Earlier this month, the US Department of Agriculture released a summary of the meat and poultry recalls that were issued throughout 2014 – and the list is a frightening reminder about just how “unwholesome” and unsafe meat can be. Why exactly did 18.6 million pounds of meat get recalled last year? The risk of pathogens, such as E.Coli, Salmonella, and Listeria, …
Chickens sneeze! But you knew that, right? You probably saw the YouTube video that went viral over the holidays – but there is so much more to chickens than just their obvious adorableness. Did you know chickens can do math? They might not “scratch three times” when you ask them what 2+1 is, but they are capable of mathematical reasoning …
Meat industry balks at proposed dietary guidelines Last week, the U.S. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee issued its proposed nutrition policy for 2015 that has the meat industry crying foul — and The Washington Post calls it the “meat industry’s worse nightmare.” The current proposal, which will soon re-open for public comments, recommends that Americans eat more fruits and vegetables while …
Behind nearly every “incredible edible” egg sold in grocery stores today is a hen so intensively confined inside a barren wire battery cage, she can barely even move. With just 67 square inches of floor space on which to live – about the size of an iPad – she can’t even flap her wings, let alone nest, perch, dust bathe, …
It’s been all-over the news: President Obama has officially signed the final government spending bill, averting yet another a near-complete government shutdown. Dubbed “cromnibus” it’s a continuous financial resolution that includes all kinds of random “kitchen sink” line items, and it reached an outrageous $1.1 trillion by the time Obama signed it last week. What’s not so much in the news are some of …
Did you know that with almost every serving of turkey and pig meat dished out this holiday season – and all year long – there’s a stealthy side of drugs that are banned in the European Union and even China, but not the US? It’s called Ractopamine. And it’s even in your bacon, which reaches its record-setting consumption rate during …
Last week was antibiotic awareness week – did you miss it? Somehow, this global week of awareness flew under the radar of many – especially in the United States. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) named their week-long campaign “Get Smart About Antibiotics Week” after an executive order from the White House, but telling the truth about antibiotic use in …
This past April, US Senator Cory Booker enthusiastically lent his support to COK’s annual US VegWeek celebration with the message: “I’m a vegetarian every day and [US VegWeek] is my birthday week. You can bet your broccoli I’m in!” Now, he’s taking his commitment to protecting his health, the planet, and animals one step further: Earlier this week, Sen. Booker …
Plant-based eating: Give it a try today This Thanksgiving, let’s give turkeys something to be thankful for – compassionate cooking. In this season of gratitude, let’s show our appreciation for these intelligent and social animals by leaving them OFF our plates. While some turkeys (like Marley, Lennon and Jean, pictured above) are lucky and end up at animal sanctuaries across …