Comments on: Food For Thought

Andy Ponders Eating Spinach, Horsemeat And Vegetarianism

[seakestrel]

Dear Mr. Rooney,
I would not be at all surprised to see you state in your next commentary that your inbox was full to overflowing regarding your recent reflections during your story "Food For Thought".

Your statements regarding vegetarians and the change of heart you experienced during your episodes in the field during WWII and witnessing rabbits and horses being killed, reflects the views of the many vegetarians and a growing number of citizens and their felt beliefs. No meal is worth the immense suffering, exploitation and absolute misery billions of animals have to endure every year for our ever increasing and careless population.

I thank you for courageously acknowledging your true feelings and hope that it won't take the next 50 years as mentioned for a "full conversion."

Seeing how Oprah Winfrey was so severely criticized and subsequently intimidated then silenced by the powerful meat industry, your commentary carries that much more significance.

Thank-you again.

Kindest Regards,
Michele J. Nash

[joyatri]

Thank you, Andy, for asking people to think about where their dinner comes from. Not only are horses friendly, but so are cows, pigs, chickens, sheep and all the other animals considered "food." Visit a farm sanctuary and you%u2019ll see that these animals are thinking, feeling beings with personalities.

Each year, over 10 billion land animals are killed to satisfy human taste buds. And worse than that, these creatures are treated as commodities, forced to suffer in deplorable conditions for their entire lives. Going vegetarian (or, even better, vegan) is the only ethical choice for compassionate humans.

Vegetarians, like myself, are only considered nuts by those who choose what to eat based on habit and tradition. As you state, as more people actually give some thought to what they are eating and how it got on their plates, vegetarianism will become the norm.

[maggie60-2009]

Thank you for saying you wouldn't eat a horse. Over 100,000 horses will be slaughtered this year for foreign markets, mostly Europe and Japan. The slaughter is very inhumane. Horses are given medications and vaccinations that could cause cancer in humans. In a few years, people in Europe and Japan could be dying of cancer. The slaughter houses are foreign-owned and ignore American laws, paying almost no taxes ($5.00 last year in Kaufman, Texas). I wouldn't eat my horse or my dog. Those who do will answer to God someday after they die of cancer. Thanks again, I knew I liked you for a reason.
Maggie60

[garthree]

Andy,
This whole ecoli situation has been very bad for everyone. I am sad for the loss of at least one life as the result of another situation out of Salinas, Ca.
I am also sad for loss of my business after over 50 years. We are processors of fresh produce here in Miami, Florida. My number one item is Savoy Spinach for cooking. It comes from Colorado and Texas year round. WE HAVE NEVER HAD ONE RECALL ON ANY OF OUR ITEMS!
Because of the FDA's blanket "do not eat bagged spinach" every consumer is scared to eat any spinach. I failed in my efforts to get in touch with Commissioner Bronson from Florida. He never returned my emails. I also never got a response from Dr.David Acheson the chief medical officer for the FDA.When this new's first hit.
I will always take pride in how we process our products and how we treat the consumer. It's truly sad that companies like mine have to suffer as a result of what happens out West. I value your response...
Andrew Garcia III
Ruskin Packaging, Inc.
Miami, Fl 33127
305-773-3358

[meaganb-2009]

Until recently, nearly 100,000 horses were slaughtered every year in America and sold to foreign countries. On Spetember 7th, the U.S House passed the Permanent Horse Slaughter Ban.

Clearly, humans have created a hierarchy of animals, deeming some food and some friend.

I believe that eventually we'll realize that msny Americans can afford to eat a healthy and vegetarian diet and move away from killing helpless animals.

[mastersgwtx]

I'm one of the ones who finds eating a horse repulsive too Andy. Some cultures find eating dogs tasty, but I can't fanthom that either.

[jylc]

Andy,

I make the best brussel sprouts in the world and carrots. I will come to your house to cook for you or you can come here in the wonderful Poconos! If a 14 year old will eat them, you will, you big sissy! You reported during WWII; that's impressive and scary; ergo, you can eat a brussel sprout or a carrot. Get over yourself and have someone tweeze your eyebrows.

JYL

East stroudsburg, PA

[amy003-2009]

It's about time someone commented on vegetarism, albeit indirectly, and tactfully done I must say, so not to have the cattle ranchers association after you. I'm not partial to pets and yet to all you hypocrites out there I am more of an animal lover than most - I have been a vegan for 26 years and counting, and for some reason have needed to defend this for half of my life. Thanks Andy for making it a little easier to be vegetarian!

[marangela]

17,000 farmers? whhhhaaaat???