Meat: No Longer a Sustainable Food
​
For centuries the American diet has essentially revolved around meat. However, the majority of food animals today are no longer grown and raised naturally as they once were years ago. Most meat suppliers are concerned with maximizing production as quickly as possible rather than focusing on quality. As a result, America’s favorite protein-packed main course is now also packed with added hormones, antibiotics, and preservatives which take a disturbing toll on the human body when consumed. Due to the massive amount of resources used to produce animal products, the meat industry is also severely taxing on the environment. Because of the negative effects on the consumers and the earth, eating meat is no longer natural.
Consuming meat is unhealthy for the human body in ways that not many people would consider. Around seventy percent of America’s differing types of antibiotics are given to animals that are being raised for food. These antibiotics ensure that the animals continue to stay alive and grow in less than desirable living conditions where they would otherwise not thrive. Eating the meat from animals pumped full of antibiotics has the potential to make people resistant to various antibiotics, one of which being Vancomycin. Vancomycin is an antibiotic that treats dangerous infections, such as staphylococcus and blood infections, when all other treatments have not worked. Since it is now being injected into farm animals, people are growing resistant to this important antibiotic (Krantz). When farm animals are grown with the help of antibiotics, regular consumers of the meat are conditioned to resist medicine that could save their lives in the future
In the United States alone, approximately 76 million people become sick due to meat-borne bacteria and diseases and roughly 5,200 people die from these illnesses each year (Warren 171). Meat is usually contaminated with feces because of unsanitary slaughter and processing methods. A Consumer Reports study found that 97 percent of raw supermarket chicken contains feces. Consuming meat ensures a much higher risk of food poisoning caused by Salmonella and E. Coli (Krantz). Consumers may be aware of the germs involved with raw meat but some people may not know that it is due to unsanitary practices. Because most of the germs would not be present when sanitary practice is used, it is abnormal for meat to be as contaminated as it is.
Along with the harmful effects on human bodies due to meat consumption, the production of meat contributes negatively to the environment. Meat production has many factors that indirectly damage the environment. For poultry alone, some culprits of the secondary environment tolls are mass feed production, poor manure management, fossil fuel use, and fertilizers. Feed for poultry takes up valuable land space, emits greenhouse gases, and is sometimes transported thousands of miles overseas. When feed is consumed by poultry, the waste products that are present in the manure emit harmful gases into the environment. These emissions negatively affect the atmosphere and when farms use this manure for fertilization of crops, the gas emissions increase even more (Leinonen and Kyriazakis 266). The fossil fuels that are used to power the farms take up massive amounts of energy while emitting harmful gases as well (Leinonen and Kyriazakis 267).
The livestock industry’s direct impact on the environment is even more detrimental than its indirect impact. Seventy percent of the world’s agricultural land is made up of meat farms. The meat industry is also partially responsible for environmental issues such as water pollution and climate change (Joyce et al. 1). In regards to water pollution and depletion, meat farming has devastating consequences. Leftover chemicals and organic materials that were a part of animal production are polluting the water all around the world. Bacteria, pesticides, manure, and feed residue enter bodies of water mostly through runoff. Pesticides kill life forms in and around the water. Nutrients in the manure and feed residue cause plant and algae growth to increase, which kills other inhabitants of the water by using up all of the oxygen. This pollution has affected 415 coastal bodies as of 2015 (Van der Zee). Besides pollution, livestock farming is largely responsible for the ongoing depletion of global freshwater resources (Joyce et al. 2). Denis Hayes, the author of Cowed, affirms that watering the feed crops needed to produce just one pound of beef requires 840 gallons of water (Rysavy). Due to its need for massive amounts of water, the meat industry can potentially cause some of the world’s freshwater sources to dry up (Van der Zee). It is predicted that in six years, 64% of the world’s population will live in areas that have limited water resources (Joyce et al. 2). These terrifying statistics reveal just how dire the need for diet change is. Since the unnatural mass production of meat is causing the water resources to deplete at alarming rates, the question that arises is whether or not eating meat is worth the consequences. I say it is not.
Although the factors that contribute to climate change are debatable, some statistics show that the meat industry has a damaging effect on the climate. Livestock production is responsible for 18% of the earth’s greenhouse gas emissions (Joyce et al. 1). In 2017, more greenhouse gases were emitted by the top three meat farms in America than the entire country of France (Van der Zee). Perhaps the excessive burning of gases and oils by massive American meat farms is the reason for the increase in harmful gas emissions. Animal production also emits more greenhouse gases than transportation for the entire world. Therefore, individual diet choices are of equal importance to choices such as what type of car you drive or how you get to work in the morning in regards to the benefit of the environment (Joyce et al. 1). According to Denis Hayes, “…eating one pound of ground beef has a somewhat greater climate impact than burning a gallon of gasoline.” (Rysavy). Instead of buying an environment-friendly car, perhaps people should first consider changing their diets.
When it comes to the environment, the current food habits present in North America are unsuitable. Vegan diets and organic farming are less environmentally taxing as opposed to the conventional meat-eating diet and animal production (Joyce et al. 2). Organic methods of poultry farming alone use fewer fossil fuels and fertilizer and have higher quality living conditions, making them potentially better for the environment than the non-organic options (Leinonen and Kyriazakis 267). The least sustainable method of vegetable and grain farming is significantly less damaging to the environment than the most sustainable method of meat and dairy production (Carrington). If plant-based food consumption increases, the impact on the environment regarding land space, water use, and waste will significantly decrease (Joyce et al. 1).
While it is evident that plant-based diets are natural not only for the human body but also for the environment, other people may not agree. Dr. Laura Wyness claims that red meat is important in the diets of humans of all ages. It provides energy and important micronutrients such as iron (228). However, the American and Canadian Dietetic Associations conclude that vegetarian and plant-based diets are perfectly fine for all ages and they recommend taking supplements to ensure optimal nutrition in these diets (Joyce et al. 3). Kale, spinach, mushrooms, and potatoes are some of the many vegetables that are full of iron and vitamins. While meat does have beneficial properties and important nutrients, those same nutrients can be found in plant-based diets and supplements.
Ideally, everyone in the world should adopt plant-based diets solely for their personal health and the environment’s sake. It makes sense given that animal products only provide 18 percent of our daily calories (Carrington). However, it is simply unrealistic to assume that everyone is willing enough to give up some of the foods they love. A more realistic yet still effective solution would be for people to only eat animal products sporadically, treating them like a delicacy or special occasion food. When meat is consumed, people should only buy and eat organically farmed products. Even little changes in a person's diet, such as only eating meat once a week, can make a big difference in the long run. The less meat the world consumes, the healthier the environment and our bodies will be.
​