Saturday, December 18, 2010

ENG103 Final Essay

ENG 103                                                                         Shahbaz E Khan
Prof.Chris Alexander


Over the past decade population of earth has been increasing. As the population
increases the consumption rate of everything increases with it. One of the most important
consumption is food and meat and poultry is the major part of it. And this is the reason
why farming system has been changed over the past decade. Farming is no longer done
by one family raising cattle’s in their rural collection of fields and barns. Farming is now
done by large industrial facilities run by large corporations and they are responsible to
handle a large of animals to be killed for food in the USA. These facilities are called
factory farms.

 In the U.S factory farming started in the 1920`s after the discovery of vitamin A
and D. These vitamins are added to feed animals so they won’t be needing sunlight and
exercise for their growth. The method proven out to be so useful that animals are raised
indoors now whole year long. The only problem faced during this large scale of meat
production was spreading of disease amongst the animals raised indoors. But which was
resolved in 1940`s when antibiotics was invented. In 1910 41 percent of the meat
consumed by Americans was beef. By the year 2000, beef accounted for only one-third of
the total meat consumed by Americans, which includes poultry and other sources of red
meat.(How Much Meat We Eat). The demand of meat and poultry in the market gave
the factory farming a solid platform to get industrialized. And meat and poultry started to
be produced on a large scale as products only ignoring pain and suffering by the animals.

Animal feeding operations (AFOs) are farms or feedlots where animals are kept
and raised in confined areas for at least 45 days over a 12 month period. AFOs cluster
animals, feed, manure and urine, wastewater, dead animals, and production operations on
a small land area. Feed is brought to the animals rather than the animals grazing in
pastures, fields, or on rangeland. There are approximately 450,000 AFOs in the United
States. Common types of AFOs include dairies, cattle feedlots, and poultry farms.”
(What's the Problem?) Factory farms are engaged in raising cows, sheep, goats, pigs,
poultry and also fish. The raising of animals involves for meat, eggs and milk. In these
farms animals are given antibiotics, hormones and other chemicals for quick growth and
higher productivity in less time. They are kept in small cages with metal bars,
overcrowded cages or restrictive pens or stalls, air filled with ammonia and artificial
lightning whole period of production.

There are pros and cons of everything. The benefit of the factory farming system
to society is economic satisfaction of the demand for meat at acceptable prices and it
provides a continuous inexpensive meat supply. Factory farming is good to the
environment because animals like cattle produce manure which is useful to plant growth.
If plants, trees and flowers grow well due to manure from animals we can surplus oxygen
to sustain our breathing. Factory farming is good to the environment in the sense that
animals assist in the formation of food chains and food webs.

Factory farming has negative effects on the environment and it causes pollution.Factory farming generates toxic pollution that can contaminate lakes, streams and riverswhich can contaminate water supplies. The air around factory farms is contaminated with dust particles which are linked to asthma and bronchitis. The trucks which carry animals from factory farms to shops need mention. Some of these trucks have high levels of
carbon emission hence they pollute the environment also causing global warming issues.

Factory farming also raises animal abuse issues. The industry only focuses on
profit and therefore efficiency and productivity has caused inhumane treatment and
sloppy slaughtering of farm animals. Industrial methods have changed the way in which
farmers and animals use to interact. Farmers had a lot of personal interaction with their
animals during feeding and handling and it causes more care towards each individual
animals. In traditional farming system sick or injured animals were more likely to be
noticed and cared but due to factory farming this has been totally changed. Due to factory
farming there are no pastures or grazing lands for the animals. This is ethically wrong for
animal inhabitant. In the factory farms animals are not considered as animals at all, they
are just food products. Inhumane treatments like beak searing, tail docking, ear cutting
and castration are done with the animals.

Factory farming process is needed to be summarized, as the growth of factory
farming increases so does its effects of inhumane treatment towards animals and neglect
towards earth pollution. The assembly line which was made to fulfill human needs is now
proving more harmful causing health issues. Factory farming isn’t a very useful method
indeed. An industrial system that consists of chemical use over animal and then to feed
them to human being is never a very good idea to start with. Traditional farming method
is less effective on nature and healthier. Some communities like Amish still practice old
farming system and are proven to raise cattle’s and poultries healthier. And which is good
for health also with out chemicals, doing less effect to nature also.  

Works Cited
Category, By. "History of Vitamins." Inventors. Web. 19 Dec. 2010. <http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bl_vitamins.htm>.
"Frontline: Modern Meat: Is Your Meat Safe?: How Much Meat We Eat | PBS." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Web. 19 Dec. 2010. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/meat/safe/howmuch.html>.
"Farm Animals - Factory Farming." Web. <http://www.libraryindex.com/pages/2170/Farm-Animals-FACTORY-FARMING.html>.
"Facts: Factory Farming." In Defense of Animals. Web. 12 Dec. 2010. <http://www.idausa.org/facts/factoryfarmfacts.html>.
Definition, By. "What's the Problem? | Animal Waste | Region 9 | US EPA." US Environmental Protection Agency. Web. 12 Dec. 2010. <http://www.epa.gov/region9/animalwaste/problem.html>.
Mukichi, Masimba. "The Effect of Factory Farming on the Environment." The Effect of Factory Farming on the Environment. Web. <http://www.helium.com/items/1186236-the-effect-of-factory-farming-on-the-environment>.


           

                          
           

Saturday, December 11, 2010

"FINAL ESSAY"

The farming of livestock has changed dramatically over the past century. Many people think of a farm as a rural collection of barns and fields run by one farming family. But in reality this whole concept is changed, some farms are massive industrial type facilities owned and operated by large corporations. These are called factory farms and they make up a small percentage of American farms. Each farm handle a large percentage of the animals killed for food in the United States.

           
Factory farming began in the 1920`s 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 resolved in the 1940s with the development of antibiotics. Farmers found they could increase production and reduce the operating costs by using machines and assembly line working techniques. But, this process of mass production has resulted in incredible pain and suffering for the animals.

The most visible symbol of factory farming is the animal feeding operation (AFO) or concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO).Animal feeding operations (AFOs) or (CAFO) are farms where animals are kept and raised in confined areas for at least 45 days over a 12 month period. AFOs cluster animals, feed, manure and urine, wastewater, dead animals, and production operations on a small land area. Feeding is brought to the animals rather than the animals grazing in pastures, fields, or on rangeland this means, the animals are housed under one roof during a large portion of the year. The facility, depending on size, must also meet the state water quality standards and may be required to obtain a permit in order to operate. The difference between an AFO and a CAFO is based in part on how many animals are involved. Both feature highly concentrated confinement areas with no pasture or grazing land.

            The advantage of the factory farming system to society is economic satisfaction of the demand for meat at acceptable prices. Factory farming provides the United States with a continuous and relatively inexpensive meat supply. But, animal rights activists blame the factory farming system for many animal abuses. They believe that the industry's emphasis on profits, efficiency, and productivity has contributed greatly to inhumane treatment and sloppy slaughtering of farm animals. There is no doubt that industrial methods have changed the way in which farmers and animals interact. Traditionally, farmers had a lot of personal interaction with their animals during feeding and handling. While this did not change the ultimate usage of the animals, many people believe that it built a bond that led farmers to care more about the welfare of individual animals. Certainly sick or injured animals were more likely to be noticed and cared for in this system. Many small farms, particularly in communities that use traditional methods (such as Amish farms) still achieve this level of human animal contact.

 Farms are engaged in raising swine, poultry, sheep, goats, aquatic animals as fish. Animals now days raised on factory farms have had their genes manipulated and are given antibiotics, hormones and other chemicals for higher productivity. In the factory farms animals are not considered as animals at all, they are just food products. The animals are confined to small cages with metal bars, ammonia filled air and artificial lighting. They are subjected to horrible mutilations like beak searing, tail docking, ear cutting and castration.

Factory farming involves the raising of animals for meat, eggs and milk. Animals are confined into overcrowded cages or restrictive pens or stalls. Factory farming has good and bad effects on the environment. Factory farming is good to the environment because animals like cattle produce manure which is useful to plant growth. If plants, trees and flowers grow well due to manure from animals we are assured of surplus oxygen to sustain our breathing. Factory farming is good to the environment in the sense that animals assist in the formation of food chains and food webs.
But factory farming has negative effects on the environment too. Factory farming causes pollution also. A pig can produce two or more times more waste than a human. A cow can produce 23 times more. Factory farming generates toxic pollution that can contaminate lakes, streams and rivers. This can contaminate water supplies with pathogens and chemicals which are detrimental to health. Phosphorous and nitrogen compounds, arsenic, zinc and copper can be released in to rivers. Manure though useful can emit hundreds of types of gases such as hydrogen sulfide which can cause eye, nose and throat irritation. Ammonia can also cause death at high levels. The air around factory farms is contaminated with dust particles which are linked to asthma and bronchitis. Chemical spraying during rain or wind can cause pollution to the environment. Fertilizers used to promote quick growth of crops affect the environment by changing land use and harms bio diversity through habitat loss and ecosystem. The trucks which carry animals from factory farms to shops need mention. Some of these trucks have high levels of carbon emission hence they pollute the environment also causing global warming issues.
Factory farming process is needed to be summarized, as the growth of factory farming increases so does its effects of inhumane treatment towards animals and neglect towards earth pollution.  


"Farm Animals - Factory Farming." Web. <http://www.libraryindex.com/pages/2170/Farm-Animals-FACTORY-FARMING.html>.
"Facts: Factory Farming." In Defense of Animals. Web. 12 Dec. 2010. <http://www.idausa.org/facts/factoryfarmfacts.html>.
Definition, By. "What's the Problem? | Animal Waste | Region 9 | US EPA." US Environmental Protection Agency. Web. 12 Dec. 2010. <http://www.epa.gov/region9/animalwaste/problem.html>.
Mukichi, Masimba. "The Effect of Factory Farming on the Environment." The Effect of Factory Farming on the Environment. Web. <http://www.helium.com/items/1186236-the-effect-of-factory-farming-on-the-environment>.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Final essay


TOPIC: In “Cogs in the Great Machine,” Eric Schlosser reports on the shift in the meatpacking industry toward a reliance on “the new industrial migrants,” noting that as meatpacking corporations reorganized they transformed what had been a “middle-class” profession into one that pays “poverty wages” or less (160). Discuss the impact of this system on the migrants themselves by focusing on one specific aspect of the problem, and then present your own solution.

"The New Industrial Migrants” written by Eric Schlosser (book “fast food nation” pg 160) , writer states that industrial owners hire immigrants to increase the growth profit of their business. The meatpacking jobs were usually given to the middle class American but now the jobs are mostly worked by none speaking immigrants. Writer further tells us about the beef plant Greeley and their majority immigrants workers. Arden Walker, the head of labor relation uses a technique where he hire new employee all the time. He states that since insurance are very high he tries to hire new employee because the insurance are not provided to the new employees. Further the company begins to recognize the lower wage immigrants.

Thirty years ago, meatpacking was one of the highest-paid industrial jobs in the United States, with one of the lowest turnover rates. Labor unions had slowly gained power in the industry, winning their members good benefits, decent working conditions, and a voice in the workplace. Meatpacking jobs were dangerous and unpleasant, but provided enough income for a solid, middle class life. There were sometimes waiting lists for these jobs. And then, starting in the early 1960s, a company called Iowa Beef Packers (IBP) began to revolutionize the industry, opening plants in rural areas far from union strongholds, recruiting immigrant workers from Mexico, introducing a new division of labor that eliminated the need for skilled butchers, and ruthlessly battling unions. By the late 1970s, meatpacking companies that wanted to compete with IBP had to adopt its business methods or go out of business. Wages in the meatpacking industry soon fell by as much as 50 percent. Today meatpacking is one of the nation's lowest paid industrial jobs, with one of the highest turnover rates. The typical plant now hires an entirely new workforce every year or so. There are no waiting lists at these slaughterhouses today. Staff shortages have become an industry wide problem, making the work even more dangerous. In a relatively brief period of time, the meatpacking industry also became highly centralized and concentrated, giving enormous power to a few large agribusiness firms.

In 1970, the top four meatpackers controlled just 21 percent of the beef market. Today the top four IBP, ConAgra, Excel and National Beef control about 85 percent of the market. While the meatpackers have grown more powerful, the unions have grown much weaker. Only half of IBP's workers belong to a union, allowing that company to set the industry standard for low wages and harsh working conditions. Given the industry's high turnover rates, it is a challenge for a union simply to remain in a meatpacking plant, since every year it must gain the allegiance of a whole new set of workers. In some American slaughterhouses, more than three-quarters of the workers are not native English speakers; many can't read any language, and many are illegal immigrants.


 Many of the poor workers are driven from places to places to work for low amount of money. Most of the ads that are put up for jobs in the US are broadcast in Mexico because the low cost of labor workers. The immigrants are not given health insurance, or vacations instead the worker with no money were put at a homeless shelter Works that are given to the middle class Americans are now given to poor immigrants. The reason for many owners to hire immigrants is because the immigrants get paid low for many hours of work and also because they health insurance are not given to them. Many of the owners tricks immigrant’s workers and sent to homeless shelter. Many illegal immigrants are brought to US to work for a very low amount of money. This job makes immigrants not have choice but to work because of the poverty. The owner of the companies uses their techniques into paying as lower as possible to their workers. An owner like Arden walker has a time limit for each worker than he can hire new workers so he doesn’t have to pay employee insurances.

The roughly estimated number of undocumented workers in the meatpacking industry ranges from 20%-50%. The increase of immigrant workers has occurred alongside structural changes in meatpacking industry. Many of the immigrant workers are from Latin American countries, while others are from Africa too. Permanent residency status, also known as having a green card, is allocated on the basis of quotas for each country of origin. The current yearly quota for Mexico is 20,000, while an estimated 202,000 undocumented immigrants came to the US every year between 1987 and 1996.Another option could be temporary work permit programs (H2) these work permits are designated for unskilled labor when no American workers can be found. There are two types of permits:H2-A: for temporary or seasonal agricultural labor (uncapped)H2-B: for temporary, seasonal, intermittent or peak non-agricultural labor, ideally for workers in grinding season (off-field work), and capped as 66,000 per year and more than 100,000 petition for those slots. Employers may also apply for a temporary labor certification, but mostly it is applied to skilled and professional workers. It is hard for low-skilled immigrant workers (especially from Mexico) to work legally under current US law for any purpose other than agricultural labor. While several programs have been proposed, none of them have passed Congress or become effective.

In 2004 US administration started guest worker program (similar to the Bracero program of the 1940s - 1960s). Under this proposal, foreign workers, including the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants currently in the US, could have applied for a permit to work for three years, but they would never have become eligible for legal permanent status or citizenship through this program. According to history the Bracero program took place between 1942 and 1964, some 4.6 million Mexicans were admitted to US to do farm work, many Mexicans returned year after year, but 1 to 2 million gained legal U.S. work experience. The Bracero program was small during the war years. Admissions peaked at 62,000 in 1944, meaning that less than 2 percent of the 4 million U.S. hired workers were Braceros.The U.S. Department of Labor relaxed regulations on Bracero housing, wages, and food charges in the mid 1950s, more farmers hired legal Braceros; admissions peaked at 445,200 in 1956. However, Braceros admissions began to fall in the early 1960s, when President Kennedy ordered the Department of Labor to enforce Bracero regulations. The November 1960 CBS documentary “Harvest of Shame” convinced Kennedy that Braceros were “adversely affecting the wages, working conditions, and employment opportunities of our own agricultural workers.” Farmers fought to preserve the program in Congress, but lost, and the Bracero program ended December 31, 1964.

In 2005 temporary visa program for low-skilled workers H5A visa program came to act by US administration. Some undocumented immigrants could have applied for legal permanent residents, after working for 6 years and paying taxes and fines. The 2006 Comprehensive Immigrant Reform Act (Senate Bill 2611) this bill proposed a three year temporary visa program with a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants currently in the US. It also included aggressive border enforcement measures, because if S.B. 2611 becomes law, Americans become victims of their own lawless country. They become victims of adding 100 million people to US. So after 30 hour of period debate the bill failed to pass conference committee.

US government rather then passing bills in congress to resolve the immigrant situation to be legalized is also doing raids in meat packing companies. These raids are being done to lessen illegal immigrants especially from meat packaging plants. Majority workers in these companies are illegal and this situation is growing on a large scale. Recently(October 7th 2010), fifteen people were arrested after Maricopa County sheriff's deputies served a search warrant at a Phoenix meat packing business with employees suspected of using stolen identities. The company owner says” I lost one third of my working staff" but this raid raises the issue of crime being done by illegal immigrants also. A lot of illegal immigrants in US are related to crime also and they can not be traced due to any documentation. Crime, poverty, drug abuse, and homelessness have lately taken root in towns due to illegal immigration also.
           
Plenty of precautionary steps are taken about these situations but nothings promising. Immigrant problem can’t be resolved in a fast pace that’s for a fact. In my review it’s a monopoly state is playing to do the “dirtiest job” through lowest paid labor. Reasoning  is simple we the USA is a first world country and there is nothing possible we cant do, so if our state government really wants no immigrants taking over jobs it is possible, why with the pending bills and policies why no success? And plus plenty of Americans wont do what the immigrants are doing, therefore If I understand this little knowledge states knows this long ago, and that could be reasoning immigrant worker not being abolished, but it is possible.

            To end illegal immigration government must act strict laws for the companies who are hiring illegal immigrants. All the factories should go through regular inspection and if any illegal immigrants are found working the owner should be responsible with high penalties and should be fined. Deport immigrants who are found not documented. Extend the Border Patrol canine program and highway checkpoint system Increase personnel in Inspections, Intelligence, Border Patrol, and Detention and Deportation. Improve vehicle fleets of the Border Patrol, Investigations, and Detention and Deportation. Introduce new, up-to-date technology in Inspections, the Border Patrol, and Investigations, so less people could cross the borders.

Schlosser, By Eric. "The Chain Never Stops | Mother Jones." Mother Jones | Smart, Fearless Journalism. Web. 08 Dec. 2010. <http://motherjones.com/politics/2001/07/chain-never-stops>.

"Immigrants in Meatpacking | Midwest Coalition for Human Rights." Midwest Human Rights News | Midwest Coalition for Human Rights. Web. 03 Dec. 2010. <http://www.midwesthumanrights.org/immigrants-meatpacking>.

Martin, By Philip. "The Bracero Program: Was It a Failure?" History News Network. Web. 08 Dec. 2010. <http://hnn.us/articles/27336.html>.

"Frosty Wooldridge -- Repercussions of Senate Bill 2611." NewsWithViews.com -- Where Reality Shatters Illusion. Web. 08 Dec. 2010. <http://www.newswithviews.com/Wooldridge/frosty211.htm>.

"15 Arrested during Raid of Phoenix Meat-packing Business." Arizona Local News - Phoenix Arizona News - Phoenix Breaking News - Azcentral.com. Web. 08 Dec. 2010. <http://www.azcentral.com/12news/news/articles/2010/10/12/20101012phoenix-sheriff-immigration-raid-abrk.html>.

"FAIR: How to Stop Illegal Immigration." FAIR: Federation for American Immigration Reform. Web. 08 Dec. 2010. <http://www.fairus.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=16669&security=1601&news_iv_ctrl=1007>.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

"COCA COLA VS PEPSI"

Coca-Cola and Pepsi are the two most popular and widely recognized beverage brands in the world. Within their lineup of beverages, Pepsi-Cola and Coca-Cola Classic are the predominant carbonated cola beverages.
TASTE:
Coca-Cola is the original cola, while there isn't a huge difference in taste, Pepsi mirrored their cola after Coke's, being just different enough in taste to not actually be the same drink.
SWEETNESS:
Coca-Cola tastes less sweet and tastes like lucozade and hutki. This is due to the addition of the artificial sweeteners to Pepsi.
CARBONATION:
Coca-Cola has more carbonation than Pepsi depending on what region you are in. It was said that depending on where each one was made the amount of carbonation in them will be different therefore proving that neither Coca-Cola nor Pepsi have more carbonation than one another.



                 VS









BRAND WAR:
Both drinks are no longer seen as a beverage but mainly as a brand. Both companies commit heavily to sponsoring outdoor music festivals and even charitable projects in third world countries. Coca-Cola also is an official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup.
 MARKETING APPROACH:
Both Coca-Cola and Pepsi try to market as part of a life-style. Coca-Cola uses phrases such as "Coke side of life" in their website, while Pepsi uses phrases such as "Hot stuff" in their website, to promote the idea that Pepsi is "in sync" with the cool side of life.Pepsi tries to reach out to the younger generation by appealing to pop culture. If you visit their website you will be greeted with flashy pages containing pop music, cars, and fashion.Coca-Cola's website also has links for music and sports, two arenas in which soda-pop is often consumed; however, Coca-Cola's is less flashy and uses a classical appeal, most likely because of Coca-Cola's long history as the standard for cola beverages.
ADVERTISEMENTS REPRESENTATIVES: 
Coca-Cola had Christina Aguilera featured in their commercials, while Pepsi had Britney Spears, Keshauntae Brown, and Michael Jackson.

Monday, November 29, 2010

"Good And Bad Foods When It Come To Acid Reflux / Heartburn"

Certain foods can aggravate your heartburn symptoms, and when planning your acid reflux diet, it's best to limit or avoid completely those foods and drinks that result in acid reflux. There are some foods that should be avoided entirely, as they are usually responsible for a higher occurrence of heartburn. The foods listed in the Table below are the most common foods that can produce heartburn. This is by no means a complete list, and in your personal situation, you may either find you can eat the foods from the "Avoid" group with no problem or have problems with foods not listed. It is a good idea to keep a Food Diary. For approximately two weeks, write down what you eat, when you eat and any symptoms you may experience. This will help you and your doctor plan your diet and decide on any change in eating habits you may need.


Monday, November 22, 2010

"RESEARCH PAPER"


Fast food advertisements do impact or lives. There are studies over it and it’s a fact "what we are seeing is what we are eating" and we can not lie about it. From breakfast to dinner majority people do depend on fast food. How we know what’s available for breakfast, lunch or dinner? If it wouldn't be the advertisement how would we know?
"GOOD MORNING WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS"
"GET A BIG BURGER FOR LUNCH"
"DON`T SLEEP YET DINNER IS JUST SERVED"

Traditional way of eating home cooking food is not on the menu of our everyday lives anymore, and the above picture is clear example why we don’t need to. These advertisements presented on the big billboards, gives invitation to all in such an irresistible way that we hardly could resist. Two thirds of food ads during popular children television programs promote junk food.
Schor, By. "From Tastes Great to Cool: Children's Food Marketing and the Rise of the Symbolic - Health News - RedOrbit." RedOrbit – Science, Space, Technology, Health News and Information. Web. 22 Nov. 2010. <http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/952736/from_tastes_great_to_cool_childrens_food_marketing_and_the/index.html>. 

           Margaret Gamble and Nancy Cotugna's 1996 content analysis of Saturday morning cartoons by found that 63% of the 353 advertisements in this time slot were for food products. Among these commercials, cereal ads comprised 40% of the total, with the proportion in the high sugar category increasing from 23 to 34.5% between 1991 and 1996. The authors reported that among nearly 1,400 food ads studied between 1972 and 1996, there were no commercials advertising fruits and vegetables with the exception of a few Public Service Announcements.22 (The lack of fruit and vegetable advertising is due to the fact that almost none, with the prominent exception of Chiquita Bananas, are branded.)
            Children are also heavily exposed to food ads during prime time viewing hours. A 1998 content analysis during the top-ranked prime- time shows for children aged two to eleven found that 23% of the commercials were for food, and 40% of those were for fast-food restaurants.23 Excluding fast-foods, 41% of the advertised foods were in the fats, oils and sweets category of the United States Department of Agriculture's food pyramid. A similar percentage fell into the grains category, and nearly half of those had either a high fat or sugar content.24 Preliminary content analysis done by the authors in the summer of 2006 have found that 44.4 % of ads on children networks during weekend mornings and the after-school block are for foods.25 Notably, even as the range of products advertised directly to children rises, food remains by far the dominant category.
            Food marketing to children has moved beyond the television set, however. Packaging has become a form of advertisement, as companies innovate by putting food into "cool" new containers or adding licensed characters, games, and ads for other branded foods. Another marketing strategy is product placement, in which food companies pay producers of music videos, radio, books, comic strips, songs, plays, and movies to place the product in the setting.26 This strategy is thought to have begun in 1982 when sales of Hershey's Reese's Pieces Candy rose 65% in the month following the release of the movie E.T., The Extra Terrestrial, where the product had a prominent placement.27 The effectiveness of product placement is thought to be on account of its ability to avoid seeming like a sales pitch, as well as its association with highly valued celebrities. Product placements also cannot be zapped out, unlike 30-second spots. 
    
            Above pictures might be delicious looking and eye catching too, the way they made those sandwiches they do look nice, but what’s is in it? Yes, we can read meat, crab, and steak but did they mention anything about "processed meat item" or "1500 to 3000 calorie range”. They didn't because that is the whole purpose just to sell for business. So, in other words advertisements are also now responsible for public health. Just by looking at those ads we do eat stuffs which aren’t totally healthy.
http://www.kff.org/entmedia/upload/7618.pdf
    This statistic pic is from Kaiser family foundation.kaiser foundation deals with health policy and communications, the Kaiser Family Foundation is a non-profit, private operating foundation focusing on the major health care issues facing the U.S., as well as the U.S. role in global health policy.
     According to Kaiser family foundation young children cannot distinguish between programming content and advertisement while another study shows that children’s choice of food is impacted by the ads they saw.  In another word exposure of fast food affects children’s dietary intake. Children’s today are exposed to fast food at all places.  Fast food advertisement covers every aspect of a children’s life and therefore fast food advertisement should be banned or there had to be limitations to it.


 



Thursday, November 11, 2010

WHAT KIDS EAT

Schlosser, Eric. "(9)what`s in the Meat." Fast Food Nation. 218-221 print.
USDA is responsible for the distribution of meat products to school cafeterias throughout the United States. The National School Lunch program`s meat suppliers are chosen by USDA. USDA made their decision based on lowest price. These meats are always questionable why it is so cheap. Answer is quite simple the meat contains pieces of spinal cord, bone and left over’s those are stuck on the meat recovery system in the factories. Throughout the time USDA, switch their suppliers from one to another. Some known suppliers as listed:
(i) The Cattle King Packing Company.
(ii) The Bauer Meat Company.
(iii) Northern States Beef (A Subsidiary of ConAgra).
(iv) Supreme Beef Processors.
All these suppliers have the background violation of contaminations of meat with pathogens, E. coli, Salmonella. In the late 1983 cattle king`s packing was infested with rats, cockroaches and it was found that they were also packing meats of animals which came dead to the factory. Even USDA once declared in 1998 against Bauer meat products “unfit for human consumption” and 6 million pounds of meat were detained. On 1999 supreme beef processor who supplies 45 percent of meat products to the school, their 47 percent meat infected with salmonella. The main point is USDA knowing the consequence what might the outcomes going to come approves these distributions. Inspections are needed to be done prior time not after the products on market. Risking the life and health of people and doing the recalls later do not make any sense.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

"Prospectus" :)

1. Introduce your topic and discuss its importance.

My Prospectus is going to be about the fast food "ADVERTISEMENTS". For certain reasons i believe these fast food "ADDS" do impact or lives.These adds are eye catching and are portrait in such a way we hardly could resist with out trying the product. Watching and listening to them 24/7 for example on television, posters, flyers, radio make us eat fast food almost everyday as our breakfast, lunch and sadly dinner too. :( In other words these adds also responsible for obesity and other chronicle diseases because, if children and adults from home to office or colleges are constantly seeing these adds around them being the source of food(UNHEALTHY FAST FOOD) they are making it an easy practice of eating it and falling for the marketing strategy which the fast food industry wants.


2. Introduce your questions and a working thesis.

The questions which i will come across would be like... How these adds impact us? Why they make eye catching adds? What these has to do with child obesity? Why majority adds are related to children and teenagers? My thesis statement would be how to stop these adds from not manipulating peoples health through their products. Through advertisement not to target the young generation, advertisement be ethical no deception, stated clear like the television adds of "smoking" mentioning how it effects you.

3. Discuss specific tools and sources that you will be using to conduct your research.

I will research for specific topics like marketing strategy for advertisements, pros and cons to show their effects.I will use books, internet, different newspapers or magazine articles, rather then that i will use many different databases those are related to advertisement.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

US Bison Meat Recall 2010: 66,000 Pounds Infected with E Coli

Thousands upon thousands of pounds of bison meat are to be recalled by a Colorado meat company over concerns that the product is contaminated by a deadly strain of E. coli, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) on Friday.

Approximately 66,000 pounds of ground and tenderized bison meat are to be recalled by Rocky Mountain Natural Meats of Henderson, Colorado.

E. coli O157:H7 is a particularly deadly form of the bacteria and FSIS said that there was a “cluster” of people suffering from the illness in Colorado.

Thus far, five people in Colorado and one person in New York have been diagnosed as falling ill due to the bacteria between June 4 and June 9. E. coli O157:H7 can be potentially deadly, causing bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in severe cases, kidney failure, the FSIS said.

The meat products were produced between May 21 and May 27, and were distributed throughout the country to various distributors and stores.

The FSIS said that the "sell by" dates for the products, all with the establishment number EST. 20247, have passed, but consumers may have frozen the meat.

All bison products should be cooked at a temperature of at least 160 degrees F, FSIS said.

The retail distribution list for this batch of b ison meat can be accessed at the website: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Recalls/Open_Federal_Cases/index.asp.

The products include:

- 16-ounce packages of Great Range Brand All Natural Bison. These products have a sell or freeze by date of June 21, June 22 or June 24, 2010.

- 16-ounce packages of Nature's Rancher Ground Buffalo. These products have a sell or freeze by date of June 22, 2010.

- 16-ounce packages of The Buffalo Guys All Natural Ground Buffalo 90% Lean. These products have a lot number of 0147.

- 12-ounce packages of Great Range Brand All Natural Bison Steak Medallions. These products have a sell or freeze by date of June 23 and June 24, 2010.

- 12-ounce packages of Great Range Brand All Natural Bison Sirloin Steaks. These products have a sell or freeze by date of June 20, June 23 and June 24, 2010.

- 15-pound boxes of Rocky Mountain Natural Arts, Inc. Bison 10 Oz. Sirloin Steak. These products went to restaurants and bear a Julian Code of 0141.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

RESPONSE 3 "MY PROJECT BENEFIT OF GM FOODS"


My project is about the benefits of genetically modified foods (GM). I would like to start this by keeping in mind, Earth population is growing day by day, its not lessening, and the food chain cycle has its own specific time of growing back. Soon this specific time era won’t be enough to feed all the human kind, so its must to find a solution about it and the solution is genetically engineered food. To prove my fact of its help I would give an example of china because China has 20% of the world's population
China largest Gm producer:
China is considered a potential market for GM food for several reasons. First, China currently has almost 1.3 billion people and is likely to exceed 1.4 billion by 2050 (Population Reference Bureau, 2002). China recognizes that if it is going to continue to feed its people, it must find more efficient agricultural production methods. To this end, China is spending close to $120 million each year on biotech research and growing rice, potatoes, cotton, wheat and many others fruits and vegetables. In fact, China is the fourth largest producer of GM crops in the world after the US, Canada, and Argentina, and has approved more than a dozen genetically modified crops for development
Some food plants genetically engineered:
Apples that resist insect attack, Bananas free of viruses and worm parasites, Coffee with lower caffeine content, Cabbage that resists caterpillar attacks, Melons that have a longer shelf life, Sunflowers that produce oil with lower saturated fat
      GM crops claims many advantages :
      Improved storage and nutritional quality, Pest and disease resistance, Selective herbicide tolerance, Tolerance of water, temperature and saline extremes, improved animal welfare, higher yields and quality.
Solution to some problems:  
A recent report from the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that nearly 14 million people, including 2.3 million children under the age of 5, are at risk of starvation. Without effective action the WHO says at least 300,000 could die from hunger and disease in the next six months. As we know due to Africa’s climatic condition crops have least chance of survival if not properly taken care of, therefore genetically modified crops can be a solution of quick reproduction in less time effort and providing the food need of the country. Not only has that Africa suffered 500,000 blindness each year due to vitamin A deficiency and 70% amongst them are children dying in young age .GM food such as “golden rice “is enriched with vitamin A which can be a good help in decreasing the blindness ratio. In our regular life people do have food allergies too so if foods that are modified can proven as help it can’t be said it’s totally bad. Even natures natural got it effects also. Example of milk is the best of daily use not all people can drink milk so it’s modified to lactose free now which is considered a benefit of GM food. In the end I would like to say that it depends how we think about it, but if GM food can do some benefit to mankind and there are some solution through it we should accept them nor being ignorant whether its temporary solution or not.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Problem-Posing Assignment"The decade of the child consumer"

"The decade of the child consumer" selling food to the youth in other words "Cradle to Grave" advertising strategy amongst the children was a good way of marketing  MacDonald by Ray Kroc. This strategy proved to be profitable for the company, and making mankind to fall for "Brand Loyalty." But on the consequence what humanity is suffering is now is worse death rate before age, high ratio of obesity are the least things to begin with. The idea to make profit for your own sake to others loss it's ethically wrong to begin with. It's not wise to play with weak minds and that's what this fast food chain started with. They planted a seed in kids mind, which weren't even develop. These marketing strategies are needed to be changed. Rather then deception they should be clear with everything. They should not only show calorie board on the store but on the television advertisement too, rather then showing all "natural" it has to be stated clear"processed", because no food served is natural anymore it's been going through different process of mixing with chemicals. Hope so little steps like these would create alertness in making difference for upcoming generation.

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Descriptive writing #2

I opened the store on Sunday 11 am  and i didn't had the time to do  break fast (FYI i am manager in Pizza Hut). On my way to work my stomach was making weird sounds, i was thinking going to Macdonald but then they their breakfast hours are till 11 am and i would be late so i didn't take my chances. I don`t know for some reason i was craving for Angus Deluxe.That burger is mouth watering,the thick black angus meat pattie with combination of mayo, ketchup ,pickle,onion, lettuce all together inside the soft sesame bun is delicious. The whole time while working i also thought just to make a pizza and get over my hunger but that didn't happen due to football games it was so busy, didn't got the time to eat, plus thensmell of wings street oil and grease and the smell os pizzas killed my appetite  My shift finally ended at 6 pm and i was going back home suddenly my sister called for coffee from Macdonald"half and half" thats what she request....so i went to Macdonald but didn't had the intention of eating anything, but there it was on the big menu displayed Angus Deluxe and wasting no time more when the cashier said "next, how may i help you?"  my answer was simple "medium coffee half and half and an Angus Deluxe please to go." And while walking home i couldn't wait no more so i took my burger out and on the first bite it came to my mind Macdonald's motto "i am loving it" but in my case "i was missing it" ;)

Monday, September 27, 2010

descriptive writing :) "I am Loving it". ;)

I opened the store on Sunday 11 am  and i didn't had the time to do  break fast (FYI i am manager in Pizza Hut). On my way to work i was thinking going to Macdonald but then they their breakfast hours are till 11 am and i would be late so i didn't take my chances. I don`t know for some reason i was craving for Angus Deluxe. The whole time while working i also thought just to make a pizza and get over my hunger but that didn't happen due to football games it was so busy, didn't got the time to eat. My shift finally ended at 6 pm and i was going back home suddenly my sister called for coffee from Macdonald"half and half" thats what she request....so i went to Macdonald but didn't had the intention of eating anything, but there it was on the big menu displayed Angus Deluxe and wasting no time more when the cashier said "next, how may i help you?"  my answer was simple "medium coffee half and half and an Angus Deluxe please to go." And while walking home i couldn't wait no more so i took my burger out and on the first bite it came to my mind Macdonald's motto "i am loving it" but in my case "i was missing it" ;)

Monday, September 20, 2010

Biphenol -A or BPA

Works Cited
"Bisphenol A (BPA)." U S Food and Drug Administration Home Page. Web. 20 Sept. 2010. <http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/publichealthfocus/ucm064437.htm>.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical that has been present in many hard plastic bottles and metal-based food and beverage cans since the 1960s.
Studies employing standardized toxicity tests have thus far supported the safety of current low levels of human exposure to BPA.  However, on the basis of results from recent studies using novel approaches to test for subtle effects, both the National Toxicology Program at the National Institutes of Health and FDA have some concern about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and young children.  In cooperation with the National Toxicology Program, FDA’s National Center for Toxicological Research is carrying out in-depth studies to answer key questions and clarify uncertainties about the risks of BPA.
In the interim:
    •    FDA is taking reasonable steps to reduce human exposure to BPA in the food supply.  These steps include:
    ◦    supporting the industry’s actions to stop producing BPA-containing baby bottles and infant feeding cups for the U.S. market;
    ◦    facilitating the development of alternatives to BPA for the linings of infant formula cans; and
    ◦    supporting efforts to replace BPA or minimize BPA levels in other food can linings.
    •    FDA is supporting a shift to a more robust regulatory framework for oversight of BPA.
    •    FDA is seeking further public comment and external input on the science surrounding BPA.
FDA is also supporting recommendations from the Department of Health and Human Services for infant feeding and food preparation to reduce exposure to BPA.
FDA is not recommending that families change the use of infant formula or foods, as the benefit of a stable source of good nutrition outweighs the potential risk from BPA exposure.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Welcome to My Blog

Hello Everyone,
                          My name is Shahbaz Khan and welcome to my blog. I am a student in Laguardia Community College and the purpose of creating this blog is due to my course "The Ethics of Food."
I live by my own and i don`t know how to cook properly, but i do know how to make egg, noodles and a bit of recipe i learned, but not a very  good cook ;) still good enough for me.
    
As i don`t cook that much at home i usually eat outside, but in my freezer you will always find egg, gallon of milk, bread, butter, mayo and of course jam :D. I mostly buy noodles,canned food and fruits depending on my mood. I love to eat and i don`t have trouble eating anything BUT staying in the limit of my religion, as i am a Muslim :).

             Since my childhood i love eating pizza and luckily i am working for pizza hut, and now i make my own way of pizza for me ;) . My specialty pizza for my family only is "tuna fish pizza" and my so named"ultimate egg pizza". I am working as a manager, so i know quite some information about the ingredient of food or  the source the food is coming from, which is a big help if anyone interested in knowing about it. 
                       
    Rather then  pizza i do love to  eat indian curry food as i am from Pakistan, spicy food attracts me alot.