What you Should Know About Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO’s)

When you are at the grocery store, OR perhaps when you are scouring your grocery ad for deals on meat, do you ever notice how LOW in price some of the chicken is?

Over the last year or two, we have seen Chicken as low as $.47 lb.. sometimes even less. But instead of getting excited and throwing it on your list (or, in your cart!) think twice… 

Do you know where that chicken comes from? WHY is it so cheap? 

It’s definitely not Organic ~ but why would you want to pay $6.99 per lb for organic chicken when you can buy chicken for $.47 per lb (or less?) Is it TRULY that important? How about those Rotisserie Chickens at Costco – do you ever pass those up in favor of a healthier choice?

I don’t think too many do, but I know there are a few who really do think long and hard about the meat that they purchase. It’s not easy to pass up a nice Rotisserie that can give you meat for several meals, especially when you are on a budget.

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations

Over 90% of farmed animals in the U.S. right now that are raised for food are raised in CAFO’s – in fact, over 80% of the antibiotics used in the U.S. are used for agriculture (src).

But what IS a CAFO?  From Wikipedia:

In the terminology of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) is an animal feeding operation (AFO) that (a) confines animals for more than 45 days during a growing season, (b) in an area that does not produce vegetation, and (c) meets certain size thresholds. 

CAFOs are heavily dependent on antibiotics, which allow serve several purposes in the animal agriculture industry. They allow animals to grow faster and bigger because animals do not have to expend energy fighting off illnesses.^[31]

The food you see so cheaply priced in store – from eggs to dairy, beef, poultry and even pork… are all well packaged … in the meat case. They are advertised on the front of the weekly ad as a loss leader in some cases – a mover that will get your foot traffic in store, so you can buy inexpensive meat, and make up their loss on the meat by purchasing other items along with your grocery trip.

A CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation) is a concentrated operation, that is controlled by climate,  and is the cheapest way to raise meat for profit. Food production allows CAFO’s to produce MORE for less, through low profit-margin production, processing and distribution.  Our government subsidizes these operations, which often involve large feedlots of animals crammed into smaller spaces.

Chances are, if you are looking farther than your pocketbook, you might be slightly concerned with buying meat in store. Although not everyone is, some of you out there are.. and that’s understandable.  We’re all about saving money too, but not at the expense of our health I guess you could say.

But in the end, sometimes that “natural” beef you find marked as such in the supermarket isn’t really as natural as you think it is

CAFO’s and Antibiotics

ALL of these CAFO’s have one thing in common: extreme use of Antibiotics. Over 25 million pounds of antibiotics are given to livestock in the U.S. each year (src) – not only are they used for treating disease (after all, these animals are raised in SMALL spaces which heightens the risk for disease), they are ALSO given to help the animals grow bigger, faster.

The effects of these antibiotics on YOU are huge:  they transfer to you when you enjoy the meat.  In addition, they also create resistance (src) – Dr. Arjun Srinivasan, associate director at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in an interview:

The more you use an antibiotic, the more you expose a bacteria to an antibiotic, the greater the likelihood that resistance to that antibiotic is going to develop. So the more antibiotics we put into people, we put into the environment, we put into livestock, the more opportunities we create for these bacteria to become resistant.”

Drug resistant bacteria creates antibiotic resistant illness – and in most cases, it is linked to food. Though in MOST cases it might just indeed be the result of eating meat, eggs or dairy that is part of a CAFO operation.

So why Avoid CAFO Meat?

There are several reasons why you should think twice about this meat before throwing it in your cart (or, on your list)…

The use of Antibiotic Drugs leads to antibiotic resistant disease (src) — the more antibiotics that are used the more these bacteria become resistant. Not only that, the bacteria often share genes that make them resistant – which means that the the drug-resistant bacteria can pass on to the other bacteria in your body enhancing the chances for you to become sick.

Antibiotics affect your gut bacteria – which is essential for you to be healthy.  That in turn affects your brain (and your nervous system, which is embedded in the wall of your gut). That nervous system in your gut sends your brain information constantly – ie. your mood (based on what you eat)

Antibiotics can affect your mental health – since your nervous system is embedded in your gut, your gut health can ultimately have a profound affect on your brain (mental health). GOOD bacteria (not bad) plays a huge role in your emotions and regulation of your body’s functioning. But if you are ingesting bad bacteria, then your gut  may be largely affected.

MOST CAFO Animals are fed GMO Corn and Soy – sure, Organic may cost more, but those animals are eating clean feed. But when profits are desired, and a quick turnaround of meat is the main goal so that profits can be made quickly, then feeding them quality food is not their goal.  Most CAFO animals are fed genetically engineered feed – mostly corn and soy. Both of which are heavily sprayed with herbicides like roundup (which has glyphosate). 

Glyphosate is patented as an antibiotic against several {beneficial} organisms. What Glyphosate does is kills the good gut bacteria – thus leading to digestive issues like leaky gut, gluten intolerance, diarrhea, and more. These diseases all have something in common:  They disrupt your good gut bacteria that keeps you healthy and your  immune system functioning.  Read more about Glyphosate & your gut health HERE.

Grocery Store Labels

Here are the Labels you might see the MOST often in your grocery store (src).

100% USDA Organic:  Antibiotics haven’t been used at any stage of the production of the meat.  The animals’ organic feed cannot contain animal by-products, antibiotics or genetically engineered grains and cannot be grown using persistent pesticides or chemical fertilizers.

Grass Fed:  Combined with 100% USDA Organic Label means that no antibiotics have been used. But if the Grass Fed Label has been appears alone, then antibiotics may have been used.

Antibiotic Free, No Antibiotic Residues or No Antibiotic Growth Promotants: Not approved by the FDA. Misleading.

Natural or All Natural: NO Meaning. Natural or All Natural can receive antibiotics, genetically engineered grains and can be raised in CAFO’s.

Companies Going Antibiotic Free

It’s great to see many companies going antibiotic free this past year or two – Subway has now gone antibiotic free with the sale of their chicken, and several major school districts have made a pledge to go that way too. Fast food establishments have also started to take notice – including Chipotle, Panera Bread and even Chick-fil-A. 

Right now Costco sells large numbers of Rotisserie chickens each year too – and they are working towards finding a supplier that is going to be able to avoid antibiotics – but it hasn’t happened yet.. and it will take TIME.

CAFO’s are Not Restricted to Meat

Concentrated operations ALSO affect your milk and eggs, too. 

Pasteurized Milk today comes from cows crammed in cages loaded with synthetic hormones and antibiotics.. (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations – CAFO’s).    

That pasteurization, which is “natural” to the FDA, destroys the chemical makeup and enzymes in milk, which are essential to providing health benefits:  the result essentially is that everything is now killed and dead.  Calcium is rendered to be less useful, because vitamin D and vitamin K, along with phosphorus, which are essential for absorption) are nonexistent. Ever wonder why people have problems drinking milk? It’s not so much the milk .. but what has been done TO the milk that’s disturbing.

Raw milk, on the other hand, is not pasteurized .. and is an excellent source of calcium, and other nutrients such as vitamins, enzymes, and bacteria, which are not destroyed because the milk is not heated. Read more about Raw Milk HERE – why it’s so valuable to your health and why the government is trying to persuade people NOT to drink it.

As for eggs, that’s an entirely different subject. And we have touched on that in the past ~ read our last post HERE for more information on eggs – why it’s worth spending more, what you need to know about YOUR eggs, where they come from and what they eat.

In the End

The ONLY way to prevail over this information above (CAFO’s and their involvement with your meat, eggs and dairy) is to eat healthy.

That can be easier said than done, sure ~ but it’s not impossible.  It takes a willingness to look beyond the grocery ads, and instead look for smaller family farms, who have the same mindset of quality, healthy products.

• Look for Organic, grass fed AND grass finished (both — there IS a difference) at your local farmers market, family farm, or co-op.
• Bypass processed milk that’s sold in grocery stores, and look for a farm that sells Raw, Organic Milk.  Even if you have traditionally been lactose intolerant, chances are you will be fine with Raw Milk, as it hasn’t been processed, and has the bacteria and enzymes required for your tummy to be able to digest (see more HERE).
• Opt for farm fresh eggs, from farms that feed with vegetarian (non-GMO) feed, and allow their chickens to roam on the pasture or land.

Making those changes may be a little more in cost initially, but you will learn how to cut back on the meat you eat, an incorporate more healthy vegetables (picking a CSA for your produce is a smart move too!)  In the end, you will find your health improve, and you will see noticeable changes in your family – as your immune system continues to strengthen.