Eating meat

Is it wrong to kill and eat animals?

Most people like to eat meat, but is it morally acceptable to kill and eat animals?

Some might think that eating meat is fine in principle. It doesn't seem wrong to eat an animal that was killed by forest fire. Also, many companies are now making meat from stem cells in the lab. Presumably, eating this kind of meat is fine, assuming that the manufacturing process is not environmentally unfriendly.

Life on the farm

However, most of the meat we eat come from animal farms or the fishery industry. To satisfy the huge demand for meat and to maximize profit, these enterprises have to operate like factories. Every year billions of animals suffer greatly as a result:

• Chickens in crowded and stressful environment often fight each other and end up getting hurt, so their beaks are usually cut off using a hot blade without anaesthetics.
• Many cows are also dehorned, branded, and castrated without anaesthetics.
• In many countries, pregnant sows (pigs) are put into narrow gestation crates. They can barely move and suffer from extreme stress.
• Many of these animals do not receive medical treatment when they are sick because it might not be economically profitable to do so.
• Many animals are slaughtered alive. Ineffective stunning leads to some animals being skinned and scalded while still being conscious.

You can easily find out for yourself what industrial animal farming is really like. Dominion is a documentary on animal farming that you can watch online. If you don't have time for the longer documentary, here is a shorter video from PETA.

Here is a DW news report about animal farming:

Scientists agree that animals can feel pain and suffer. In general, unless we have very good reasons to do so, we should avoid causing pain and suffering. So are there good reasons to eat meat?

Arguments in support of eating meat

Here are some typical reasons given for eating meat. Are they plausible?

• Meat is delicious.
• Vegetarianism also involves killing.
• Eating meat is part of traditional culture. It is normal and not illegal.
• Meat is God's gift for humankind.
• Animals exist because of us. They are our property and so we can eat them.
• If we don't eat animals, they will become extinct.
• Human beings have canine teeth meant for eating meat.
• Survival of the fittest. We are at the top of the food chain.
• We are smarter than animals.
• We must eat meat in order to survive and obtain nutrition.

Responses

Here are some replies to the arguments above. See if you agree.

• Meat is delicious - The taste of meat explains why people love meat, but by itself this does not justify eating meat. It has been said that human flesh is tastier than pork, but this doesn't make it right to eat human beings.
• Vegetarians kill plants too - Many vegetarians believe that animals should not be killed, not because they are alive just like plants, but because animals are conscious, and can feel pain and experience stress and fear. We have good scientific reasons to believe that plants are not conscious.
• Eating meat is a tradition - Human society progresses over time. Our existing laws and traditions are not always correct.
• Animals are a gift from God - Religious doctrines are not immutable. Most religions promote love, compassion, and justice. Eating less meat or adopting a vegetarian diet affirm these fundamental values.
• Animals come from humans - We eat wild animals too even though they don't exist because of us. Children come from their parents, but they are not their parents' property. Also, even if it is OK to eat an animal in principle, our current system of factory farming might still be unacceptable.
• Animals will become extinct if we don't eat meat - Animals usually go extinct because of human exploitation. If we avoid eating farm animals, their numbers would decline, but they can still live in the wild or in protected areas.
• Canine teeth are for eating meat - Hippos have the longest canine teeth but they are herbivores. Humans are omnivores and can physiologically digest meat, but this does not mean we must eat meat. We are not required to have kids just because we have reproductive organs.
• Survival of the fittest - Animals have no choice. The point of human civilisation is to move away from a state of nature so we do not have to be like animals.
• Humans are smarter - If humans can eat animals because of their higher IQ, should adults eat children, and geniuses eat normal people? If aliens are smarter than us, do they have the right to eat us?
• We need meat to survive - We don't. Many vegetarians are very healthy. See the next section.

Environment and health

Many people mistakenly believe that vegetables lack protein. Nuts and legumes are rich in protein. Vegetarians can certainly get enough nutrients if they plan their meals well, but they should ensure that they get enough vitamin D, K₂ and B₁₂. Lots of vegetarian food are enriched with these vitamins, and there are supplements available too. Those willing to eat a small amount of eggs or dairy products should be fine.

Many large medical studies have found that people who eat more fruits and vegetables are healthier. The World Cancer Research Fund recommends a maximum of 500 grams red or processed meat per week. Most people eat far too much meat. Of course, meat lovers might find it a challenge to eat less meat. It might be easier to set a more conservative goal initially, such as eating one vegetarian meal each week, and then gradually increase the frequency.

Meat production and consumption have other negative effects on human health and the environment. Almost 80% of emerging infectious diseases in humans are transmitted between humans and animals. The excessive use of antibiotics in livestock farming has exacerbated the problem of "superbugs". Deforestation to create animal farms and pastures destroys habitats and contributes to global warming. Modern commercial fishing has led to the destruction of marine ecosystems. Discarded fishing nets also produce plastic pollution in the oceans.

A movie about food and health: