Book excerpt: An expanded second edition of SLAUGHTERHOUSE BLUES: THE MEAT AND POULTRY INDUSTRY IN NORTH AMERICA is now available. The authors, a cultural anthropologist and a social geographer, draw on three decades of research to present a detailed look at the modern meat and poultry industry in the United States and Canada. Following chapters on industrial beef, poultry, and pork production, SLAUGHTERHOUSE BLUES scrutinizes industry impacts on farmers and ranchers, processing workers, and on the communities that host its plants. The book details the authors' efforts to help communities plan for and mitigate the negative consequences of meat and poultry plants as well as community opposition to confined animal feeding operations. The second edition includes recent research and up-to-date information on industry and consumer trends. A new chapter, Is Meat Murder? examines the growing public concern with animal rights and animal welfare. The book concludes with a look at the health and social consequences of the present system of meat production before exploring alternatives to North America's model of industrialized meat. Important Notice: Media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.