The raids on small family farms, like the Hershbergers–in the name of inspections for food safety and the like –are totally ludicrous as we all know. They are big agri- business’ and government’s desire to control the food supply in support of our arcane industrial farming industry–where farmers can’t make a decent living except through joining the ranks of super sized, subsidized farms for our fast food nation.
Below is a poignant letter I received talking about just how ridiculous regulating small farms in the name of protecting people from “bacteria” really is–as if monitoring small farms for bacteria count in their milk is really a big problem…. In our germaphobic and immunity compromised population, real food from small family farms is our only hope for building people’s health and repairing our destroyed food supply.
I’d like to see the corresponding numbers as to the food that is ‘monitored’. We seem to have no rules of hygiene for the many foreigners and folks who decide to sell their own food in PUBLIC restaurants. The people who check these things out should have a sincere learning of bacteria and foods, with server’s finger nails, jewelry and facial hair. It’s disgusting. I would prefer buying milk or food from someone I know, someone who is not bamboozled by big corporations.
I have seen fast food restaurants where servers lean over the food and their dirty apron touches it; drinks and ice cream handed to you with hands that have dirt under the nails.
I was in a meat market where food dropped on the floor was picked up and packaged… by the manager! The workers and delivery people come in and walk all round the meat handlers…. their shoes have stood next to toilets, walked on the sidewalks and streets where people spit, and sometimes blow their nose, and where dogs pee. Those same shoes walk around the fresh meat tables, and the meat that has fallen to the floor gets every chance of being contaminated.. yet is put back with the rest of the meats.
Hand gels do not disinfect. Only hot water and soap can get near disinfecting. In Chicago, I saw water dripping through the ceiling tile onto the counter and it was ignored!! The clerk walked around the drip to hand me a sandwich… which I then refused. I was almost served by a man who decided to scratch himself beneath his belt and continue to handle fried chicken… right in Northbrook, IL.!!
Doesn’t ANYone take general science anymore?
I recently wrote an article about how Doctors and Nurses have long hair that constantly needs to be stroked back over the ears to keep it out of the eyes… and then handle a suture; a fresh cut. I abhor mustaches and beards around food or on Doctors. The hair is a magnet for the dangerous bacteria that drops out of a nose, or the saliva that lands on the beard. One nurse who chatted with me before a procedure was holding the needles, and tapping at the open cold-sore that was on her nostril. I actually watched the blood pressure on my monitor go up!
When I see a chef or cook wear rings and bracelets while they are sticking their hands in meats or salads, or stroking a smooth steak or raw salmon, I cringe. Where is the governing of our health here? On the other hand, you guys raid a small farm business for selling raw milk, robbing us of our choice of wholesome milk or shelved, stored contaminated milks and cheeses. Spend our tax money on things that really counts!! Let the small farms produce things that we can choose to use or not use. Stop forcing the consumer to buy things we know are unhealthy!
Judi Klinsky
For more information on building health and healing with nutrient-dense foods see Performance without Pain and our nee-book on healing acid reflux.
Best in health,
Kathryne Pirtle