Poor Factory Farming Is Contributing to E. Coli Illness, Environental Pollution, and Inhumane Treatment of Animals

The meat and poultry industry is the largest segment of U.S. agriculture. This contributes to the high number of production of meat in the industry. Americans eat meat, eggs and drink milk frequently, but that doesn’t make it good for us. Factory farming is the main issue as to why the way food is processed isn’t good for humans to consume. Animals in factory farming are trained to grow faster than the average animal so that the portions of the food they produce are larger. These animals are sprayed and fed with harmful pesticides and antibiotics. These harmful substances are then passed on from the animal bodies for humans to consume. The way animals are processed is a major problem in the fast food industry. In fact, it is my contention that poor factory farming is contributing to E.Coli illness, environmental pollution, and inhumane treatment of animals.

People are constantly monitoring what they eat for fear of becoming sick. Factory farming facilities are overcrowded which makes animals prone to spread disease to human consumers. William C. Roberts, editor of The American Journal of Cardiology once said “When we kill the animals to eat them, they end up killing us because their flesh, which chemical and harmful substances that, was never intended for human beings” (Roberts 2). The food that animals are fed in factory farms and the way they are treated negatively impact the health of humans. “Not only are dangerous flu viruses mutating because of these concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO's), but we are also being exposed to some other very serious bacteria and pathogens” (Freston 2). Consumers eating dairy products, egg, and meat products produced in factory farms can be prone to getting foodborne bacteria such as...

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...mals and environmental pollution are just some of the reasons as to why factor needs to be banned altogether. All of these issues can be solved in ways such as public awareness and participation, Pollution-reduction programs for small feedlots, and alternative farming practices. Although there are many ways to prevent the problems caused by factory farming many people argue that factory farming is the only way to meet growing demands for food in the world today, but factory farming isn’t necessary to meet those needs. Using alternative and better methods of factory farming will provide healthier food and better treatment for animals, but businesses don’t want to risk having to raise prices and lose profit off the products they gain from factory farming. They simply will not sacrifice the health of the land or the quality of food simply to make a few extra dollars.