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The U.S. Department of Agriculture is wiping egg off its face after encouraging employees in an internal newsletter to take a stand for the environment by not putting meat in their mouths on Mondays.
It was viewed by one beef producers' organization, congressional leaders and Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples as an outrageous statement from a department whose mission is to promote agricultural production.
"Talk about a slap in the face," Staples said in a blog. "At a time when historical droughts are threatening the livelihoods of our beef producers and diminishing our food supply, the last thing we need is a USDA that adds insult to injury. Shame on you, USDA. You deserve all the bull you get."
USDA officials made the meatless recommendation in a publication released Monday titled Greening Headquarters Update.
"One simple way to reduce your environmental impact while dining at our cafeterias is to participate in the 'Meatless Monday' initiative," said the newsletter item. While a vegetarian diet could have a beneficial impact on a person's health and the environment, many people are not ready to make that commitment," the document continues. "Because Meatless Monday involves only one day a week, it is a small change that could produce big results."
The USDA distanced itself from the report later in the week and issued a statement saying it did not endorse Meatless Monday. It said the newsletter that was posted on the USDA website without proper clearance and had been removed.
The USDA did not make a further statement.
Among those who asked Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to clarify the department's stance toward meat consumption was U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan. He said in a news release that the report made "dangerous claims" about meat production and demonized the industry.
"It is my hope that the USDA has not abandoned farmers and ranchers in pursuit of policies best left to the Environmental Protection Agency," the senator said.
Moran's release contained a link to the original newsletter even though it had been taken down.
Also angered by the newsletter was the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, whose president called the Meatless Monday initiative an extremist campaign by animal rights activists aimed at ending meat consumption.
WHAT THE FARGE IS WRONG WITH OBAMA AND HIS "PEOPLE"-BUNCH OF GD STUPID AND COMPLETE FARGING MORONS!! MAYBE THE EPA WILL SAY POLLUTE THE WORLD NEXT-WHY NOT, AFTER ALL, THE USDA IS CHARGED WITH PROMOTING AGRIBIZ, SO BY DOING A 180 DEGREE TURN, WHY ISN'T THE EPA SAYING DUMP USED OIL DOWN THE SEWER DRAINS. JUST LAUGHABLE. BUT ALSO SAD-SHOWS COMPLETE AND TOTAL STUPIDITY-HEADS SHOULD ROLL. PERSONALLY, I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF "MONDAYS" IN WASHINGTON-AND OBAMA IS A MONDAY EVERY FARGING DAY.
It was viewed by one beef producers' organization, congressional leaders and Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples as an outrageous statement from a department whose mission is to promote agricultural production.
"Talk about a slap in the face," Staples said in a blog. "At a time when historical droughts are threatening the livelihoods of our beef producers and diminishing our food supply, the last thing we need is a USDA that adds insult to injury. Shame on you, USDA. You deserve all the bull you get."
USDA officials made the meatless recommendation in a publication released Monday titled Greening Headquarters Update.
"One simple way to reduce your environmental impact while dining at our cafeterias is to participate in the 'Meatless Monday' initiative," said the newsletter item. While a vegetarian diet could have a beneficial impact on a person's health and the environment, many people are not ready to make that commitment," the document continues. "Because Meatless Monday involves only one day a week, it is a small change that could produce big results."
The USDA distanced itself from the report later in the week and issued a statement saying it did not endorse Meatless Monday. It said the newsletter that was posted on the USDA website without proper clearance and had been removed.
The USDA did not make a further statement.
Among those who asked Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to clarify the department's stance toward meat consumption was U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan. He said in a news release that the report made "dangerous claims" about meat production and demonized the industry.
"It is my hope that the USDA has not abandoned farmers and ranchers in pursuit of policies best left to the Environmental Protection Agency," the senator said.
Moran's release contained a link to the original newsletter even though it had been taken down.
Also angered by the newsletter was the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, whose president called the Meatless Monday initiative an extremist campaign by animal rights activists aimed at ending meat consumption.
WHAT THE FARGE IS WRONG WITH OBAMA AND HIS "PEOPLE"-BUNCH OF GD STUPID AND COMPLETE FARGING MORONS!! MAYBE THE EPA WILL SAY POLLUTE THE WORLD NEXT-WHY NOT, AFTER ALL, THE USDA IS CHARGED WITH PROMOTING AGRIBIZ, SO BY DOING A 180 DEGREE TURN, WHY ISN'T THE EPA SAYING DUMP USED OIL DOWN THE SEWER DRAINS. JUST LAUGHABLE. BUT ALSO SAD-SHOWS COMPLETE AND TOTAL STUPIDITY-HEADS SHOULD ROLL. PERSONALLY, I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF "MONDAYS" IN WASHINGTON-AND OBAMA IS A MONDAY EVERY FARGING DAY.