By: Melissa

Melissa — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 21:13:41 +0000

I’m afraid to see Food, Inc. I was a vegetarian for years, because of my distaste for factory farming. I did eventually supplement my diet with seafood after a few years, but I didn’t eat red meat or pork or poultry or wild game for 7 years. I developed hypothyroid (nothing to do with vegetarianism), which leaves one prone to anemia. Even though I’d been eating at least a bag or two of spinach a week, not to mention beans and other iron-rich foods, I became anemic. Supplements didn’t work, as plant-derived iron is harder for the body to absorb, and my body already had an absorption issue. I felt horrible and looked like a corpse, so I decided I would start eating meat again. I got better almost immediately. I’m glad it took this long to have to start eating meat, because there are many more options of “humane” companies. Are they perfect? No. But because I feel I need to eat meat for my health, I’m afraid to watch a movie that will scare me so much about food.

By: Jezwyn

Jezwyn — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:58:25 +0000

I don’t understand the ‘I can’t eat things that look like the original organism’ – my boyfriend is also a sufferer (I use that word with my tongue firmly lodged in my cheek). But then, I grew up on a farm, where whole beasts were routinely sawed into pieces on my kitchen table, then bagged and put in the huge freezer, also in the kitchen. Wonderful meat, and all red!

I guess the part that clashes with my understanding is that you seem to be only affected by fauna looking like its live existence. Why not flora? Biologically, plants and animals are equally alive; they stop ‘breathing’ when ripped from their roots. This isn’t a hippy thing about ‘life essence’ – it’s a simple fact. The edible parts of large plants are there to support new growth, and yet we rip that away from the larger bush/tree – we’re literally stealing the plant’s chance of successful reproduction. Smaller plants (i.e. carrots), we kill whole.

I think your conundrum can’t be much more than queasiness – you see the head (etc) and think of the immediacy of life that was stolen (or, as I think of it, transferred to us!), you think of the pain expressed by the creature in ways we can comprehend (unlike any reaction plants may or may not experience), and you think about how you would feel if the same was done for you. Without diminishing your issue, it’s probably best described as selfish pseudo-ethics. Or, at least that’s the best I can think of on an empty stomach

This is one of the beefs I hold against vegetarian activism, with their soppy posters features cuddly baby lambs. If their problem is killing, then why is it so ok to kill plants? Do they consider plants inferior to animals? They’re both alive, and they’re both equipped with self defense – and yet humans are only equipped to tackle the defenses of animals: we’re designed to run down animals, grab them, use tools, etc. Plants employ biological warfare which our system cannot completely resist, and provide nutrients which we cannot adequately digest.

So, I’ll wrap up my rant by putting it to you to try this:

Next time you are faced with an animal bit that is not sufficiently disguised, think about the fact that (at least in the wild) you had to hunt down and kill this animal, and that your system desires it for propagation of your species. It’s an animal, you’re an animal, its natural and necessary… Then look at your veggies and wonder how well scientists have bred out the toxins lying in wait to discourage future consumption…

Maybe your neurosis requires a trip to a market, where you will buy an entire lamb, take it home, cut it up yourself, and appreciate its value fully!

Good luck!

(And thanks for giving me a way to fill my lunch break – I ate my lunch at recess, and am hungry!)

Oh, and I can’t wait to see Food, Inc. although I don’t think it holds any surprises in store for me… We’ll see how hardened a farm girl I really am!

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By: Melissa

By: Jezwyn