Farmed Animal Watch
A Project of Animal Place

March 21, 2002                                                     (To Search This Page Press Ctrl F)
Issue #59

CONTENTS



1. Politicians Attempting to Replace Downed Animal Amendment
2. Localities Take on Factory Farm Pollution
3. Burger King Introduces Veggie Burger
4. Growing Meat


1. POLITICIANS ATTEMPTING TO REPLACE DOWNED ANIMAL AMENDMENT
Negotiators working on a compromise version of the House and Senate Farm
Bill are considering replacing the downed animal amendment. The substitution
would consist of a study and a directive to the Agriculture Department to
draft regulations if needed.  The dairy industry, which lobbied for the
change, argues that the amendment would prevent the testing of nonambulatory
animals for mad cow disease and other health problems. Losses to industry
resulting from the inability to sell marketable animals is another argument
being employed against the amendment. Animal advocates point out that these arguments had been rejected when the amendment was passed. They also counter that the amendment will provide incentive for keeping animals healthy.

ACTION: You can express your opinion to the following Conference Committee
members:
Senator Tom Daschle (D, SD) 202-224-2321, Rep. Larry Combest (R, TX)
202-225-2171,
Rep. Charles Stenholm (D, TX) 202-225-0317, Senator Kent Conrad (D, ND)
202-224-2043.

"Animal rights groups push to preserve animal protection in farm bill,"
Associated Press, Suzanne Gamboa, March 20, 2002.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020321/ap_to_po/downed_animals_5

2. LOCALITIES TAKE ON FACTORY FARM POLLUTION
Pollution caused by factory farms is the common topic of 3 current articles.
One relates the extent of such pollution in Iowa, the nation's largest
producer of pigs and eggs. State and federal efforts to address it are
examined.

The failure of federal and state laws is causing localities to increasingly
create their own rules. This is the subject of another article which notes
that federal and state laws are also unable to take into account variations
in regional topography and economics. An American Farm Bureau spokesperson
warns that increased regulation may cause farmed animal production to go
overseas. He blames the problems on consumer demand for cheap meat.

A test case for the legality of such action is discussed in the last
article. The changing face of agriculture in Pennsylvania, and the lines
being drawn for the upcoming court case, are covered.

"Iowa's Tough Stand Against Runoff from Agriculture is Gaining Support," The
Los Angeles Times, Stephanie Simon, March 19, 2002.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-000020116mar19.story?coll=la-headlines-nation
 "Counties Fight Factory Farms Across the Nation," Associated Press, Emily
Gersema, March 16, 2001.
http://www.newsobserver.com/ncwire/news/Story/1105166p-1104086c.html
"Mass pig pens: Good farming or bad practice," The Philadelphia Inquirer,
Tom Avril, March 18, 2002.
http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/2002/03/18/news/2883578.htm


3. BURGER KING INTRODUCES VEGGIE BURGER
With the debut of its veggie burger, Burger King becomes the first fast-food
chain to make such an offering nationwide. Morningstar Farms is supplying
the company with patties formulated exclusively for it, consisting of
vegetables, grains and spices. Vegans will want to avoid the mayonnaise
(eggs) and sesame seed bun (butter flavoring) that accompanies it. They can
also request their burgers be cooked separately from the others or
microwaved. A full-page ad in the March 18th USA Today promoted the veggie
burger which will also be featured in television commercials.

"Burger King serves up veggie burger," CNN Reports, Victoria Zunitch, March
14, 2002.
"Burger King Debuts BK Veggie," The Associated Press, March 18, 2002.
http://www.heraldsun.com/business/21-207195.html


4. GROWING MEAT
Scientists are attempting to grow meat in large quantities from the muscle
cell lines of animals. The effort arose out of an interest in providing
long-term space travelers with meat without having to slaughter animals.
Chunks of fish were immersed in a vat of fetal bovine serum, a nutrient-rich
liquid extracted from the blood of unborn calves. The meat increased 14%
after a week in the vat. It looked and smelled like fish, but such tissue
cannot be tasted until the FDA approves it for human consumption.

"Fish fillets grow in tank," New Scientist, Ian Sample, March 20, 2002.
http://www.newscientist.com/exc/enews.jsp?id=ns99992066