McCruelty is out

Pork and pork products are big business in this country.  We love our pork bbq, ribs, roasts and chops.  Many people get excited when McDonalds brings back the McRib sandwich about once a year now.  I don't know any of those people but if McDonalds' ads say it is so, then it must be.

I happened to turn on CNN today to see what new horror is going on in the world.  To my surprise, Kat Kinsman, Managing Editor of Eatocracy.com which is part of CNN, was talking about McDonald's letting people know that it is trying to buy their pork from suppliers who no longer use gestation stalls.  What is a gestation stall ?  Ms. Kinsman described it as a metal stall two feet wide by seven feet long.  She e it to a first class seat on an airliner.  It has some room but not really enough for the animal to turn around.I doubt the pig feels in first class.

I remember when we all learned that veal came from young cattle that were abused.  I just refreshed my memory of what people found to be horribly unacceptable conditions these animals had to endure before they were slaughtered.  The treatment of animals to make veal were considered "worse than death" according an article I just read.  I don't know what the conditions are now but I still can't eat veal.

It is commendable that McDonalds is trying to give some thought to the treatment of animals used in their foods.  According to Kat Kinsman, it will take 10-15 years for the gestation cages to be replaced.  Farmers are being allowed to let these cages run their useful life before being replaced with more humane cages.

I don't think that any animals should be treated cruelly but the ones that make it into our kitchens and restaurants are killed for our food.  That in and of itself is pretty cruel.  I understand how many people feel about the caged animals but I wonder if a part of that is out of guilt that we eat animals for food.  I can also see that this might help people decide to become vegans.

So, it appears that McDonalds is trying to be more cognizant of where their meat products come from and how they are treated.  For this I applaud them but I am still not eating a McRib sandwich.

Michael Kaynard is a local photographer living in West Ashley.  His photos can be seen at httm://kaynardphotography.webs.com.  He can be reached at mkaynard@gmail.com or 843-412-2299.