Factory Farming

America is a country founded upon the principles of Life, Liberty, and Gluttony. Americans can't seem to get enough of anything, taking everything we do to excess. A prime example of this is the "Triple Whopper," a deadly sandwich which can be found on the menu at Burger Kings everywhere. This triple-stacked-heart-attack-on-a-bun truly represents what America stands for.

In order to appease our gluttony, we have moved beyond traditional farming techniques, onto a more efficient way of producing our meat. Yet, this form of farming, known as "Factory Farming" is inhumane, and many people do not support its use.

Factory farming began in the 1920s soon after the discovery of vitamins A and D; when these vitamins are added to feed, animals no longer require exercise and sunlight for growth. This allowed large numbers of animals to be raised indoors year-round. The greatest problem that was faced in raising these animals indoors was the spread of disease, which was combated in the 1940s with the development of antibiotics. Farmers found they could increase productivity and reduce the operating costs by using mechanization and assembly-line techniques.

Animals raised in confinement create an ideal setting for bacteria and disease to spread rapidly. Antibiotics were developed around the time of World War II and were soon adapted into the farming system. In the U.S., almost 50% of all antibiotics are administered to farm animals. These drugs form a toxic residue in animal tissue. It is much of this same tissue that is sold to consumers as food products. Each year, we see an increase in the number of salmonella poisoning cases from contaminated eggs, meat and milk. These strains of salmonella are difficult to treat because they are antibiotic resistant. Antibiotics are not the only chemicals administered to factory farm animals; many animals are fed growth-promoting hormones, appetite stimulants and pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides and aflatoxins that collect in the animals' tissues and milk.