The Audio Long Read Hard to digest: we still live in Fast Food Nation
Jan 12, 2026
Eric Schlosser, an investigative journalist and author known for his groundbreaking work on the food industry, dives into the alarming rise of health risks in industrial dairy farming. He reveals a troubling H5N1 outbreak linked to factory farms and highlights regulatory failures that hinder public safety. Schlosser discusses the vulnerability of immigrant workers and the potential for viral mutations into pandemics. He also critiques the monopolistic tendencies in the food industry and advocates for true cost accounting to promote safer food practices.
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Barn Cats Reveal Hidden Dairy Outbreak
- Barn cats and dairy cows in Texas fell ill with neurological and respiratory symptoms in 2024.
- Dr. Barb Peterson traced the outbreak to H5N1 in cows and raw milk that infected the cats and revealed dairy transmission.
Regulatory Gaps Enabled Spread
- USDA, FDA, and CDC legal limits left gaps in authority over livestock testing and worker screening.
- Political resistance and industry opposition prevented mandatory testing and containment of H5N1.
Scale Multiplies Pathogen Risk
- Megadairies concentrate thousands of cows, shared equipment, and interstate movement.
- These conditions create efficient vectors for pathogen amplification and national spread.
