Tyson is one of the WORST offenders when it comes to innoculating their chickens with all kinds of harmful-to-humans crap.

We buy chicken at Whole Foods that is truly “clean”, and the only beef we buy is “Laura’s Lean Beef” because she too raises clean cattle. And, since we’re also from Kentucky, currently in Louisville, we’re supporting the local economy as Laura’s farm is actually in Lexington, KY.

Steer clear of Tyson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24953825/

All this crap going into our food system really makes me wish that I had my Grandparents farm.

BTW, “In Defense of Food” is Milchael Pollan’s followup to Omnivore’s Dilemma.

I second Heather’s comment – you really should read Omnivore’s Dilemma. It will change the way you think about food and how it’s marketed (for example, “organic” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, either).

To Preston’s point, I’m not sure if corn is the problem with Tyson. Chickens (and pigs) would naturally seek out grain and bugs if allowed to forage for food on their own. You can have a natural, grain-fed chicken. The problem with beef is that cows were never intended to eat corn, but rather grass.

Personally, I would be wary of a company as big as Tyson marketing “natural” food. As a farm girl, I know first hand that antibiotics and growth hormones are “necessary” to increase muscle mass and product profitability (chickens aren’t naturally 70% white meat). You’ll know that you’re buying “naturally raised, free-range” chicken because you’ll have to pay about twice as much for it.

The real root of the problem in regards to the corn surplus is the US government. American farmers are heavily subsidized (incented) to plant corn. If US agriculture were allowed to work under free market conditions, farmers would plant less corn and put something else in the ground instead.

End of rant. For now.

I second Heather’s vote for Omnivore’s Dilemma – it will change the way you eat meat.

To Preston’s point, chickens and pigs are different than cows, however, because given the opportunity, they will naturally search out grains, grasses, and bugs as part of their diet. Cows were never intended to eat corn. Chicken can be antibiotic free, and still be fed corn.

Finally, your government is to blame for the over-abundance of corn. If the free market would be allowed to operate in agriculture – less corn would be planed by farmers. But that isn’t the case in the US. American farmers are heavily subsidized (incented) to plant corn over other crops. Take away the subsidies and you get less corn.

End of rant. For now.

One of the largest greenhouse gas quantities being released is methane. Methane is being produced in abnormally large quantities due to cattle farming. Cow’s fart, the world burns. Stop eating so much beef.

Corn ethanol produces (something like) 8 times less energy than sugar ethanol, but the US has a strong Corn industry. More land is being used to grow corn than other crops due to heavy subsidies for the crop. The corn is also used in animal feed.

Cows (that are causing global warming) are fed the corn, which they can’t naturally digest, and become sick. To keep the cows strong the cows are fed massive amounts of anti-biotics.

Cows are slaughtered. Humans (and other stuff) eat the cows.

Superbacteria kill all.

Oh, did I mention that the cow’s milk is sometimes labeled hormone free, too? (Despite the fact that certain growth hormones are present. Gota love kids hitting puberty at age 10-11 these days).

Anyone trying to convince you of anything is probably out to get you.

I state these things not to convince you, rather to let you figure it out on your own should you do further research.