cross-posted at annoyedomnivore.wordpress.com
“House Republicans are at it again,” said Sierra Club director Michael Brune. “In their last act of the 113th Congress, polluter cronies are holding key, must-pass funding bills hostage in the hopes of extracting various and sundry poison pills to appease their fossil fuel and Big Ag patrons. These attacks range from attempts to gut protections that safeguard clean water, public land and wildlife to opening the floodgates for more dirty money in politics.” Thus we have an encapsulation of the budget bill recently passed, and while nobody wished to endure another government shutdown, it seems this budget was passed in haste with little opposition. It’s depressing and perhaps indicative of the fight that will follow. But in stumbling over the bad news of a Republican controlled Congress, a tiny bit of exciting and good news was revealed and demonstrates how determined individuals, using the tools of the marketplace, can thwart and perhaps redirect the mercenary intent of Big Ag.
I refer to the actions of the recently formed Urban School Food Alliance (USFA), a coalition of six of the largest school districts in the country. Formed during the 2012 School Nutrition Association’s annual convention, the USFA took action to safeguard the nutritional needs of many of our neediest children and to perhaps stop the meat industry from their reliance on antibiotics to control growth. Last week the USFA announced that they will only purchase antibiotic free chicken. As the federal government refuses to consider the elimination of the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics, despite recommendations of leading health and medical organizations, this is a big deal.
The USFA consists of New York City public schools, Los Angeles Unified School District, Chicago Public Schools, Dallas Independent School District, Miami-Dade County Public Schools and Orange County Public Schools in Orlando, Florida. Together these districts feed 3 million students daily, and have a budget of $550 million a year to spend on food and supplies. This purchasing power allows them to perhaps create an institutional market for antibiotic free chicken as well as replacing non-compostable trays and utensils with compostable items. “The standards we’re asking from the manufacturers go above and beyond the quality of the chicken we normally purchase at local supermarkets,” says Eric Goldstein, USFA’s chairman. And not only will they require a “no antibiotics ever” policy, they’ll also demand that chickens be raised humanely and fed an all vegetarian diet, which, by definition, means no more animal by-products in the feed, a common industrial practice.
Getting antibiotics out of our food is essential, and this move by the USFA goes a long way as a first step in encouraging the industry to change the way it raises animals for meat. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 2 million Americans suffer from an antibiotic resistant infection every year, with 23,000 people dying. British Prime Minister David Cameron recently sponsored a report estimating that so-called super bugs, if left unchecked, could result in 10 million deaths around the world annually, as well as costing $100 trillion in the global economy. The FDA currently relies on a failed voluntary restriction system by the industry to curb antibiotic use, so it would seem the only way to stop the overuse of antibiotics is to refuse to buy antibiotic treated meat.
And these are only the first steps planned by the USFA. With the help of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a law firm has been recruited to set up a nonprofit corporation for the alliance, and has contributed to discussions that will help the school districts decide what to buy next. Other school districts are also asking to join the alliance, making their economic impact on the industry that much greater. Mark Izeman of the NRDC, believes that “the alliance could be a template for sustainability efforts by other big food bureaucracies. What works for school districts, after all, should also work for institutions like hospitals and universities.”
We’re still talking chicken nuggets, here, and any steps taken by the USFA will not necessarily translate into changed eating habits for many Americans. But “short-term environmental and health benefits are not the only goals,” says Eric Goldstein. “Using recyclable plates or serving healthier chicken sets an example that students may carry into adulthood, and that other school systems may come to see as standard. It sounds corny, but we all believe in this.” At any rate, the actions of the USFA are a significant beginning in the education of the American public concerning their understanding of what Big Ag does to undermine our health and the health of our environment. Food is expensive, but by forcing large producers to treat their animals humanely and without the use of antibiotics, you can bet they’ll find other ways to contain costs and make a profit.
Nancy Reagan was right – you can just say no. Buy local.
Recipe of the Week
I almost always just sprinkle my green salads with extra virgin olive oil and red wine vinegar, which is fine, but sometimes I want a little more flavor, especially when using more hearty greens, like kale. This recipe will make about 1.5 cups. Easier to make if you have a food processor with a drip attachment, but you can do it by hand as well.
Parmesan and Dijon Salad Dressing
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1 tsp. dijon
2 cloves garlic, minced
a pinch of one or two of your favorite dried herbs
1 tbls. grated parmesan
a little fresh parsley, minced
salt and pepper to taste.
Mix all the ingredients but the oil in the food processor bowl. Pulse to mix, then pour the oil into the drip attachment. Taste for salt and pepper. If you must do it manually, put all the ingredients in a large bowl except the oil. Using a whisk, very slowly add the oil to the rest of the ingredients while constantly whisking. The rate at which the oil is added should be almost in drips. It takes a bit of patience, but emulsifies the dressing.