Corn Fed Meat-The Destroyer of our Health & Natural Resources

At the time of the documentary King Corn in 2006, 70% of field corn production was used to feed animals in confinement meat production and 30% was used to produce high fructose corn sugar and ethanol. Since that time the proportional uses of corn have changed, the total production has increased and the damage caused by nutrient contamination and sedimentation of Chesapeake Bay and other major estuaries has dramatically increased.

While the #1 use of field corn continues to be feed for meat production, we now see increased connection between meat consumption and poor health. Fox News aired a well publicized feature interview on Sunday March 18, between one of their medical staff doctors and a surgeon from New York’s Mt. Sinai Medical Center who pointed to recent research making the strong connection between red meat, processed meat, cancer, and heart disease. This science is substantially stronger today than when studies were first released by the National Cancer Institute in 2009 and the Studies published by the World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer research in 2010.  Also the science connecting overuse of corn based high fructose corn syrup in cheap sugary drinks as the primary cause of obesity and diabetes is much stronger today. The use of corn based ethanol as a fuel additive continues to destroy small engines despite the reduction of government subsidies.

None of this destruction is necessary! We the consumers can bring about change! Pasture raised animals which consume minimal amounts of corn are becoming available. Chipotle Mexican Grille, a National fast food chain, made the transition in 2000. Forward looking restaurants are beginning to change. Natural sugar sweetened drinks are becoming available. We can all help this transition by buying only healthy food, requesting healthy food from retailers and avoiding unhealthy corn based products. We will all benefit not only from lack of exposure to major diseases but by improving the health of our Natural resources including the Chesapeake Bay and all the rivers East of the Rockies.

THE ULTIMATE HYPOCRISY

If you had to name one person who is most responsible for corn and ethanol subsidies which fuel our obesity and E.coli epidemics it would be Senator Harkin of Iowa as former chairman of the Senate Agricultural Committee. To hear the Senator, who now chairs the Senate Health and Education Committee, conduct a hearing on childhood obesity on March 5th has to be the ultimate hypocrisy. A quote from the Wall Street Journal our reference #17. “ Call the 19% of kids who are obese the children of corn”.

#17 THE FAT OF THE LAND – AN OPINION ON CHILDHOOD OBESITY

But the damage caused by corn and corn production doesn’t end with processed food the focus of the above opinion.

Denuding vast areas of the US surface area to plant corn is the cause of the Nations topsoil loss disaster. See our reference # 52.

#52 A 50-YEAR FARM BILL- NY TIMES REPORT, JUNE 08

Feeding cattle, ruminant animals designed to eat grass; corn causes their meat to be 7 times higher in saturated fat than the meat of 40 years ago when cattle were raised on pasture. See our references #8 and #2.

Ethanol fuel additive is destroying our gasoline engines with little energy advantage. But also a byproduct, distiller’s grain, used in cattle feed has doubled the incidence of E.coli particularly in hamburger since ethanol subsidies began. See our references #3, #71, and #23.

#71 THE GREAT ETHANOL SCAM

#23 YOUNG DANCER WHO WILL NEVER WALK AGAIN, NY TIMES 10/04/09

Corn production is the principle cause of the decline in water quality in the Gulf of Mexico and on the Delmarva Peninsula. See our references #31 and #33

#31 A PBS taped update to the original report of President Clintons National Science & Technology Committee on Hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico as a direct result of subsidizing corn to ethanol

If readers study these references with objectivity they will reach the same opinion as the Wall Street Journal but on a much broader scale. Government agricultural policy continues to have a major impact on the destruction of our health and our two most important natural resources. Please ask your representatives including Senator Harkin to explain their many votes for flawed government agricultural policy.

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