The Brian Lehrer Show

The meat recall was primarily initiated and focused on the animal cruelty issue. What about the abuse of humans? The meat from those stressed, abused downer cows went to school lunch programs, federal food programs for the poor and un-named fast food restaurants, also mostly frequented by the poor and minorities. The fact that the Department of agriculture has no teeth and withdraws inspectors, and that the recall was delayed until most of the meat was eaten, is frightening. Who is actually watching out for the eating public-- and for poor people in particular?

You know, I'm not a vegetarian and, until I saw the CNN video, I found none of the ethical arguments against eating meat particularly compelling. That video, however, made me sick. Those poor animals were being tortured, and their cries were recognizable as ones of physical agony, terror and, most horrifyingly of all, despair. I realized in that moment that these poor creatures had led miserable lives and were dying a horrible death. I wanted to rescue them.

I haven't eaten meat since watching the video and don't know if I will ever eat meat again, at least not from an animal that I don't know for sure has been treated humanely. Public health is important, but brutality is a crime.

It is good that some of the horrors of the livestock industry are exposed. It is like this war, don't show us the pictures, don't show us the carnage.

I appreciate the work of Congesswomen DeLauro on this issue. Americans want to eat $1 burgers in willful ingnorance of the suffering and cruelty inflicted on helpless creatures. Creatures that serve us so well yet we treat so horrifically. Humanity is a dirty word.

The first question I asked myself as did the congresswoman was "Why didn't the company know about this?!" It should have been, why didn't the company do anything about this because you know damn well they knew about this horrible treatment of these animals and the exposure of meat to diseases that can spread among the population.

Why do we NOT have FULL-TIME inspectors at each and every meat and fish processing plant?

We are in the dark ages when it comes to protecting us ALL?

If it meant that we could all have a guaranteed SAFE food supply, I would be most willing to pay a small percentage ( 0.1 - 0.2 % of the retail price of each food item) to achieve this goal.

Good idea?? At least it might get done in this political climate!

Just got a recorded call from my kid's grammar school principal. "Until you hear differently, please replace hot dogs on the lunch menu with mozzarella sticks." Dominoes pizza is tomorrow's lunch.

Meanwhile at least half the kids at this school -- made up of at least 40% Spanish Speaking immigrants and near 50% government-subsidized meals -- appear to be at least 20% "overweight" ie trouble running normally etc.

If what I heard this AM is true, that this company was selected at random for the Humane Society investigation, there is only a very slim chance that these awful practices are limited to this one company. Any governmental investigation must be industry wide!

According to the Humane Society Scorecard online, Sen Obama voted for including downers in meat supply and Sen Durbin voted against it. It's interesting that now Sen Obama, since he's running for president, is calling for stricter food safety laws."Downers" has been an animal welfare issue for YEARS!!!! What's with that?

It seems to me that the host missed an opportunity to get to the root of the cause of this sad horror: Economics. I would venture to guess that this came about because of The Bottom Line. If that is the case, it would be useful to learn whether or not it was the owners of Westland Meat trying to get fat on their bottom line (no puns intended), or if they're just trying to eke out a profit (and I suspect it to be the former). If they can't make their business profitable, then something else, in turn, is the problem.

After learning about this I too really question whether or not I can continue to eat beef with any semblance of a clear conscience. There are so many reasons not to – the environment, treatment of animals, public health, land and water use, etc. And I haven't even looked at the video footage. I rarely buy beef to cook at home but do enjoy (and I mean, really enjoy) a good steak or burger from time to time. It would be nice to know at all restaurants (some do advertise it) whether or not the beef they serve is from cattle that was raised and slaughtered humanely.

Good luck, and good work Ms. DeLauro. I hope this story raises new awareness, and doesn't go away.