The real question with antibiotics and livestock

Happy Cows at BN Ranch

There are so many things in our country that if "We The People" knew, we would stand in protest, or that's what we would like to think. We continue to smoke, over 25million of us, even though we know and fully understand the potential outcome. And, that list goes on and on with our addictive and destructive habits. I'm by no means a saint or perfect, but when some things just slap you in the face when you become a little older and (hopefully) wiser you shift your priorities and values. Such is the case with me regarding antibiotics being abused for the raising of livestock. There are numerous reports and leading scientists that warn against the abuse of antibiotics even in humans and the reasons and possible outcomes are as scary as any sci-fi or horror movie you will ever see. But, a large majority of us seem to not be asking the right questions. We get caught up in the "he said she said" bullshit, or we make it a political game to dodge the issues. 

Or we just ignore it. Hell, that's so much easier!

Recently there was an article published in the National Agricultural Library where the USDA commissioned a report on the antibiotics used in the raising of livestock. Here is the link to the article in Mother Jones. Ironically the article just vanished last Friday once the watchdog groups got a hold of this powerful document. For me it's not about the occasional use of anything in particular it's the abuse and cover up and lack of transparency that concerns me greatly. So I ask you to ask yourself this question "if something goes against the natural order of things, is it worth the risk of continuing?" It's really that simple and apparently it is that simple to Sweden because 20 years ago they banned the "routine" use of antibiotics in raising livestock and European Union thought the same as well because they followed suite in 2006.Hat's off to Europe, well done.

Just to clarify I'm not saying we should never use antibiotics in raising livestock, but there is no reason to routinely add small doses of antibiotics their feed for no apparent reason other than the "if they get sick"excuse. Vote with your fork, educate yourself and understand where your food source comes from. Your life just might depend on it.

The photo above was taken at BN Ranch in Bolinas, CA. Where Nic & Bill NEVER use antibiotics and their cattle live free on hundreds of acres of land.

Hot Dogs & Conversation with Nicolette Hahn Niman

Recently I had the chance to attend Dinner & Conversation with Nicolette Hahn Niman hosted by Chef Michael Leviton at his restaurant Lumiere in Newton, MA.. One of the best things about the evening was the fact that it was a small intimate setting with approximately 18 of us including Chef and Nicolette.

We started the evening with a meet & greet. It was good to see Nic again, I have not seen her since our first meeting approximately 6 years ago at a dinner in San Francisco with my friend Merril Gilbert. At the meet & greet I met some incredibly fascinating people including Chef Michale Leviton the owner of Lumiere and who is deeply committed to supporting New England Farmers, growers and fisherman. Leviton is also the National Board Chair for the Chefs Collaborative and I can tell that Chef Michael is one incredibly passionate person.  I also had the pleasure to meet Elizabeth Fitzsimons, who is the the Outreach Coordinator for sustainable seafood programs at the New England Aquarium and Jeanette Limondjian from Barnes & Noble.

Jeanette and I hit it off from the moment we sat down to a family style dinner and what a fascinating lady.  Jeanette (I hope I get this correct) has the kick-ass job of reading galley proofs of young or not yet published writers and if she deems worthy helps get them published. Jeanette's friend was no other than Kenneth Kaplan MSW,M.Arch/H.P. (and I have no idea what all of those letters stand for but if you ask me they mean wicked smart dude.) Kenneth is the Co-Founder of MIT's Collaborative Initiatives and is currently working on projects such as NIRF (National Regional Food System), which is taking the findings from childhood obesity and puts them into action with a food system based on access, affordability & quality.

The Host gave us a very passionate opening bio about himself about his humble beginnings as a cook in San Francisco in the early 80's and how this hippy rancher stopped by one day with some of his humanly raised grass fed beef so Micheal decided to give it a try. Chef Michael then went on to tell about from the moment he first cut into that beef that this was not the normal everyday beef that he was use to cutting or cooking with and was hooked. From the excellent marbling to the superior flavor - it was a cut above most beef I've had. It just so happens that this ranched was no other than the Godfather of Naturally & Humanly raised beef Bill Niman. This sparked a friendship that goes way beyond just Farmer/Chef. 

Nicolette Hahn Niman then began to speak and I realized that this is one of those people that I cold sit and listen to all evening. Nicolette began with a quick overview of her career and what a career it has been so far.  She has been a lawyer for the National Wildlife Federation and worked with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr at his Water keeper Alliance .  Along the way she became Eco activist for both the planet and humanely raised cattle.  Nicole also writes regularly for the Huffington Post, The Atlantic and many others while also speaking around the country promoting her Book The Righteous Pork chop ~finding a life and good food beyond factory farming.  Nicolette is also "The Ethical Vegetarian Rancher" for BN Ranch in Bolinas, CA with her ranch hand Bill Niman.

Nicolette joked that the BN in the name of their ranch stood for Bill & Nic and how Bill jokingly reminds her that she is the Ranch Hand not the Rancher. Nicolette continued to educate us on the power of voting with your fork and how powerful it is to shop at the farmers market and how important it is to know the source of your food. 

Now on to the food: Hot dogs and chili.  Now, this might not sound like a meal created by a Chef like Michael, but this is no ordinary meat used in the making of these dishes. It's no other than... meat raised on BN Ranch.  The Hot Dogs may have been the best Hot Dogs I have ever eaten. In all serious, they were huge and plump with the best part being raised in a way that you can feel good about yourself afterwards. 

What and amazing night. I got to see an old friend,  met some new ones and talked about issues that are really important to all of us - Health, both ours and the planet!

Be Well, Eat Well and play hard!