WHAT’S THE BEEF ABOUT? BLOG # 2237; FRI MAY 22,2020

THE COMEBACK:

WHO KNEW WHAT A LITTLE SH*T COULD DO?

YOUR MOTHER!

THE MESSAGE:

I received this email from a friend who was concerned with the situation regarding McDonalds fast food restaurants and Canadian beef. 

IT BEGINS:

THIS IS SUPPOSEDLY FROM LAKESIDE PACKERS XL MEATS WHO TOOK THE TIME TO WRITE THIS AND HE SIGNED THE STATEMENT INCLUDING HIS CONTACT INFO:

"I'm sure those of you who aren't in the cattle business don't understand the issues here. But to those of us whose living depends on the cattle market, selling cattle, raising the best beef possible...This is frustrating.

McDonald's claim there is not enough beef in Canada to support their restaurants. Well, we  at  ACFA (Alberta Cattle Feeders Association) know that is not so. Our opinion is they are looking to save money at our expense.

The sad thing of it is that the people of Canada are the ones who made McDonald’s successful in the first place, but we are not good enough to provide the beef.  We personally are no longer eating at McDonald's, which I am sure does not make an impact, but if we pass this around maybe there will be an informed impact felt.

All Canadians that sell cattle at a livestock auction barn have to sign a paper stating that we do NOT EVER feed our cattle any part of another animal... South Americans are not required to do this as of yet.

McDonald's has announced that they are going to start importing much of their beef from South America. The problem is that South Americans aren't under the same regulations as Canadian beef producers, and the regulations they have are loosely controlled. They can spray numerous pesticides on their pastures that have been banned here at home because of residues found in the beef. They can also use various hormones and growth regulators that we can't. 

The Canadian public needs to be aware of this problem and that they may be putting themselves at risk from now on by eating at McDonald's. 

Canadian ranchers raise the highest quality beef in the world and this is what Canadians deserve to eat. Not beef from countries where quality is loosely controlled. Therefore, I am proposing a boycott of McDonald's until they see the light. For me, everything is not always about the bottom line when it comes to jeopardizing my family's health, that is where I draw the line." 

Larry Latam

HOLD ON LARRY!

The Alberta Cattle Feeders' Association (ACFA) is working hard to provide  members and  public with the most factual and timely information possible. We must, once again, reiterate that this post (SEE ABOVE) making it's way around social media again is in NO way connected to, or supported by ACFA.

TONY TODAY:

TORONTO, ON – From time to time, we receive questions via email and social media about McDonald’s Canada’s beef purchasing practices.  This stems from a viral email which contains information that is completely false and is a hoax. McDonald’s Canada sources 100% Canadian beef from farms and ranches across the country for our hamburger patties.  All our hamburger patties are made with 100% Canadian beef and have been since 2003.  We use no additives or fillers, either – just a pinch of salt and pepper after the patty is cooked. The first email, questioning beef sourcing, originally surfaced in the U.S. in 2002 – at that time referencing the Texas Cattle Feeders Association – and it resurfaced again in 2005, 2007, 2008 and again this year. McDonald’s representatives in the U.S. spoke with the Texas Cattle Feeders Association and they denied any association with the email.  In 2009 and again in 2015, a Canadian version emerged that’s practically identical to the one that originated in the U.S. (Larry Latam’s email). This email is a hoax. McDonald’s Canada remains one of the largest purchasers of Canadian beef, and continues to be a proud supporter of the Canadian beef industry.

HOWEVER:

McDonald’s Corp.’s Canadian restaurants will begin sourcing beef from outside the country due to supply chain issues amid the coronavirus pandemic, the fast-food chain said recently

The burger chain said sourcing imported beef was an interim measure following processing capacity limitations at its suppliers.

McDonald’s cited the temporary closure of Cargill’s High River, Alta. facility and said it was working with the meat processor and other global suppliers to meet demand.

“Until Canada’s beef supply stabilizes, we will source as much Canadian beef as we can and then supplement with imported beef,” the company said.

FACTS FROM THE CFIA:

Specific requirements for imported meat products:

Edible meat products may be imported into Canada by a licence holder only if:

• the country where the meat product was manufactured, prepared, stored, packaged or labelled has an inspection system, in relation to meat products, that is recognized by the CFIA as providing at least the same level of protection as that of Canada
• the country from where the meat product is imported has an inspection system for meat products that is recognized by the CFIA as providing at least the same level of protection as that of Canada
• the establishment where the food animal from which the meat product is derived was slaughtered, and any establishment where the meat product was manufactured, processed, treated, preserved, handled, tested, graded, coded, stored, packaged or labelled, has a system for the mentioned activities that is recognized by the CFIA as providing at least the same level of protection as that of Canada, and
• the importer provides the CFIA with an Official Meat Inspection Certificate (OMIC) issued by the foreign country that states that the meat product meets the requirements that are set out in applicable Canadian laws and regulations
• the meat product meets the prescribed standard for imported meat as described in Standards of identity and grades for meat products.

THE MUSIC:

ALBERTA BOUND GORDON LIGHTFOOT










THE QUESTION:

Are protests selfish, beneficial to the general public or both?











THE LEMON:

AWARDED TO: XL Foods Inc., which operated a meat-packing plant in southern Alberta during a tainted beef recall in 2012. The facility in Brooks, Alta., has since been sold.

























THE QUOTE:

"Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change." Stephen Hawking












THE CLIP: