Factory Farms are not healthy for humans

Since human beings are growing more unhealthy due to factory farms and the factory farms are destroying the earth and environment, humans need to find a better way to grow and consume food.

Animals that are raised on factory farms, including pigs and chickens, are given antibiotics in their food so they don’t get sick since they are in such close quarters with other animals and living in unhealthy conditions. This is bad for humans because it makes antibiotics less helpful for us when we are sick. Since the microbials are exposed to so many antibiotics, they develop a resistance to it which makes them stronger and the antibiotics (like penicillin) 40% less effect Antibiotics

Since factory farms house more animals than traditional farms and people around the world want more meat than every before, there is more waste product. The waste product pollutes the air and water making it more difficult for people to get their needs met. “The waste produced by the animals cause air pollution and a stench that literally makes some people sick.” “The excess fertilizer washes into streams and rivers and pollutes water as well as kills fish.” Environment

Health issues The food that comes from factory farms are not healthy for human consumption and may be contaminated. “It causes obesity-related illnesses including diabetes, heart-illness, etc.” “ A series of recalls involving factory farmed foods this year-including an outbreak of salmonella from tainted peanuts that killed at least eight people and sickened 600--has consumers worried about their food.”

Oppostion: Cheaper Farmers can produce more meat for less Money if they use factory farms. “According to the USDA, Americans spend less than 10% of their incomes on food, down from 18% in 1966.” However, the medical costs in the long run outweigh the low costs of food. “Farmers are producing more calories--some 500 more per person per day since the 1970s--but too many are unhealthy calories which leads to diseases… At a time when the nation is close to a civil war over health-care reform, obesity adds $147 billion a year to our doctor bills.”

Opposition: Better for farmers Farmers earn more money if they can produce more food. “ According to Perdue, by 2007 it was processing 633 million chickens per year and had total sales of $4.1 billion.” However, local farmers are being driven out of business and losing money. Only large corporations are gaining a profit.

People should be concerned about this because global warming and obesity are happening now and if people don’t do something about it, like get rid of farming farmer, then the world could be destroyed and will be more unhealthy. On a more personal note, my mom has diabetes and it effects her life. The doctors have told her she needs to eat less processed foods and have a healthier diet. Her doctor bills are high, she is on medication, and her feet bother her. Factory farmed foods have contributed to this.

"Factory Farms." Issues & Controversies On File: n. pag. Issues & Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 31 Jan Web. 7 Jan < i > Henley, Jon. "'Welfare Doesn't Come Into It'." The Guardian (London, England) 06 Jan 2009: 6. SIRS Researcher. Web. 07 January Keiger, Dale. "Farmacology." Johns Hopkins Magazine (Vol. 61, No. 3) Jun 2009: n.p. SIRS Researcher. Web. 07 January 2010