The Meat Machine Dissected : My Daily Peace

The Meat Machine Dissected

Posted on January 28, 2008 - Filed Under Mother Nature, Food, Consumerism |

In my quest to only consume meat as the occasional palate treat, I found Mark Bittman’s article in today’s New York Times, Rethinking the Meat-Guzzler, an excellent “state of the union” on where meat production stands in the United States and abroad.

In an oil-to-meat comparison, Bittman explains that the environment is taking a huge hit because of meat production (growing and then killing animals): “if Americans were to reduce meat consumption by just 20 percent it would be as if we all switched from a standard sedan — a Camry, say — to the ultra-efficient Prius.”

Consumers driving up the demand for more meat doesn’t simply mean more animals, it also means more land, more food (corn, soy) for the livestock, and this can also mean less food for poorer individuals competing for grains with high-cost meat products (cows, chickens, pigs). “… An estimated 30 percent of the earth’s ice-free land is directly or indirectly involved in livestock production, according to the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization, which also estimates that livestock production generates nearly a fifth of the world’s greenhouse gases — more than transportation.”

The environmental impact of meat production is staggering; with this demand for meat causing three-quarters of America’s water pollution problems such as tainted streams and rivers.

Something that I was not aware of is that Americans consume twice the amount of protein daily that is actually needed and recommended by the federal government’s standards. So out of this exorbitant 110 grams of protein consumed, 75 grams comes from meat alone. The article goes on to say that we could get along fine consuming 30 grams of protein per day, most of it from plant sources.

I definitely believe that we vote for want we want and support with our dollars. Buying organic, especially with meat production, has already positively changed the farming industry with many now aware of the devastation caused by factory farming and choosing instead local and all-natural products with emphasis on waste management and environmental concern.

So please check out the article on the Times website and rethink your own meat-guzzler.