Massive Cargill Turkey Recall Another Reason to Become a Vegetarian

COMMENTARY | In what is being called one of the largest meat recalls in U.S. history, according to CBS News and The Associated Press, more than 36 millions pounds of fresh and frozen turkey that was produced at Cargill's Springdale, Ark., plant has been recalled after a California man died and at least 79 people have become ill, with 22 having to be hospitalized.

Health authorities said the meat may be contaminated with salmonella, and Cargill has halted all production at the plant until the source of the contamination is found.

Steve Willardsen, president of Cargill's turkey processing business, said, "It is regrettable that people may have become ill from eating one of our ground turkey products. And for anyone who did, we are truly sorry."

Sorry may not be good enough for all of the people who have become ill. Salmonella can cause diarrhea, vomiting and painful abdominal cramps, and it can be fatal with people who have compromised immune symptoms and in infants as well as the elderly.

The particular strain of salmonella that has reportedly tainted the turkey meat is called Salmonella Heidelberg, according to the Los Angeles Times. This strain is resistant to commonly prescribed antibiotics and is difficult to treat.

The illness has struck people in 26 states, and has been occurring since March, with most incidents in May and early June.

Fatalities and illness, and subsequent meat recalls, also seem to be commonplace. In 2010, more than 27 million pounds of meat and poultry were recalled. In the Louisiana outbreak, there were two fatalities and 14 people who had to be hospitalized.

In 2009, over a half million pounds of ground beef were recalled after two deaths and 28 serious illnesses occurred when Fairbanks Farms products were connected to an E.coli outbreak.

I don't know about you, but nowadays meat makes me a little nervous. Who knows when that next burger you bite into might end up becoming a painful, torturous, never-ending trip to the bathroom?

If you need more reasons to stop eating meat other than the possibility of food poisoning, consider some of these:

* You'll avoid cancer-causing chemicals. 95 percent of pesticide residue in our diet comes from meat, fish and dairy products. A typical beef/pork hot dog contains seven cancer-causing pesticides. You'll also avoid the hormones that are injected into the animals that are known to cause breast cancer.

* You'll live longer. Numerous studies have shown that vegetarians live an average of 7 years longer than non-vegetarians.

* You'll look and feel better and have a much better chance to maintain or achieve your ideal weight. You're also less likely to suffer from heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

* You'll save money. By following a vegetarian diet, you might save as much as $4,000 a year.

There are dozens of reasons for becoming a vegetarian: Keeping the money out of the back pockets of the executives who offer apologies for feeding us poisoned meat is just icing on the cake.