Expert: Robin Flynn - 5/6/2008

Question
I'm doing a school project on slaughterhouses and what they do to their animals and i wanted to ask a few questions for an interview section of the report.
1. Do you think the laws in place regulating meat inspection and production are effective in avoiding animal abuse?
2. What's the purpose and advantage of the current way the meat industry produces its meat? Why are they using the methods and system they are?
3. If you could name three major events in the past 100 years that have affected the meat industry into what it is today, what would they be?
4. Is the government finally cracking down on the meat industry?
5. Do you think enough people know about what's happening in slaughterhouses?
I understand you're probably busy but if you could reply to at least two of these questions that would be great. Thank you so much


Answer
HI Lauren,

I don’t like to answer homework/research paper questions but I do want to help you find the answers for your paper. I have included links below that will help you find these answers. I have also written many other responses on Factory Farming, please consider looking at my past answers.


1. Do you think the laws in place regulating meat inspection and production are effective in avoiding animal abuse? Absolutely not. Not only do they create a hell on earth for animals,  they also put human health at risk as well. How many recalls of meat have you seen lately? How many pounds of tainted meat do you think goes unchecked into the food system.
http://www.hfa.org/factory/index.html
http://www.mindfully.org/Food/Inhumane-Slaughter-USDA.htm
http://www.peta.org/mc/factsheet_display.asp?ID=103
http://www.peta2.com/TAKECHARGE/t-history.asp


2. What's the purpose and advantage of the current way the meat industry produces its meat? Why are they using the methods and system they are? There  is no advantage to the current meat industry/systems. If you care about animals and refuse to support cruelty please consider veganism or at least vegetarianism. These systems are set up to create profits and the pain and suffering that animal experience is of no consequence to these animal abusers.

3. If you could name three major events in the past 100 years that have affected the meat industry into what it is today, what would they be?
http://www.ru.org/animal-rights/treatment-of-animals-in-agriculture.html
http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/processing/
http://www.farmsanctuary.org/issues/factoryfarming/
http://www.peta2.com/TAKECHARGE/t-history.asp
http://www.hfa.org/factory/index.html

4. Is the government finally cracking down on the meat industry? I believe the USDA is in bed with the CAFO’s. If anything positive happens for animal it is because of the hard work of Animal rights organizations and advocates.

http://www.sustainabletable.org/issues/animalwelfare/
http://www.peta.org/mc/factsheet_display.asp?ID=103
http://www.peta2.com/TAKECHARGE/t-history.asp


5. Do you think enough people know about what's happening in slaughterhouses? No I truly believe if more people knew what was going on behind those doors they would never consider supporting such a horrific industry.  Just as Linda McCartney said  “If slaughterhouses had glass walls the whole world would be vegetarian.”



For the animals,
Robin