The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) has joined with other food and agricultural groups in launching a Web site dedicated to telling the true story of agriculture.
“We have the safest, most abundant, most affordable food in the world,” says NPPC President Joy Philippi, a pork producer from Bruning, NE. “And the U.S. pork industry is proud of the role it plays in offering the public quality, healthful products and proud that we are good employers, good neighbors, good stewards of the environment and good care-givers to our animals.”
The new Web site was launched in response to “Chew on This: Everything You Don’t Want to Know About Fast Food,” Eric Schlosser’s latest book critical of food production and processing. Aimed at middle school students, it is a follow-up to his earlier work, “Fast Food Nation,” that offered sensationalized misinformation about the U.S. food system.
“We welcome open dialogue about our food system,” says Janet Riley of the American Meat Institute. “There are important issues worthy of discussion. However, some of the information contained in this latest book is inaccurate and misleading, and Americans should know the facts so they can form their own opinions.”
To provide those facts, the groups launched BestFoodNation.com, providing factual information about the positive contributions made by millions who make up the food industry. Visitors to the site can learn about healthy food choices offered by restaurants and food product manufacturers. Also, the site carries the positive animal welfare and environmental stewardship practices of farmers and ranchers, and the numerous benefits local communities derive from the food and agriculture industries.
The new site is supported by 18 agricultural organizations and food-related groups, including the NPPC and the National Pork Board.