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Saniska Dhungana

Professor Carter

English Composition II

01 May 2022

How Meat Affects Health and The Environment

Cafeteria lunches hang up signs that show what should be on students' plates such as

fruits, grains, vegetables, protein, and dairy. Most people have been exposed to nutritional

information since they were in elementary school. Many classes like P.E. and health are even

mandatory for students. Since nutrition is brought up at an early age, many people understand the

importance of different types of food. However, with so many theories and controversies about

diets and how they affect health and the environment, it is hard to pinpoint factual statements.

Everyone has heard the saying, “You are what you eat.” As crazy as the statement sounds

it holds some truth. Processed foods can lead to mood disorders, anxiety, or depression. Even

eating too much or too little of a certain food can cause a dip in overall mental health (Sutter

Health). A diet that incorporates meat is less healthy than a diet that does not. This is due to the

overconsumption of meat, its linkage to diseases, the overall negative impact it has on the

environment, and the meat industry's treatment of animals.

There are many articles, movies, and even TV shows about health and diets. Popular

documentaries for veganism include What the Health, The Game Changers, and Cowspiracy. All

of these films explain how plant-based diets can be beneficial and most criticize diets with meat.

However, there are rebuttals to the documentaries arguments like how some of their studies may

be outdated. There are also sources that show how beneficial meat can be as protein and

nutrients. With so much media, it is hard not to get tangled up in a web of what is right or wrong.
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Vegetarianism, a diet without meat, has dated back centuries to ancient Egypt. It is

apparent in many cultures such as Hinduism, Jainism, Taoism, and Buddhism (“Vegetarianism

and Religion”). Today there are many reasons why a person may want to pursue a vegetarian diet

as opposed to a diet with meat. According to Harvard Health Publishing, things like health,

culture, stance on animal welfare, and concerns over sanitation and the environment are on the

list of reasons why a person may want to switch over to becoming vegetarian (“Becoming A

Vegetarian”).

Whatever the reason, it is apparent that meat consumption will not stop. In the past years,

U.S. and China have been leading meat industries. “In 2021, the United States saw the highest

revenue from meat products and sausages…”(M. Shabandeh) In many developing countries

including India, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa, factory farming is also expanding. The image

below shows that meat consumption has risen in lots of countries from 2012 to 2022. Poultry is

one of the leading livestock animals in the industry. It was one of the first large-scaled farmed

animals. Then in the 1970s, pig farms also started to mass-produce pork and other meats.
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Fg.1 Meat consumption rising from 2010-2012 to 2022 (“How Much Meat Do We Eat?”)

Fg.2. Demand for Different Types of Meats (Gates)

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In the United States, meat consumption has increased more than ever. Between 1961 and

2018, results have shown that meat production heightened by over thirty million tonnes (The

Humane League). There are many factors that have influenced the spike in meat production and

consumption. One factor was the assumption that meat was only for the wealthy, but as the

middle class increased so did the production of meat. The increased production and high demand

steered meat prices to decrease so that more people could afford it at a cheaper price. Meat

consumption is highest in North America at 97.5 kilos. Another factor involves meats’

association with masculinity and wealth while vegetarian diets are thought of as a diet for the

“poor” and feminine. Of course, things like tradition, culture, gender, and social values play a big

part in why people consume so much meat (Stubbs et al).

Meat is incorporated in many meals since it is cheap and accessible. Different types of

meat include red meat, poultry, and seafood. Red meat is known as a controversial food due to

studies showing both how beneficial the food is but also the negatives like its linkage to chronic

diseases. The National Cancer Institute says that red meat is linked with increased risks for

cancers such as colon, rectum, prostate, and pancreatic cancers. More studies need to be done to

truly understand how red meat is linked with cancer, but an article by the organization explains

that it is due to the high iron and fat content in the meat (“Red Meat and Processed Meat

Consumption”). However, red meat is said to be nutritious since it is a great source of protein,

iron, vitamin B12, and many other nutrients (Lizzie & Gunnars, 2022 ). The benefits and risks

almost balance each other out. The reason factory farming is still around is its economic

advantages. It can produce things at a less costly price and meet the rising demands that

consumers have. People also have more money to spend since the middle class is rising.

However, meat production poses many other concerns.

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Meat is primarily made up of animal muscle tissue which is 75% water, 20%

protein, 5% fat, carbohydrates, and associated proteins (Exploratorium). When cooked, it can

form carcinogenic compounds that can cause chronic diseases (Krantz). Around forty-eight

million people every year fall sick due to consuming meat products that were found to be tainted

with salmonella, campylobacter, E.coli, and other contaminants (Consumer Reports).

In 2017, American companies produced around twenty billion pounds of beef and pork

and over three billion pounds of turkey. (North American Institute).The production of meat is

going to continue to rise. From 1988 to 2018, production has doubled and is expected to grow to

570 million tons in 2050. This would mean that factories would be producting twice as much as

they were in 2008 (The World Counts). With the growth in the late 90s, engineers were expected

to find a way to increase the amount livestock at a fast rate. This lead to the use of injections,

implants and genetic engineering on animals so that they grow twice their normal rate

(Huffpost). These factories are designed to produce large amounts of meat for the smallest price

possible. Since factories need to produce mass amounts and handle so many animals, livestock

don’t get treated as well as they should. For instance, practices such as tail docking in pigs,

dehorning and castration in cattle, and debeaking in poultry are still allowed on factory farms.

To meet the rising demand for meat, factory farms were created by scientists in the

1800s. These factories are used to maximize profit and minizine cost. However, because of this

many farms are unsanitary and do not have suitable working conditions. This makes livestock

factories the perfect host for many diseases. The Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease that occurred

in peninsular Malaysia on pig farms in 1998. According to CDC, “This outbreak resulted in

nearly 300 human cases and more than 100 deaths, and caused substantial economic impact as

more than 1 million pigs were killed to help control the outbreak.”
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Another outbreak that occurred because of these factories is swine flu (H1N1). The virus

was believed to originate from pig farms. It was first detected in the US and quickly spread

internationally (CDC). Livestock farms are a perfect place for diseases to spread. If one animal

has the disease, it is very likely that it could transfer over to other animals in the facility. Many

viruses such as the Nipah Virus and Ped Virus originated in pig populations where areas were

cramped and unsanitized.

Animal Welfare Institute states that intensive farming has brought on many risks like

foodborne illness and novel viruses like swine flu in pigs (“Red Meat and Processed Meat

Consumption”). They focus on just keeping the animals alive. Most animals are packed close

together and kept indoors most of the time. Factory farming can have major effects on the

environment due to its crowded conditions and waste.

Poultry farms release toxic gasses into the air when litter is left to ferment. These toxic

gasses are not only harmful to animal health but also to the health of workers and surrounding

communities. Water pollution is also prevalent in factory farming. Factories store waste in large

air lagoons. The lagoons can spill during flooding or times of excessive rainfall. Water runoff

from the factory occurs when water from the facility comes in contact with the sewage.

Eventually, the water gets carried into oceans and also coastlines.

The polluted water can reach dead zones that can cause algal blooms. Algal blooms can

then release harmful toxins that contaminate drinking water, killing marine life and causing

illness to people who do drink the water (The Humane League). The waste-filled water can also

soak into the soil near communities which can lead to toxic air and drive more people ill.

Smithfield’s factory farms have spilled more than 7.3 million gallons of pig manure into lands

and waterways. Many other factories follow suit.

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Another serious concern with factory farming is how many animals are becoming

resistant to a lot of vaccines. Meat industries rely on vaccinations to help speed up the growth

process as well as try to prevent diseases. Antibiotic resistance is becoming more common and is

a lot harder to treat. Studies show that the rate at which the resistance is spreading is greater than

the rate at which preventable vaccines are coming out.

This is a huge risk to not only the animals but also the consumers. Manure from the

animals that have the resistance gene can pollute the surrounding area. Resistant strains of E.Coli

and Salmonella from pigs have been found in the United States. AMR (antimicrobial resistance)

is causing 700,000 worldwide annually and is projected to cause 10 million annual deaths by

2050 (Sentient Media). According to The Humane League, “The United Nations estimate

antibiotic resistance could kill 10 million people and force 24 million people into extreme

poverty by 2050.”

In 1958, The Humane Methods of Slaughter required meat factories to “humanely” stun

animals before slaughtering them. Later the act expanded so that all imported meats coming into

the United States had to be humanely slaughtered. There are many more acts in place to prevent

the mistreatment of livestock like the “28 Hour Law” (1873) and the Animal Welfare Act (1966).

However, these acts are hard to monitor due to the extensive amount of animals in the industry. It

also is hard to monitor every factory since there are so many. Studies show that the number of

farms has decreased fifty percent while factory farms have reached a whole new bar (The

Humane League).
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Fg 2. Graph of Predicted Global Sales of Meat 2025-2040 (Vultaggio)

Alternatives to meat products are becoming increasingly popular. In countries such as

New Zealand, Canada, and Switzerland, meat seems to be declining. There are now several

“meatless” meat brands out there like Amy’s Kitchen, Beyond Meat, and Impossible Foods.

Covid-19 has also had a toll on the meat industry. Many fast-food branches such as McDonald’s

are now starting to push plant-based meat as well. The forecasted global market value of

plant-based meat is predicted to increase substantially by the year 2027. Many consumers had

limited their beef intake in fear of zoonotic diseases and other viruses. Natural disasters around
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the world also affect the fluctuation of the curve for the demand for meat. An example of this

would be the 2019 drought in Australia.

Meat consumption rising is problematic since it requires more energy to make. It needs

more energy, water, and land than other food sources. Sources show that it takes seventy-five

more energy to produce meat than to produce corn. The land needed to produce meat is also

seven times that of land needed for vegetation (The World Counts). Producing meat also has a

large greenhouse gas footprint meaning that it plays a major role in climate change. A shocking

statistic shows that beef requires 15,000 liters of water while fruits and vegetables only require

300 liters per kilo (Redefine Meat). A lot of the meat also ends up being discarded as waste. It is

estimated that 570,000 tons of meat are wasted every year (ChefTemp).

Meat production is one of the biggest markets at an estimated 140 billion dollar industry.

As research further develops it has shown meat production leaves a bigger impact on th

environment outweighing the benefits of fast accessible protein. The prominent consequence of

raising cattle in mass groups is the emissions produced which significantly affect our already bad

stance on climate change. Currently the process of raising cattle creates nine percent of U.S

greenhouse gas emissions. The causes range from the maure decomposing to cows burping due

to the mathance being produced in both (The New York Times). The largely established meat

industry makes huge impacts on a global level. Recently since covid has started the state of the

industry is shaken up which could potentially create further issues with environmental factors.

In total, the livestock industry wastes about 1.4 billion pounds of meat each year (Huun).

The waste includes meat from the animal that cannot be used such as bones, tendons, skin,

internal organs, and contents of the gastrointestinal tract. Then most of the carcass is dumped

into pits that can hold thousands of pounds of carcasses. These pits can leach chloride,
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ammonium, nitrate, and other hazardous gasses decades after burial (Huun). There is a

significant amount of air pollution that circles back to the meat industry.

There still needs to be much more evidence in the area of meat, diet, and health. Many

questions remain and there is a lot of opposing data to each side of the argument. There’s lots of

data that supports the idea that there is not much of a difference between grass-fed and

conventional beef. There are also studies showing that plant-based meat alternatives aren’t

necessarily better for our health. Much more research needs to be done to find a balance.

There is a strong likelihood that meat consumption will only rise and because of this, it is

important to understand its effect on people and the environment. It contains a lot of hormones

that could lead to chronic diseases and it has a negative effect on the environment. Meat has been

around for ages but the effect that it has on health and the environment is worsening. Livestock

still have to suffer from inhumane treatment even through the many laws that try and protect

them. There isn’t a lot of broadcasting about factory farming and its effects since its traces are

usually covered up. It’s important to bring light to serious situations like this and makes sure

factories are transparent in what they are doing.

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Works Cited

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me%20vegetarians%20for%20many,excessive%20use%20of%20environmental%20reso

urces.

“Dangerous Contaminated Chicken - Consumer Reports.” Consumer Reports,

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tm.

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y%2C%20well%2Dbalanced%20diet,can%20slow%20down%20reaction%20time.

Gates, Bill. “Future of Food.” Gatesnotes.com, 18 Mar. 2013,

https://www.gatesnotes.com/About-Bill-Gates/Future-of-Food.

“Hormones in Food: Should You Worry?” HuffPost, 7 Dec. 2017,

huffpost.com/entry/hormones-in-food-should-y_n_815385.

“How Much Meat Do We Eat?”. Slowfood, www.slowfood.com/much-meat-eat/ Accessed 10

April 2022

“Is Meat Consumption in The US Increasing or Declining.” The Humane League, 23 Mar. 2021,

thehumaneleague.org/article/meat-consumption-in-the-us.
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Krantz, Rachel. “8 Reasons Meat Is Bad for You .” Bustle, 15 Feb. 2016,

www.bustle.com/articles/137865-8-reasons-meat-is-bad-for-you-yes-even-chicken.

Lam , Victoria, et al. “Vegetarianism and Religion.” Vegetarianism and Religion,

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%20the%20muscle,two%20proteins%3A%20actin%20and%20myosin.

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