Gristle: from Factory Farms to Food Safety

by Moby (Editor), Miyun Park (Editor)

GRISTLE FROM FACTORY FARMS TO FOOD SAFETY (Thinking Twice About The Meat We Eat) THINK TWICE! An information-packed, lively, and informative little guide, Gristle is for the growing number of people - from meat-eaters to vegetarians - who are thinking twice about the perils of our system of animal processing and factory farms. Multiplatinum musician Moby and leading food policy activist and expert Miyun Park have brought together ten of the country's leading voices on this issue - including foodies, policy makers, food business leaders, and food activists - who together eloquently lay out how and why the overconsumption of industrially produced meat unnecessarily harms agricultural workers, communities, the environment, and human health, as well as animals. Combining hard-hitting facts with a light touch - and with fascinating charts and illustrations depicting the stark realities of America's industrial food system - Gristle is the first stop for everyone who wants to make informed choices about the food they consume.

Genres: Nonfiction, Food, Animals, Vegan, Activism, Essays, Health

140 pages, Paperback

First published March 16, 2010

About the author

Richard Melville Hall, better known by his stage name Moby, is an American DJ, singer-songwriter, and musician.

He sings and plays keyboard, guitar, bass guitar and drums. Moby became a successful artist on the ambient electronica scene, and achieved eight top 40 singles in the UK during the 1990s. In 1999 he released the album Play, a mix of melancholic chill-out, ambient music, and upbeat electronica, that was critically acclaimed and produced an impressive eight hit singles (including his most popular songs "Porcelain", "Natural Blues" and "Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?"). Play became a commercial and cultural phenomenon, selling over 10 million copies worldwide (the best-selling electronica album ever) and with its eighteen songs receiving an unprecedented licensing in films, television and commercial advertisements.

His follow-up album, 18 (2002) was also successful, receiving positive to mixed response. His next offer, the mostly upbeat Hotel (2005) received lukewarm reviews and poor sales in general. Moby released his most recent albums, Last Night (2008) and Wait for Me (2009), finding good reviews and moderate sales. AllMusic considers Moby "one of the most important dance music figures of the early '90s, helping bring the music to a mainstream audience both in the UK and in America."

Reviews

[Sharron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of essays presented by the musician Moby. While none of this information was new to me, it still reinforces my conviction to remain Vegan. It is a good basic book for those exploring why choosing a plant based diet is not only good for animals but for the planet. I would recomment this for anyone who is exploring issues such as animal welfare, veganism for ethical and health reasons, environmentalism. Each chapter is written by different exports in these fields such as Francis Moore Lappe who wrote Diet for a Small Planet and Brendan Brazier, a vegan triathlon athlete. I also believe the chapters were written with good science, passion and stating facts instead of purely playing to emotion. While emotion plays a very important part in deciding to treat other creatures with compassion and care, it does help to see the science that calls for less meat production.

[Robin Ramone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be taught in school. Whether people want to eat meat or not, it should be our duty to not be ignorant about how it got to our plates and the real costs of this diet. We conveniently ignore the impact it is having on our heath, animals, and the environment to satisfy our taste buds. How long are we going to keep this up? Until all of our water systems are completely poisoned? Until a factory farm moves in our neighbourhood and depreciates our home values by 30-40%? Until another major food borne illness breaks out? How many more slaughterhouse workers are going to have to get hurt or killed? As I type this the FDA is pushing for faster speeds on kill lines which is a bigger threat to the employees working on these lines. This industry is vile and is reeking havoc on people, neighbourhoods, animals, and the planet.

[Miguel Asga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Puntúo en base a qué tanto recomendaría el libro y, ciertamente, recomiendo la lectura a todo el mundo (especialmente a cualquier estadounidense). Dejo por aquí los capítulos que más información nueva y de valor me han proporcionado:
3. "Taxpayers"
5. "Climate Change"
6. "Children's Health"
9. "Zoonotic Diseases"
10. "Global Hunger"

[Dane Cobain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gristle might be edited by Moby and Miyin Park, but the ten essays inside are written by a wide away of different people who are all at the top of their game. Sure, it occasionally gets a little dry, but that’s to be expected when you’re reading a non-fiction book about meat production and the problems it can cause.

Overall, I was pretty impressed with this, and my only real complaint would be the physical dimensions of the book, which forced it to use a small font that wasn’t always easy to read, especially in the illustrations. But the actual content of the book was spot on and it made for some interesting research for a book that I’m working on.

[Dollie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of well-written and informative essays by ten authors, detailing the damage to ourselves, animals and our environment caused by corporate livestock facilities. There was a time when chickens, pigs and cows were raised on family farms and people actually cared about the animals they raised. That is no longer the case. Now, industrial farms are owned by large meat corporations who’s only goal is to get the meat to the supermarket and sold as soon as possible. I’m an avid animal lover, so some of these essays about the inhumane way these animals are treated was really sickening to me. I was also horrified to learn how people who work in these facilities and slaughterhouses are treated. Big meat corporations don’t care about the animals or the people who tend them. Until COVID-19, I hadn’t eaten meat for years, but for some reason found myself eating it again, although sparingly. My husband says I shouldn’t feel guilty about it, but I do. I think I bought the book to remind myself why I don’t eat meat (and also because Moby wrote the introduction. I love him and his music). If you see this book, buy it and read it, as it’s extremely informative. Afterwards, even if you continue to eat meat, at least you’ll know the consequences.

[Michael Bohli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lustig diese Zufälle: Kurz nach der Sichtung des unglaublich guten Dokumentarfilmes "Cowspiracy" hab ich mir nun endlich das Buch "Gristle" zu Gemüte geführt. Und endlich damit ein Sachbuch gefunden, dass die wichtige Thematik des Klimawandels, des Hungers und des Raubbaus mit dem Konsum von tierischen Produkten in Verbindung bringt. Aspekte die oft stiefmütterlich behandelt werden oder ganz verschwiegen.

"Gristle" ist eine Einführung, eine Sammlung verschiedener Essays von Fleischkonsum bis deren Auswirkungen auf die Gemeinschaft. Unter der führenden Hand von Musiker Moby kommen unterschiedlichste Leute zur Sprache und beleuchten zehn wichtige Aspekte. Dabei wird das Buch nie eine moralische Streitschrift oder ein Plädoyer für Veganismus, sondern zeigt die nackte und brutale Realität. Leider etwas kurz, aber auch für Einsteiger sehr geeignet.

[ChaCha Ala Mode · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am still in the midst of reading this one. It is a collection of Essays deemed at deterring you from consuming meat and animal products. My copy is signed by both Moby and the the girl that he collaborated with. If you are a food junkie like me, none of this information is new, yet I find it refreshing that Lauren Bush, of the GW Bush twins wrote an essay for this compilation. I find it refreshing to see a conservative family spawn off an activist against many of the things they value. I recommend this as a light read, to refresh. If you are starting to think about being a vegan or vegetarian, remember, no matter what your choice is, eat conscientiously. It makes all the difference in the World.

[Coen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I read on veganism after my hiatus from being vegan. I'm back to trying to keep to the lifestyle and really helped to refresh me on why it's so important to me to be vegan. My favorite line is: "Death is unavoidable, but suffering is avoidable."

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why yes, I did just read a book edited by Moby. This book probably preaches to the choir on the various reasons why CAFOs are bad, but it was interesting to see who popped up in quotes and snippets.

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

ESSAYS INTENDED TO MAKE US RECONSIDER MEAT PRODUCTION AND EATING

Moby is, of course, the vegan musician/DJ and animal protection activist. He wrote in his Introduction to this 2010 collection of essays, "I loved the animals in my house, so I decided that I should extend the golden rule to them. Which then begged another follow-up question: If I don't want the animals in my house to suffer, well, then, what about the animals who don't live in my house? ... I found that my decision to be an animal advocate was also supported by a lot of nonanimal welfare criteria. That's what this book is about, the rarely publicized ramifications of industrialized farmed animal production and meat, egg, and milk consumption on the environment, human health, ... global warming, global hunger, and, of course, the animals themselves."

The first essay notes that researchers found that there is more fecal bacteria in the kitchen---"on sponges, dish towels, and the sink drain---than they found swabbing the toilet... in a house with omnivores. It is safer to lick the rim of their toilet seat than the kitchen countertop... because people aren't preparing chickens in the toilet." (Pg. 11)

Another admits that giving a higher degree of welfare to animals raised for meat, eggs and milk would cost more, but counters, "If it were legal to employ child laborers in sweatshops, we could also drastically lower the cost and prices of most things ... But would that be acceptable?" (Pg. 26) A professor said, "When the egg producers asked me if I wanted cheap eggs, I replied, 'Would you want to buy a shirt if it was $5 cheaper and made by child slaves?'" (Pg. 46)

An essay documents how in poultry slaughterhouses, birds (which are not stunned prior to slaughter, as cows are) are shackled upside-down while still conscious. (Pg. 85)

Co-author Miyun Park wrote in the Epilogue, "This book isn't about veganism and it isn't about bringing down the animal agriculture industry. It's about social justice and ethics and... the truth." (Pg. 125)

This is an excellent case for animal rights and better treatment (particularly for the under-30 reader).

[Roope Kanninen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kattava kokoelma eläintuotannosta, joka käsittelee niin eläinten kuin työntekijöiden oikeuksia sekä vaikutuksia ympäristöön, tautien lisääntymiseen, talouteen sekä nälänhätiin. Yksittäisten kirjoittajien teksteissä vilahtaa viitteitä anti-tieteellisiin näkemyksiin, kuten rokotteiden ja GMO:n vastustukseen, mutta ne olivat niin vähäisiä, etten viitsi arvosanasta hirveästi rokottaa.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-researched and well-written collection of essays, but it's a hard read. The practices widely used today in animal husbandry and raising/slaughtering animals for food are terrible to think about, and it's probably only gotten worse since this book was published.

[Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of things people should know, and think about, but don’t.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Ari Guzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative; added some new perspective

[Eugene Vibar · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book that started my active path toward vegetarianism. I needed something without fluff, just cold hard facts, and this book provided that in spades. It's loaded with tons of eye-opening statistics (and diagrams aplenty) and so many arguments as to why our current meat industry (and how we feed it) is bad in so many ways: for our health through ingesting pesticides and antibiotics, through tons of manure leaking into our drinking water, nitrogen-saturated water suffocating our ecosystems, and to our over-production of cheap, tax-payer subsidized food beating out local competition in our rural communities and those around the world. The extent to which our daily food choices affect and create the world around us is surprisingly far-reaching; planet-wide to be exact. And so this book demonstrates how we have very much control over it, providing that we know the facts. It arms you with knowledge (obviously biased, but you already know the book's goal) to take an active role in changing our systems, which is why I'd recommend it to anybody who's relatively unfamiliar with many of the arguments presented. It's a book I'd give to all my friends if I had enough copies, but since I don't, I can at least point it out as a good starting point on a journey of change. Every time I look at meat, I'm aware of the facts. It doesn't mean I never eat meat, but it does mean I can make more educated decisions about what I eat. Get one and pass it around to your friends who you feel care about something other than achieving a life of personal luxury.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be a good book for someone who hasn't been thinking about these issues already-- sort of a quick and dirty, Cliff Notes version of the problems with industrialized farming. Although none of the concepts in here were new to me, I was reminded of some information and learned some new statistics, etc. that I found interesting. The main thing I liked about this book is that it's a compact primer on all the reasons that it was so important for me to become a vegetarian and why I strive to lessen the amount of animal products I consume.

I really liked this quote, toward the end: "For us, a plant-and-planet-centered diet is a daily reminder that we can re-create economic life so that it reflects our commonsense and deepest values; for, individually, none would choose a world that robs farmers of livelihoods, the soil and water of their health, animals and people of their dignity, people of food for their survival. A first step in awakening is to realize that right now, today, we ourselves can begin to make a different choice."

[Lauri · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is very small and very basic. As a seasoned vegan, I can't say that I learned much that was new. However, this would be a great book to give to someone who is unaware of ethical issues and consequences of eating animals. It is nice to have a book that succinctly makes all of the arguments in one place, so that if you need to have a debate you can go to one book, flip just a few pages, and find the point you're looking for.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saw this at Dollar Tree one day, so I checked it out at the library. It basically felt like a Cliff's Notes version of material by other food authors like Michael Pollan, Eric Schlosser, Dr. Vandana Shiva, et cetera. Still, it's a really quick read with good information (albeit repetitive at times). The last essay on human hunger was particularly my favorite. Definitely worth a gander, especially if it's only a dollar.

[Arturo Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somehow industrial animal agribusiness has largely managed to get away with oppressing workers, making our children unhealthy, slowly but surely destroying rural communities, contributing to global warming and global hunger, cultivating the emergence of devastating zoonotic diseases, and polluting the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the land on which we all live - all while getting subsidized by taxpayers.

[Frances · Rating 3 out of 5]

A small book of essays. Trains were terrible enough yesterday that I read the entire thing while on the subway to and from Queens from Brooklyn.

A good, concise summary of issues raised in many other places. Yet another nudge in the direction of veganism.

[Kay · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is good for quick information, but you can't really engross yourself in it. The choppy nature of the essays makes it a reference guide, not a spirited call-to-arms like EATING ANIMALS. I'll give them points for the cute cover, though.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is really interesting and important, and I believe it should more well-known. It's rather horrible to read how meat industry has detrimental effect to almost everything. While reading this book I started thinking that maybe I, too, should stop eating meat altogether.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be a great book for readers who don't already understand the ramifications of a system that is designed to feed people's gluttony for animal flesh. I have been studying this for some time and it hurt my heart to read more, so I had to stop reading.

[Rachel]

Can't wait to read this! My copy is set to arrive next week.

[Kip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great... Now I'm thinking about becoming a vegan... That'll suck...

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to stomach at times (no pun intended) but a very good read!

[Eugene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really an eye opening experience for me. You don't just hear from vegetarians, you here from many different types of people who know something is afoot in food production.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're interested in a quick introduction to some of the problems with our current system of animal food production, this slim volume contains bite-sized essays covering all the major topics.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommend this book - Quick read and great information!