A few more things about food

You find interesting animal health-related tidbits everywhere you look. From the Soil Science Society of America:

Scientists at the University of Minnesota have been evaluating the impact of antibiotic feeding in livestock production on the environment. This particular study, funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), evaluated whether food crops accumulate antibiotics from soils spread with manure that contains antibiotics.

[...]

Plant uptake was evaluated in a greenhouse study involving three food crops: corn, lettuce, and potato. Plants were grown on soil modified with liquid hog manure containing Sulfamethazine, a commonly used veterinary antibiotic. This antibiotic was taken up by all three crops. Concentrations of antibiotics were found in the plant leaves. Concentrations in plant tissue also increased as the amount of antibiotics present in the manure increased. It also diffused into potato tubers, which suggests that root crops, such as potatoes, carrots, and radishes, that directly come in contact with soil may be particularly vulnerable to antibiotic contamination.

The ability of plants to absorb antibiotics raises the potential for contamination of human food supply. However, Satish Gupta, group leader notes “The adverse impacts of consuming plants that contain small quantities of antibiotics are largely unknown”. Consumption of antibiotics in plants may cause allergic reactions in sensitive populations, such as young children. There is also concern that consuming antibiotics may lead to the development of antimicrobial resistance, which can render antibiotics ineffective.

Full story and links to additional information here.

On a more positive note for those of us concerned about the viability of cleaner, sustainable agriculture, from the University of Michigan:

Organic farming can yield up to three times as much food on individual farms in developing countries, as low-intensive methods on the same land—according to new findings which refute the long-standing claim that organic farming methods cannot produce enough food to feed the global population.

Researchers from the University of Michigan found that in developed countries, yields were almost equal on organic and conventional farms. In developing countries, food production could double or triple using organic methods, said Ivette Perfecto, professor at U-M's School of Natural Resources and Environment, and one the study's principal investigators....

"My hope is that we can finally put a nail in the coffin of the idea that you can’t produce enough food through organic agriculture," Perfecto said.

That story is here -- in English, in Spanish, and as a podcast.

Comments

[straybaby]

Thanks for both articles Christie! Been hanging out on Ag sites a bit lately getting educated. Still can't decide if it's a good thing, lol!~



Just got this in an email this AM about the Farm Bill, which makes me very happy! :



Federal: We Did It--Section of Farm Bill Threatening Food Safety Removed!

Section 123 of Title I of the 2007 Farm Bill

ASPCA Position: Oppose

Action Needed: None

Update, 7/11/07: On July 6, the House Agriculture Committee released its Chairman's Markup Documents for the 2007 Farm Bill. Section 123 was removed from the bill! This dangerous provision would have declared federal supremacy by denying states and localities the ability to implement stronger protections for both consumers and animals. Thanks for your support in defeating this measure!

In the current climate, in which concerns about food safety abound, Congress should be increasing food safety efforts, not decreasing them. A few weeks ago, federal lawmakers amended the 2007 Farm Bill to include a sweeping provision that would wipe out state and local authority to protect food safety, the environment and humane animal treatment. Consumer, environmental, farmer and animal welfare groups have since united to oppose Section 123 of Title I of the 2007 Farm Bill.

If passed, this provision would prohibit states from passing certain animal welfare laws, like those stopping the slaughter of horses for horse meat for human consumption. It would prohibit states and localities from passing any laws prohibiting commercial use of USDA-inspected products. This overreaching provision would prevent states from passing laws to prohibit the sale or use of products that the USDA has "1) inspected and passed; or 2) determined to be of non-regulated status." It could even prevent local health inspectors from condemning adulterated meat if it has already been inspected by the USDA.

 

https://secure2.convio.net/aspca/site/Advocacy?pagename=homepage&page=SplashPage&id=2215&JServSessionIdr011=sc4slf6b72.app24b

[Aunt Granny]

Tammy,



I had a dog that loved watermelon. I mean she really, really, LOVED it. She would have kissed up to the devil himself if there was watermelon involved. She only got it in the summer when locally grown was available, and lived to the age of 14. I can't tell you whether or not watermelon provides any nutritional benefits for dogs, however in my experience it didn't do any harm.

[Katie]

Christie,



Thanks for the article. Never thought about what the root veggies picked up from the soil.



Katie

[Tammy]

Does anyone know if watermelon is okay for dogs? I've seen the list for foods that you're not suppose to feed dogs. But is there a list of foods that are okay for pooches?

[petlover]

TAMMY & WATERMELON FOR DOGS:



Here's what I found:



As you know, watermelon is definitely considered to be edible by humans. There is currently no data demonstrating that the edible portion, seeds and rind have potential to produce effects beyond minor gastrointestinal irritation to pets.



As a general rule of thumb, however, if you are considering offering any food outside of your dog’s normal diet, we recommend that you talk with your pet's regular veterinarian first.



http://www.aspca.org/aspcablog/2006/07/ask-apcc-is-watermelon-poisonous-to-my.html

[petlover]

And we wonder why there's resistance to antibiotics in the U.S.? It sounds as if there's more to it than just the doctors over prescribing the drugs. Think of all the antibiotics we've eaten from treated animal and fish feeds over the years.



I guess organic farmers will have to move toward using only manure from animals that have been fed antibiotic-free diets.



Straybaby, thanks for the update on defeating Section 123 of the 2007 Farm Bill. Yeah!!!!

[Evelyn]

Golly, before pesticides came along and before farm machinery, the only reason people starved in America was lack of moola.



We had enough food for everybody, and I betcha we shipped some to other countries.



The food had to be organic and not genetically modified because no pesticides and just planted the crop with ordinary seeds.



Then greed from the big corporations set in!

[thomas]

This is a great article . One of the things we have been bringing up in our area as we oppose puppy mills is what do they do with the feces and dead dogs.



Many mill operators are spreading the waste including the bodys on the fields where they grow food for human consumption .Many mill operators put the feces and dead dogs in the manure lagoons which don't heat up enough to destroy disease or bacteria from canines.



Some towns have ruled in the zoning permits that mill operators can not put any dog remains on growing fields . That is no guarantee it isn't done.