Upton Sinclair, we need you now. In 1906, Upton Sinclair wrote a novel that hit America in its stomach. The shocking pictures he painted with his words revealed the conditions of the countries meat packing plants. He described how the dead rats were tossed into the sausage grinding machine, how filth and guts were packaged as “potted meat”. How the inspectors were bribed to look the other way as diseased cows were slaughtered for beef. His images had the public clamoring for reform. President Theodore Roosevelt, sickened by what he read, ordered an investigation. His commission confirmed all of Sinclair’s charges, except for the one about a man falling into a vat and being turned into lard. As the result of Sinclair’s book, Roosevelt established the Food and Drug Administration. Congress passed two acts to reform the industry. The first, The Pure Food and Drug Act banned the selling of fake drugs and impure foods. The second, The Meat Inspection Act, set up the program of federal meat inspections.

Today, once again there is a question about the safety of out meat. One company, Creekstone Farms Premium Beef, would like us to know that the meat they sell us is safe. They would like to test all the meat they slaughter for bovine spongiform encephalpathy (BSE), more commonly known as mad cow disease. When humans become infected from mad cow disease, there is a ten-year incubation period before the deadly nerve disorder begins to affect your brain. In order for Creekstone Farms to test their beef, they need certification from the federal government. The government has refused their license request. Agricultural Department spokesman, Ed Loyd said, “There isn’t any nation in the world that requires 100 percent testing”. Larger companies are worried that if Creekstone Farms begins testing all meat, consumers might be scared away from eating untested beef. Currently the United States only tests around one percent of the thirty five million heads of cattle slaughtered each year. Creekstone Farm’s has announced that it will sue for the right to test all of its beef. John Stewart, the chief executive for Creekstone Farms said his customers have requested it over and over again. “We feel strongly that if our customers are asking for tested beef, we should be allowed to provide that.”

We need an Upton Sinclair to stir the public sentiments. To create a public outcry over the fact that, the government would prevent a private company from voluntarily testing meat to reassure us we are safe; to put our safety ahead of the profit interests of big business. Where are you Upton Sinclair when we need you?