No no, it's not that multi-million dollar blockbuster "The Matrix" - it's "The Meatrix" - an interesting set of flash mini-films that demonstrate where meat really comes from. And with everything they expose, I say the "e" added in the title stands for "eeeew".

According to the 1999 USDA Beefpacker Concentration Report[pdf], "In 1996, 79 percent of cattle were slaughtered at only 22 plants." That translates to one massive overpopulation and concentration of meat - and that was over 10 years ago. Imagine what it must be like today.



Think about it. If you estimate that you eat approximately 1 whole animal per day (at the very least half a chicken and the equivalent in other meats), then imagine 79% of the entire nation's population shoved into 22 plants every day. And it's not like these places are the size of Yankee stadium either.

They may be smaller than us, and they might not be able to drive a car and keep it between the lines (much less anywhere near the speed limit) - but animals still bleed red. Yes they are born and bred to be our food, but healthy food makes for healthy humans.