Thousands of animals are tortured for food in the farming industry. Most of our consumption, be it meat, dairy or eggs come from immunologically compromised animals which are confined to cramped, unhygienic conditions and transported long distance without proper handling and care. Such farms are closely linked to other critical concerns, including zoonotic disease outbreaks, water pollution, overuse of antibiotics and development of antimicrobial resistance. The rate at which meat production and consumption is increasing might be devastating for our planet. It is time to rethink farming.
By increasing the demand for plant-based foods we can, in turn, reduce reliance on farmed animals and make higher welfare production systems—with more space, fewer antibiotics, healthier growth, and more natural environments—more feasible. We can transform our food system to be more sustainable and kinder to animals, and significantly improve the overall health of animals and humans.
There is a way to continue eating meat and take cruelty off the menu at the same time.
Make The Change
By making small changes to your lifestyle, like adding a meat-free day to your week and choosing higher welfare, you can create better lives for farm animals.
Remember, the easiest way to find out where meat comes from is to ask – ask your supermarket, your favourite fast-food restaurant, your local café. If they don’t serve higher welfare, they should, so keep asking.