McDonald's and Canadian Beef

[crazy_wheeler]

Latest e-mail going around and curious how many have received it so far and what everyone's thoughts are.

I'm sure those of you who aren't in the cattle business don't
understand
the issues here. But to those of us whose living depends on the
cattle
market, selling cattle, raising the best beef possible... This is
frustrating.

This will keep us from ever stopping there again, even for a drink.

The original message is from the Alberta Cattle Feeders Association

Canadian cattle producers are very passionate about this.

McDonald's claims that there is not enough beef in Canada to support
their restaurants. Well, we know that is not so. Our opinion is they
are
looking to save money at our expense. The sad thing of it is that the
people of Canada are the ones who made McDonald's successful in the
first place, but we are not good enough to provide beef.

We personally are no longer eating at McDonald's, which I am sure
does
not make an impact, but if we pass this around maybe there will be an
impact felt.

Please pass it on. Just to add a note:

All Canadians that sell cattle at a livestock auction barn have to
sign
a paper stating that we do NOT EVER feed our cattle any part of
another
animal. South Americans are not required to do this as of yet.

McDonald's has announced that they are going to start importing much
of
their beef from South America. The problem is that South Americans
aren't under the same regulations as Canadian beef producers, and the
regulations they have are loosely controlled.

They can spray numerous pesticides on their pastures that have been
banned here at home because of residues found in the beef. They can
also
use various hormones and growth regulators that we can't. The
Canadian
public needs to be aware of this problem and that they may be putting
themselves at risk from now on by eating at good old McDonald's.

Canadian ranchers raise the highest quality beef in the world and
this
is what Canadians deserve to eat. Not beef from countries where
quality
is loosely controlled. Therefore, I am proposing a boycott of
McDonald's
until they see the light.

I'm sorry but everything is not always about the bottom line, and
when
it comes to jeopardizing my family's health, that is where I draw the
line.

 

[tmix]

have family and friends in the cattle biz, and it seems harder and harder to make a living, i usually don't eat at rotten ronny's, so it will be easy to boycott them...

 

[ronkytonk]

Wouldn't eat it if I could...

 

[polarice]

yeah thats the reason why i stopped buying stuff from
m and m shops

a few years back with the bse going on i questioned them as to why the prices of the meat has not gone down like everyone elses has they replied they dont use canadian beef

dont miss there high priced stuff at all

 

[Can-Do]

M&M too hey...well if no M&M who else is there for for similar products thats canadian beef oriented?

 

[dirtball08]

Did not know about M&M. That's another place not getting my money anymore. I work too hard with my cattle to support businesses who don't support me! My 2 cents.

 

[tmix]

i didn't know about m & m, thanks!

 

[johndeereman346]

Raised on a farm and nothing beats good old alberta beef, went down to montanna ordered a steak and sent it back because it was awful and the manager told me it was the best grade A and i said it aint alberta.

 

[cat girl]

When BSE stuff was going on the prices everywhere were still the same in stores. I also asked the stores as we are producers ..pi$$ed me off. The beef quality at rotten ronnies is awful even when it is AB/Canadian beef. It is old bulls, cancer eyed old nags ect.

 

[papajake]

M&M meats is owned by a montreal company who claim to be a CANADIAN company so they can get ALBERTA money from the canadian government kinda like ski doo

 

[sumx54]

Thanks for the info crazy_wheeler. The best beef you can ever put in your freezer, hands down, is a local grown 4-H Steer. No chemicals and fed very well. 4-H clubs also Support the youth and encourage leadership skills.

 

[Shifty423]

well no more Mc Dicks for this house M&M may b a little tougher to cut out!

 

[polarice]

Thanks for the info crazy_wheeler. The best beef you can ever put in your freezer, hands down, is a local grown 4-H Steer. No chemicals and fed very well. 4-H clubs also Support the youth and encourage leadership skills.

have to agree with that the cost is a bit more tho BUT i would sooner pay more and have the kids make the money instead of safeway

and you know for sure that the animal hasnt been fed any crap feed

might have to go take a steak out for supper now

 

[Bruteskeg]

After reading this ill make sure to avoid mc d's ill tell everyone i know there food tasts like chit anyways.... allways gives me gass, it too bad though in these poor economic times beef farmers just keep getting hit with more and more..... makes me wounder how the hell we are supose to pull out of this resesion if big corporations keep doin stuff like this..

 

[Haggis]

Thanks for the info crazy_wheeler. The best beef you can ever put in your freezer, hands down, is a local grown 4-H Steer. No chemicals and fed very well. 4-H clubs also Support the youth and encourage leadership skills.

Not strictly true - could have had a good dose of antibiotics etc a 4H Steer does not mean it is organic beef by any means. However, not to stray from thread Canadian beef is alot safer than anything coming from South America.

 

[Bryan]

Hey everyone,

Do you know where MC D hamburgers are made??

I know, I would like to see who knows besides me.

 

[Bruteskeg]

i dont no dryed out cow pattys ??

 

[raceu4it]

speaking of alberta beef, i thought i read somewhere that if the cattle are finished off in alberta they were classified as alberta beef, even though they were trailered in from some other province prior to finishing?

 

[ZRrrr]

Hey everyone,

Do you know where MC D hamburgers are made??

I know, I would like to see who knows besides me.

There is a patty facility in Spruce Grove. My Dad did some work there. It's basically a blending and stamping facility if I remember correctly. Blend large amounts of fat with some beef and stamp out patties. They have a small cooking kitchen for quality control. In other words each patty has to cook down to a specific size, which is a function of the fat content. Doesn't that make you feel good...mmmm.

Where does Costco beef come from? usually seems to be of good quality. Our family will by organic beef from the local farmers markets when we go. Always try to keep it local. Buying a side for the freezer from a local supplier is always a great option for us too.

 

[joeboo73]

I buy my meat at a farmers market. Have been for many years, mostly buffalo