish for killing animals? No. Killing and eating animals is part of life. We need protein. Yes, as humans we are able to get protein from nuts, beans and other non-meat products, but why cut meat totally when we can just be more aware of what are bodies consume.
Furthermore, it may be in our nature to kill and eat animals, but in order for all seven billion people on earth, factory farms were built larger. Factory farms are neither natural nor part of the natural life cycle but does it make people criminals for surviving off of meats? Are we going to get rid of all the bears that snatch and kill salmon from the rivers? No, that would be ridiculous. It is in our nature at the top of the food chain to be able to eat animals. As humans though we must be aware of the diseases.
The diseases within animals used for meat production in the United States could possibly lead to death. In Food Inc., there was a loss of a very young child. This could happen to anyone of any age. The child had one bad burger and that exact burger abolished his life. Diseases are carried through animals and people must be aware of the horrible illnesses that may affect one’s life traumatically. E-coli is bacteria (located in the intestines) commonly found in meats, but also in other foods. E-coli mainly produces food poisoning but long-term effects may consist of kidney failure, neurological damage, diabetes and gastro-intestinal disease (Pritzker Law). Food poisoning appears mainly after eating meets that are not fully cooked. This can be avoided by not eating out at fast food as much, making sure homemade meals are fully cooked and not raw. Some avoid the situation completely and become vegetarians.
Food Inc. at points throughout the movie was disturbing. It may have persuaded some to not eat meat because how the animals are tortured and slaughtered or to be more aware of what they eat because what lies throughout factory animals. Personally, I have lived almost nineteen years without any troubles with eating meat. I love my meats. I would not be able to resist steak, pork, chicken, and bacon, sausage, peperoni. You get the picture. I know I have gotten away with it so I will just continue my eating habits of eating meat. I am a meat lover and though I do not like the fact that animals are being tortured and slaughtered, as a human it is our role in the food chain to eat the animals to survive. There are those that say we should get rid of factory farms in order to not eat as many animals, but if we were to do that meat lovers like myself would be frustrated because meat would be rare at that point.
On the other hand, the situation would be different if I were a farmer. I love animals. I own a dog, Chloe, who is my best friend and I cannot imagine eating my pet. When you get close to an animal, you name it, take care of it and spend some quality time with it. If I were a farmer and I owned cows, pigs, chickens, etc. I would not be able to eat meat. All I would be thinking about would be, “I’m eating my pet. I killed my best friend.” Reflecting back to a Simpson’s episode I once watched in English class, Lisa Simpson could not eat lamb after getting close in relationship to a lamb at the petting zoo. I can relate to that because if I got close to any animal and had to eat it shortly after, I would not be able to. Since I am not a farmer I do not have to worry about being close to the animals in which I enjoy eating.
Human beings have a variety of choices. We can eat meat with risks and awareness or not at all. I choose to eat meat because I was raised that way and as I grow, I have become to realize it is important that I am aware of the meats that I put into my body.