The Bloody Truth About America’s Food Supply Chain
It’s 0234 as I begin to write. I couldn’t sleep because of the headline news of Tyson Food warning that “millions of pounds of meat” will disappear from the supply chain because of the coronavirus. In a full-page ad which appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Board Chairman John Tyson wrote to tell America that “the food supply chain is breaking.” He continued by saying how the farmers who raise the animals will have nowhere to sell their livestock and “millions of animals — chickens, pigs and cattle — will be depopulated because of the closure of our processing facilities.” Tyson, along with several other large meat processing plants across the nation had to close due to COVID-19. These slaughterhouses were forced to close after thousands of employees tested positive for the virus. In an article from April 16th from Business Insider it was found that at least five Tyson workers across two states have died from COVID-19.
Pork slaughterhouses have been hit especially hard, when three of the largest facilities had to shut down indefinitely due to COVID-19 illnesses among employees. This includes two Smithfield plants and JBS pork processing. Smithfield CEO Kenneth Sullivan made a statement after closing a major pork plant on Sunday, “The closure of this facility, combined with a growing list of other protein plants that have shuttered across our industry, is pushing our country perilously close to the edge in terms of our meat supply.”
Health experts are asking the World Health Organization to permanently close the live animal markets, known as Wet Markets, around the world. It is believed that the novel coronavirus originated from a wet market in Wuhan China. These markets are a breeding ground for disaster, with live animals being slaughtered on site, blood and feces all over the place. U.S. top expert on infectious disease, Dr. Anthony Fauci a leader of the White House’s coronavirus task force, among others have called for a global shut down of wet markets. Animals at these markets are often kept in unhygienic conditions — and with wet markets putting people in close proximity with internationally-traded animals, animal waste, and animal slaughter, bacteria and viruses can easily spread.
What, I ask, is really the difference between wet markets and animal slaughterhouses? Here’s a video “Glass Walls” to watch hosted by Paul McCartney. It’s reality. All that meat, pork, and chicken at the supermarkets were once a live, breathing, feeling being. Some slaughterhouses use methods referred to as “humane slaughter.” The bottom line is that the animals are violently killed, and the success of that depends on the skill of the person operating the machinery. The animals suffer, experience pain, and no one is going to tell me anything different. There’s a documentary H.O.P.E. What You Eat Matters which discusses the many diseases caused by animal consumption. They also talk about the human-animal relation. People enjoy their pets and love them like a family member, yet chose to turn their head the other way to farm animals who have feelings, needs, and can think just like a household pet.
That’s part of the reason I’m writing this article. But there’s another aspect, that of over 3 million individuals affected by COVID-19 and over 211,000 deaths worldwide. A vast majority of those who succumbed to the virus had underlying health issues. Diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and inflammatory diseases are the conditions, most notably diabetes. Diabetes isn’t caused by carbohydrates and sugar as has been believed. Dr. Neal Barnard has shown in a 2003 study funded by the National Institute of Health, “ that eating a diet high in fatty foods can cause fat particles to build up inside our cells. These fat particles interfere with insulin’s ability to move sugar out from our bloodstream and into our cells. Instead of powering our cells, the glucose remains in our bloodstream, eventually leading to diabetes. A plant-based diet is low in fat, which allows insulin to function properly.” I know this to be true as I’ve reversed my own type 2 diabetes following his program, lost over 70 pounds, and got rid of high blood pressure.
Other major diseases that plague us — including cancer, heart disease, arthritis, depression, and Alzheimer’s — have been linked to chronic inflammation. Meat consumption, both processed meats and red meat are linked to inflammation.
There is a vast amount of research-backed evidence that a plant-based diet can prevent, treat, and even reverse most chronic diseases by fighting inflammation. Considering that animal protein is linked to those underlying health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, obesity, cancer and more, I ask you this: is it really bad news that the meat supply chain is in danger? It sure is bad news for those receiving the financial gains from the slaughter of animals, but it’s good for humans and our planet to not consume meat. Both representatives from Tyson and Smithfield made their statements as if we are all in serious jeopardy if meat is not available for consumption. The reality is that we are in jeopardy from consuming meat, which can lead to those underlying health conditions. If all the slaughterhouses were shut down, not only would people get healthier, the earth would greatly benefit as well.
Humans do not need animal protein to survive. In an article from Livekindly, “Vegan climate activist Greta Thunberg has said that meat, dairy, and eggs are “stealing” her generation’s future. Livestock production is one of the greatest drivers of climate change.”
Now is the perfect time to take control of your health and the planet you live on. The grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables are all you need to achieve your best health ever. We are NOT in jeopardy if the meat/pork/chicken supply ends for good. Instead, you are in jeopardy to continue eating animal protein, as well as our earth.
A moment in history when the time to start getting healthy has never been more critical. What you put on your plate is the big determining factor of your state of health. Don’t wait another moment. Get started today. I can help you begin your own journey to your best health ever. Let’s talk. www.yourwfpblife.com
LEARN MORE ABOUT A FOOD REVOLUTION
APRIL 28, 2020
