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Friday, November 14, 2014

Antibiotic Disclosure by CFO & CFC

Chicken Farmers of Ontario ("CFO") and Chicken Farmers of Canada ("CFC") now have the data from quota-based farmers on their use of antibiotics in their chicken growing operations.  Will they disclose this information to the public?

In CFO's Fall Newsletter CFO explains that the quota-bearing chicken farmer must disclose their use of Class I to IV antibiotics in their chicken growing operation.  CFO states,
 "As of June 30th [2014], more than 150 surveys have been completed on Ontario farms"
That data can be quickly summarized so everybody can see the qualitative and quantitative scope of the antibiotic issues in Ontario.

If necessary, the data can be presented in an aggregated, anonymous form, protecting individual farmers from scorn or blowback from customers, neighbours, fellow farmers, or the public.  Until proven otherwise, I assume there is some extreme examples that will shock and upset most people.  Antibiotic and chemical use has been a "Wild Wild West" scenario for more than 60 years, so the naturally occurring diversity will astound most people.

This diversity is compounded by the right of any farmer to import almost any wild and crazy jungle juice, chemical, or additive under the "personal use" exemption.  I don't understand how growing food for an unsuspecting public can be classified as "personal use", but that seems to be what has been occurring.

While the data on Class I (critical & most important to human health) to Class IV (somewhat important to human health) antibiotics is available, CFO makes no mention of all the other secret sauces, chemicals, and potions that have been used in the past, and are likely still being used.

For example, organic arsenic, antihistamines, Prozac-like anti-depressants, caffeine, and Tylenol-like pain analgesics, and many other chemical and neutriceuticals have been fed to chickens in the US, and likely similarly in Canada for decades (see Blog posting Choose: Frankenstein Chicken, or Naturally Raised Chicken?).

Will CFO and CFC next find out and disclose what is being fed to these birds so we all know what's in our food?

How does CFO and CFC think a trusting relationship can be established (or continued) when one party refuses to disclose critical information to those most affected?

Based on what I have seen in the past, I doubt CFO or CFC will disclose anything until the are ordered to do so by the government.  Until the government acts, consumers will continue to slowly wake up, sense the abuse and untrustworthy actions of CFO and CFC, and consumers will seek out other suppliers who demonstrate their trustworthyness in a verifiable manner.

None of this will end well for the #ChickenMafia.

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