under pressure not only from interest groups but from some consumers to be more environmentally friendly and healthful.

The lesson I took away from Fast Food Nation was, the people will get what they want from their food supply. I don't mean aspirational goals. Anybody can say "it would be nice if we were kinder to animals and kept deadly bacteria out of food." The system reacts to people who are willing to change their behavior.

For example, I knew a woman who supported PETA and thought people should be kind to animals. She also loved veal and ordered it every chance she could get. On the other hand, veal bothers me so I don't eat it. I don't preach about it, I simply don't eat it. Add two hundred million more of me and the system would change. Add two hundred million more of her and the industry would be shoving every cow it could find into a little box.

Lsherm: Does this mean they are bringing it back? The McRib is the only thing on McDonald's menu I like. I know it's disgusting, I know it doesn't taste like real pork anything, but I like it anyway. It's the pickles and onions, I think.

There is VERY good news waiting at your nearest supermarket.

The largest US hog producer, Smithfield Foods Inc., said it has completed a third of its 10-year plan to move all its sows "into group housing systems.

So instead of keeping one pig in a 2-foot stall they will keep 8 pigs in an 8-foot stall. So much better.

mod3072: Okay, fine, I'll say it: I don't like the McRib. I'm not a food snob, I'll eat McD's occasionally and not complain about it, but I don't like that sandwich. I like the knock-off fake rib sandwiches that you can get at little cafe's and stuff though. I think it's the sauce that they use that I don't like.

Only in America can a man feel he must apologize for not liking the McRib.

Think smaller and more legs.

I can get real BBQ ribs at the same price. So, no.

HailRobonia: I was excited about this but then realized they did not mean a McRib made out of German children.

Okay, wow, only on Fark. I was just about to post about how for some reason I read "kinder" as the German word for kids instead of the comparitive of "kind" and how insane that is as I am a native English speaker and don't necessarily believe McDonald's makes food out of children (at least, not ALL branches). And then I find that someone on Fark has already beaten me to it. I love you guys for being as batshiat crazy as I am. :-)