Summary of the Jeff Tietz’s Article The Boss Hog
In his article The Boss Hog published on December 14, 2006 in the Rolling Stone journalist Jeff Tietz analyzes the current state of the Smithfield Foods, the biggest US pork processor. The amount of the annually killed animals is incredible and equals to 27 million hogs. Furthermore, the author points out on another problem: pigs’ excrements and wastes. The substance is toxic because pigs are fed with lots of antibiotics and pills, which preserve their immune system and let them alive before they are killed at the slaughterhouses. Excrements can be pulled into rivers due to the fact that holding ponds, where pigs’ fecal is stored, can be overflowed because of the rain. Apart from the antibiotics the fecal contains bacteria, which can be dangerous for humans.
Jeff Tietz describes how the CEO of the Smithfield Foods Joseph Luter III built up his business. He inherited his father’s slaughterhouse in Virginia. After a while he bought neighboring meatpackers and then he created a “total vertical integration” system to control the whole process of pork production. Since 1999 Smithfield Foods is the largest pork processor in the United States.
The author interviews some locals who are living in Tar Heel, where the biggest Luter’s farm is situated. Rick Dove is totally dissatisfied: his fishing business collapsed because wastes from the lagoons killed the fish in ponds and river. The Savages also suffered a lot from the farn nearby. In some periods of time the pig shit was found everywhere around their house. The area around the farm is harmful for human’s health because the air contains lots of sulfides, nitrates and other chemicals. People near the farms suffer from many diseases including psychological ones. The journalist describes pictures he saw during his investigations: white carcasses of the dead hogs, pink lagoons, incredibly large farms with hog houses and slaughterhouses.
Though the Smithfield Foods caused several disasters, when tons of hogs’ excrements were spilled into rivers, the company still remains the important figure for the US business. Furthermore, the author warns that Joseph Luter III entered the global market. He bought and reorganized plants in Poland and it is announced that the Romania would be the next country where Smithfield Foods is going to operate.
