Whatever Happened to Old Mac Donald’s Farm…Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation, Factory Farming and the Safety of the Nation’s Food Supply

Abstract

Today, livestock farming is a far stretch from the nostalgic notion of animals grazing in green pastures, roaming free in the fresh country air and returning at the end of the day to a cozy barn. Simply stated, livestock farming is a large scale business, where tens of thousands of animals are swiftly raised industrial-style for maximum profit. Under the “factory farm” model, large corporate owned operations grow quantities of animals for slaughter for human consumption as food. In fact, livestock farms now raise 40% of all animals in the United States.

Under continuing pressures from special interest groups, scientists, the American Medical Association and consumers, the FDA, USDA and CDC will continue to call on Congress to amend and improve the current laws governing the CAFO and its practices in order to protect the American public from foodborne illness. Moving forward the norm should entail increased corporate accountability and responsibility, stricter standards concerning antibiotic and hormone use and stricter food safety standards.

Keywords: food safety, CAFO, concentrated animal feeding operation, factory farming, food law, livestock

JEL Classification: K23, K32