We Must Stop Industrial Food Production

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In the United States, the methods that food has been brought to market, engineered, and profited from is a point of intense debate and differing opinions. While no doubt remains that the growing population of country has created a need for cheap, reliable techniques of food production, the outcry against large corporate presence have fueled dissent. The idea of an Agrarian society, as championed by Thomas Jefferson, was supplanted by a commercial society long ago. The Industrial and Agriculture Revolutions began the trend of modernizing farming techniques and the influence of corporations have resulted in a highly efficient industry that is capable of meeting the demands of our people and food industry. Is this industrial approach to food production inherently bad? To some people the answer is yes to others no. This paper takes the position that our food industry is relatively safe and offers approaches to instigate changes and improvements to the system for those who disagree.

Many of the criticisms of this industrial food system are valid and could have serious consequences if left unchecked. Down animals, unsanitary conditions, e coli outbreaks, listeria, and massive recalls of food have no sound rationale to be accepted by the American public or as a natural byproduct of an industry. Our society, corporations, or regulatory agencies should never tolerate human death and sickness because of contaminated produce or meat. The macro consequence is companies who engage in irresponsible behaviors will lose suffer business losses when faced with recalls and negative press. The micro consequence of these actions is to strengthen rules and industry guidelines to prevent future events. The United States and the ...

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... large-scale farming of animals for food that will mimic an animal’s natural existence on the range or in the wild. Current food production levels are required to meet both demand and economical pressures that society expects. There is no escaping the moment that the chicken, cow, or pig is slaughtered in an assembly line fashion and its life forfeited for the benefits of human beings. The emotional responses of those opposed to this harsh reality has nothing to do with the safety of the system but the nature of our soft culture. Our society values a sanitized approach to food where the vast majority of the citizenry will never experience raising their own animals and eventually killing the animal to feed their family. Without advocating the unreasonable notion of shutting these industries down, this author sees no way of overcoming these unforgiving truths.

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