It is true that hunting wild game is superior to eating farm-bred meat because wild animals are free of growth hormones and antibiotics. But if we all hunted our meat, I suspect that quite a big percentage of people would be repulsed. Can you imagine how many children would demand Mc Nuggets if they had to slay the chicken first? So actually I am totally supportive of this idea of procuring meat. Another thing you might consider is that meat is an entirely unnecessary protein source for humans, and has unhealthy properties beyond antibiotics and growth hormones.
Incidentally, are you following this story about the tainted deer meat that was served at a dinner? I was fascinated by it. I know I wouldn't eat deer!:
Health officials to wait and watch humans exposed to deer disease
Apr. 17, 2005
Provided by: Canadian Press
Written by: WILLIAM KATES
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) - After 350 people at a sportsman's dinner ate venison from sick deer, a scientist says now is the time to launch a study to determine if the fatal chronic wasting disease could spread to humans who ingest infected meat.
Chronic wasting disease - CWD - was detected earlier this month in two private captive deer herds in central New York's Oneida County, the first time it was found outside the Midwest or Rocky Mountains.
Scientists say they're still learning about CWD and can't say for sure if it could be transmitted to humans, but state and local health officials say they have no plans to study the people who ate the meat last month.
That's a missed opportunity, said an animal disease expert with the International Society for Infectious Diseases.
"Currently, the disease and the speculation surrounding the disease far out reaches any real science about the disease," said Tam Garland, a professor of veterinary medicine at Texas A&M University.
"New York has the opportunity to do an epidemiological study . . . Seldom are we presented with such an opportunity to study humans," Garland said.
One of the infected deer from Oneida County was served at an annual banquet March 13 at the Verona Fire Department.
The Oneida County Health Department made a list of those who attended the dinner and sent them letters to give them accurate information about CWD and reassure them it does not pose a health risk to humans, said Ken Fanelli, a department spokesman.
About 70 people called the county health department after getting the letter, Fanelli said.
"No one was particularly concerned or fearful," he said. "Most just wanted more information."
The venison was served in steak, chili, stew, sausage and meat patties, health officials said. No organs or bone product from the deer was served, the parts scientists test when looking for signs of CWD.
State health department spokesman Robert Kenny said although no medical studies are planned, the list prepared by the county health department will allow officials to quickly locate and contact the people if the need arises.
In 2004, scientists at the federal Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta issued a study on CWD that stressed the absence of any evidence linking it to humans. Authors, though, acknowledged the study was limited in geography and sample size and so it couldn't draw a conclusion about the risk to humans. They recommended more study.
Dr. Ermias Belay was the report's principal author but he said New York and Oneida County officials are following the proper course by not launching a study.
"There's really nothing to monitor presently. No one's sick," Belay said, noting the disease's incubation period in deer and elk is measured in years. "This was one carcass, one meal. It was an animal without symptoms. If it becomes an issue, if other studies suggest there is a risk, we have a list to go back to."
In New York, authorities have so far confirmed five infected captive deer. The state Department of Environmental Conservation is testing the wild deer population in Oneida and Hamilton counties to determine if the disease has spread beyond the two domestic herds. They are killing about 450 wild deer in central and northern New York to test for the disease.
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