The myth of humane meat-eating and vegetarianism
We need to confront the reality of what is on our plates
Are you against animal cruelty? Although this seems like a ridiculous question, it is something we should consider at every meal. The contradictory belief that you can be against animal cruelty, but eat meat, fish, dairy and eggs (even if they are free-range), is one held by most people in the western world.
The idea of humane meat-eating and vegetarianism is a myth. It has been perpetuated by the industry in order for you to feel comfortable about eating animal products without confronting the suffering you are supporting by your purchases.
Most people will say they support good animal welfare and try to think consciously about their meat, dairy and egg purchases. However, this is not apparent at the checkouts, with at least 75% of animals factory farmed in the U.K. and Europe, and around 99% in the USA..
Terms like “grass-fed”, “farm-fresh” or “barn-grown” are marketing measures specifically designed to make us think the products we are buying are high-welfare. But, these say nothing about the living conditions of the animals.
Other labels such as “Red Tractor Assured” , “EU Standard”, “USDA Certified” and “British Lion” are essentially just minimum standard requirements of factory farming, while “RSPCA Assured” is just a little bit better. When confronted with the reality of these conditions most people would be shocked.
For the small percentage of products that are “free-range”, “organic” or “outdoor-bred”, these terms have very loose legal definitions. Chickens can be kept in barns at densities of 13 birds per square meter, and may only have a small entrance to access outside space. Cows, sheep and pigs may only spend around half of their short lifespan outside, and pigs may have limited space to roam.
No matter how animals are grown, all have been selectively bred to provide the highest output of meat, dairy and eggs as they physically can. Animals have been pushed to the limits of their biological capacity, growing unnaturally fast, big and productive. This comes with many associated health issues and unnecessary suffering.
All agriculture animals also have very short lives; on average they are killed at around 5% of their natural lifespan, equivalent to a 4 year old human. This doesn’t include male chicks of egg producers or male calves of milk producers. These animals are of no use to the industry and are blended alive, gassed to death or shot within hours of being born.
Free-range animals will also have similar husbandry and slaughter methods when compared to factory-farmed, which include painful procedures such as tail docking, beak removal, horn removal and castrations, all done without anaesthetic. Slaughterhouse kill speeds are around 150–175 chickens, 18 pigs, 8 sheep or 7 cows per minute! For workers to meet these ridiculously high targets many animals are shackled, hung up and have their throats cut while fully conscious due to improper stunning. Others are simply gassed alive in CO2 chambers, as this is less labour intensive.
Although cost is a contributing factor, people’s inability to buy high welfare products is largely due to lack of availability. Just try looking for free-range milk, butter, cheese, yoghurt, crisps, biscuits, chocolates, sandwich fillers and ready-meals in your local supermarket. Many types of fresh meat will also not have a free-range option, perhaps even in your local butchers. While many takeaways, cafes and restaurants are likely to have minimal standards towards sourcing animal products.
It could be said that we should therefore simply campaign for stricter animal welfare laws. However, it would be impossible to have organic free-range farms for the 8.4 billion US, 1.2 billion UK and 746 million Australian land animals we kill every year for food. There simply isn’t the space; while the environmental impact and effect on climate change would be even worse than current factory farming.
If we wanted only free-range organic agriculture animals, it is likely we would have to produce around 99% less animal products than we currently do now. That would mean the entire western population would be able to eat a meal which included animal products only three times a year — almost vegan.
People sit at home watching nature documentaries, feeling emotional, hoping the penguin, orangutan and wolf survive to make it back to their families. But few are willing to see the reality of how their food reached their plates. Please take the time to watch the relevant documentary from your region below. If you can’t stomach watching them, perhaps you shouldn’t be stomaching your next meal.
USA — Earthlings
Australia — Dominion
