Later I asked a veterinarian what he did for a critter with an advanced state of cancer eye. If you've followed some of the investigations shown on TV, then you know that the inspection system leaves much to be desired. And unless something has changed recently, when cancer is found in a carcass it is merely removed and the rest of the animal passed for food. Those who know something about the spread of cancer realize that the removal of a tumor doesn't necessarily remove all cancerous cells. The blood or lymphatic system already may have spread such cells to other parts of the body.
Farmers often add waste substances to livestock and poultry feed.
Chicken manure, which is cheaper than alfalfa, is used as feed by cattle farmers despite possible health risks to consumers. . . The first meat-inspection laws date back to 1906. Under those laws, which remain essentially unchanged, USDA inspectors worked inside private meat and poultry plants nationwide . . . Now, new inspections rules are being phased in by the year 2000 that for the first time require some scientific testing for bacteria at all meat and poultry processing plants . . . Even that will involve only samples taken once or twice a day from plants that can move tens of thousands of pounds of meat a day.