Chicken: The Dangerous Transformation of America's Favorite Food

I bought and read Striffler's book to gain a better understanding of the largely immigrant-filled workforce in the meat processing industry. This book more than satisfied me. It serves not only to introduce you to the growth of the chicken industry, but also to describe insightfully immigrant workers' experiences, in any industry. It is a very timely book given this year's focus on immigration reform. This industry will likely be more affected than any other if any major legislation is enacted.

Striffler gives an inquisitive peek at an industry that most people have little awareness of. Much of his book studies the workforce that mans the chicken abbatoirs. The prose shows a somewhat grisly job, that is also repetitive, mind-numbing and dangerous. The ever sharp knives and scalding liquids give rise to the inevitable workplace injuries. Yet hope shines through in portions of the book. Many of the workers are Mexicans, who more or less legally migrate to these factories, which are often located in the American South. To the Mexicans, the work offers a good income that can support entire families back home.

This is one of the best books I have read on food. If you liked Fast Food Nation you will love this book. In some ways it is better, in other ways it is just different. Striffler is a wonderful writer and storyteller. The history of the industry, and the rise of so many chicken products, is fascinating. His account of working in a poultry processing plant is incredible -- sad and funny at the same time. Definitely read this book. It will change the way you think about chicken, food in general, and the immigrant workers who do all the work. Awesome book!

I first became interested in the greedy chicken industry when James B. Stewart revealed in his book Bloodsport that the Clintons made a killing in commodities because of help from an executive of Tyson Chicken. When people say chicken destroyed President Clinton, they mean the ones with feathers not skirts! The author made three excellent points in his book: First chicken companies exploit the most vulnerable people in America. These people are illiterate or immigrants who cant speak English or unskilled minorities. Second, chickens are processed in conditions so horrible as to rival "The Jungle" or a Steven King novel. Beside exposing underpaid workers to dangerous working conditions, the chicken industry exposes consumers to strains of bacteria so virulent they can even survive cooking. Last but not least, chickens are drugged up big time. Only huge amounts of antibiotics can treat the litany of diseases that factory conditions can cause. This means antibiotic resistance to consumers. Anyone who eats chicken on a regular basis has a death wish. My only regret is that the author didn't go far enough with the gory details . I want carnivores to be scared. I want them to be very scared. Only fear and outrage will cause the public to act. The greedy poultry industry needs to have their feet to the fire before bird flu wipes us out.