Rumors have been circulating about mRNA vaccines in livestock. Fact-checkers have been scoffing, but what’s really going on? Could we be eating animals that have been treated with mRNA? How do we know what’s in the meat at our grocery store?
PORK: Yes, it’s probably been treated with mRNA.
Unfortunately, if you’ve been eating pork from the grocery stores, even organic pork, it’s probably been treated with mRNA because pork producers have been using mRNA products since 2018. Merck’s SEQUIVITY platform is used with different sequences of various porcine diseases, including swine flu, to get immune responses in pigs.
Interestingly enough, sow mortality rates have increased slightly, from 11.1% in 2017 to 12.6% in 2021. However, raising animals in large quantities is very complex; increased mortality could be linked to countless factors, and many producers admit they don’t have enough qualified employees to pay optimal attention to animals. The only certainty here is, new pharmaceutical products have not been a magic bullet for the pork industry’s problems.
I guess we, as a society, don’t have enough money for more agricultural and veterinary workers so that hog farmers can optimally monitor the pigs that will become our food. And yet, it’s still full steam ahead with ever-more-complicated bioengineering solutions. A few months ago, GenVax Technologies, a startup that wants to bring self-amplifying mRNA (saRNA) technologies to animal health, received $6.5 million to begin producing vaccines 100% specific to African Swine Fever variants that may be circulating in pork herds. There always seems to be enough money for mRNA.
Sound familiar?
If this sounds similar to a product widely used on humans the past few years, that’s because it is. As in human mRNA treatments, Merck claims that the RNA can’t replicate itself and only lasts a short time in the animals’ bodies. They also say that animals do not shed any RNA particles. Given the wide range of findings in humans after mRNA treatments, however, I think the public has reason to be skeptical.
Now, my first thought when I heard about this was disbelief. Ed Dowd’s Cause Unknown gives very detailed evidence of increasing death rates from the past two years; I couldn’t imagine anyone responsible for livestock trying out a product with so much potential to negatively affect profit margins.
But most people dying from “unknown causes” have not been dropping dead immediately after receiving medical treatments. Many deaths occur weeks or months later. Age dates for pig slaughter vary somewhat, depending on what the pigs are wanted for, but typically range between 4 and 10 months. Pigs’ natural lifespans, however, are between ten and fifteen years, which means that the pigs used for meat are butchered early in their lives. Who knows what we’d see if the pigs reached even 50% of their natural life span?
BEEF: It’s not treated with mRNA. YET.
Regarding beef, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has pooh-poohed online talk about the potential for mRNA vaccines being used in beef. They released a statement on April 5, saying, “There are no current mRNA vaccines licensed for use in beef cattle in the United States. Cattle farmers and ranchers do vaccinate cattle to treat and prevent many diseases, but presently none of these vaccines include mRNA technology.”
Okay, but that’s as of April 2023. As Dr. Robert Malone noted recently, there are no transparency laws surrounding animal trials, which means facts and figures are hard to come by. But we do know that German giants Bayer and BioNTech have been working together to develop mRNA vaccines for veterinary use since 2016.
What about chicken?
We know that there is international interest in using an mRNA template to develop a universal flu vaccine for humans, swine, and chickens
We know that there is an RNA vaccine licensed for conditional use in chickens to prevent bird flu.
Confusing, right?
With so much money being pumped into mRNA-related research, are we really supposed to think it’s just not going to go anywhere? The biotech companies readily admit that they want to use mRNA technology to treat various zoonotic diseases and many people are not happy about it; why wouldn’t we all be complaining just because there’s not much licensed at the moment?
The industry does not want clarity.
When Holly Jones introduced Missouri House Bill 1169 there was industry pushback. HB 1169 is a tiny little bill; all it does is mandate reporting on whether or not food products have been treated with gene therapy products. Nothing is banned. The bill simply empowers consumers to make the best choices for themselves and their families.
Free markets can’t function when people can’t make informed choices. The past three years have made many people deeply distrustful of the expert class; they don’t want their food being tampered with. They feel strongly enough about avoiding mRNA-treated meat to be willing to look around and shop carefully. HB 1169 would give these people the knowledge to make informed decisions, and that’s exactly what the pharmaceutical giants and industry lobbyists don’t want.
Industry lobbyists want things to be vague. They want the general public confused and willing to do whatever “the experts” tell them.
During the testimony hearing for HB 1169, industry representatives vehemently opposed the bill. They did not treat any of the public’s concerns as legitimate but insisted that any regulation on biotechnology would make Missouri less competitive for industry. They focused completely on how bad it would look if Missourians seemed skeptical about biotechnology, and how it would negatively impact business in their state.
This should really tell us everything we need to know about the push to get mRNA into our food. It’s all about money for favored industries. They don’t want independent producers providing high-quality food for their communities; they want everyone to be part of the same giant system. This isn’t about health, it isn’t about the environment, it’s about generating new sources of revenue for biotechnology companies.
And they don’t want separate labels because, if something goes wrong and people do start getting sick, or the animals get sick, precise labeling would make it easy to pinpoint the problem.
This is yet another reason why you need to secure your food supply now.
We talk a lot about the importance of securing food supplies on this site, both to avoid novelty products like insects, and also for peace of mind. This most recent revelation about pork products already being treated with mRNA and refusal by industry representatives to address anything other than how HB 1169 will affect the business community should serve as yet another wake up call. We cannot assume anything we buy at the store has not been treated with novel pharmaceutical products.
I know some people will disagree about calling mRNA vaccines “novel products.”
“We’ve been researching mRNA for decades!” I’ll hear. We have not been ingesting these products for decades; we’ve been ingesting them for about five years, without our knowledge, and no one has been monitoring results. This is not enough for me to be confident in their safety, and I don’t think it should be enough for anyone else, either.
Coffee the Christian way: Promised Grounds
I haven’t bought meat from the grocery store in a long time, mostly because I produce a lot myself. Of course, meat production is not practical for everyone, but if it is an option for you, you need to think about it.
And if not, ask yourself, are there farms in your area committed to raising clean meat? There might be. These types of places often have some kind of subscription service and are worth checking out. Even if there is nothing very close, there are some places that ship. Or it might be worth a road trip to get a year’s worth of meat. If you don’t already have good meat sources, now is the best time to start looking for them.
If you live in Missouri, I hope you can raise public awareness about this bill. For those of us that do not, we need to take responsibility for our food choices and start looking for meat sources outside the normal system.
What are your thoughts?
Would it bother you to know that the meat you’re eating has been treated with mRNA technology? If given a clear choice, would you purchase meat with or without these vaccines? What do you think about the cloak of secrecy over the introduction of this into our food supply? How can you avoid mRNA-infused meat? If you can’t raise your own and the labels at the store are not clear, where could you acquire it?
Let’s discuss it in the comments section.
About Marie Hawthorne
A lover of novels and cultivator of superb apple pie recipes, Marie spends her free time writing about the world around her. Article cross-posted from The Organic Prepper.
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
