Even though I have been a pescatarian (can eat plant based food, dairy, seafood) for the past two years and a vegetarian some time in between that, I’m not completely against the idea of eating meat. While I have moments when I cannot eat meat without having an internal debate with myself, I’ve never felt the need to force vegetarianism or even veganism on someone else. However, that doesn’t mean I don’t have any issues with the industry itself.
(Edit: I started writing this post in 2020 and so some things have obviously changed. I am no longer a pescatarian. It wasn’t working out. Turns out, it’s a little hard to avoid meat when you live and cook with other people).
How The Perception Of Food Has Changed In The Developed World
There is a huge difference in farming and fishing now (in the context of globalization) compared to back when communities were self-sufficient. Back then, only specific types of food (spices, fruit, etc) travelled long distances to reach the consumer. Not to mention that unless one was rich, food did not go to waste.
For example, if one looks at the lifestyle of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in regards to food (before colonisation), they conducted their lives in a very sustainable manner. They always made sure to leave enough vegetation for it to regrow in the next season. They understood that food was for everyone and destroying a food source was a threat to everyone.
In the developed world, food is treated very differently. For one, food is not a scarcity here. Being concerned about food is more often a sign of poverty than respect for the environment. We don’t care as much about how much food we’re wasting. (Unless you were raised by super religious parents like me and was taught that you would burn in hell if you wasted food). Most people have no qualms against binning food they cannot eat and some go so far as to refuse to eat leftovers altogether.
There’s almost a culture of seeing food as an unending resource. Overconsumption and consumerism are huge issues (yes, that includes mukbang). People who have access to food do not appreciate its value or consider that it is a finite resource that many don’t have access to.
Acknowledge Where Your Food Comes From
I grew up in an area where it wasn’t uncommon to see animals being slaughtered for food. I knew what had to happen for meat to get onto my plate. I would walk past fields where it was being done without flinching. In fact, it boggled my mind when I heard people express their shock at the fact that the meat they’re eating actually came from an animal.
I’ve always held the value that if you can’t raise an animal and then eat it or even just look at an animal and then have it end up cooked on your plate then you shouldn’t be eating that animal. If you’re going to take the life of a living thing to sustain yourself, don’t kid yourself into thinking that the meat you’re eating never had a life. At least have the decency to acknowledge that this animal died to sustain you.
It’s basic knowledge
The vast majority of animals that eat meat know exactly where it comes from and how it was killed. I have nothing against a lion that eats a gazelle because that’s natural and the lion probably personally killed the gazelle. Now, I probably sound very judgemental and like I hate people who eat meat but I don’t. I just think it’s delusional to pretend that meat just magically appears on your plate.
For example, I still eat seafood and I know that the industry has a massively negative effect on the environment. I know that the fish I’m eating probably died by suffocating in a net. It’s horrible to think about but at least I’m informed and I’m consciously making the decision to eat this anyway.
But here’s the thing, if seeing a cow being slaughtered horrifies you then you’re going to be traumatised when you hear how most animals (that serve as food) get treated before they ever go on the chopping block.
Treatment of Livestock
Due to overconsumption and consumerism, there simply is no longer enough space or resources left to ethically raise livestock. Most animals live in terrible conditions. They are trapped in close quarters, they develop health problems due to not having the space to really move and are generally treated quite horribly. It’s sad but it’s true.
While I would never presume to tell everyone to become vegetarian or vegan, I will definitely say that we should reduce how often we eat meat. The problem is not that we consume meat. The problem is that the demand for meat, poultry and seafood is so high that there is no space to ethically raise them. These animals live in horrific conditions and they develop diseases as a result of this. And the truly tragic thing is that much of the meat produced from them goes to waste.
In Australia, 7.6 million tonnes of food is lost or wasted every year (1). And while 70% of this food is still perfectly edible, 1 in 6 Australian adults haven’t had enough to eat in the last year (2). On top of this, 1.2 million children have gone hungry during the same period (2).
Food Bank
Each year, 108 billion pounds of food is wasted in the United States. That equates to 130 billion meals and more than $408 billion in food thrown away each year. Shockingly, nearly 40% of all food in America is wasted.
Feeding America
It is one thing for an animal to suffer in order to sustain the life of another. That is simply the natural order of things. But for animals to suffer in these cruel conditions and for it to go to waste? That’s cruel. And it happens because we live in a capitalist society. We have been brainwashed into believing that it is up to the individual to make a difference when in reality, it is corporations that are responsible for most of this waste. It is admirable to turn to veganism as a way of lessening this exploitation but it is ultimately futile. Until corporations are held accountable for the waste they produce, veganism will do nothing. It is quite literally a drop of water in the ocean.
There needs to be stricter guidelines for farms in terms of how much space a farm animal should have, how often they should be allowed to roam. Because remember, animals raised in horrific conditions pass on diseases at much higher rates. Taking proper care of livestock is a necessity for public health.
There also needs to be stricter guidelines for corporations so that they either have to donate leftover food or order less food. This level of food wastage should not be allowed. And yes, of course, the individual also has to do their part. But for that, I suggest public shaming rather than laws and guidelines. It is one thing to invade the privacy of a corporation and quite another to invade the privacy of a home. We can never truly enforce food sustainability but if we shame individuals enough and don’t glorify overconsumption, I truly believe we can make positive change.
(AN: I am not telling you to shame people for eating too much. I’m simply saying don’t consume content that is based around individuals shoving what a family would need to survive for a week down their throat. Remember, I’m specifically talking about stuff like mukbang, not someone having a large meal. We’re also here to shame people who are snobbish about eating leftovers, who order large meals only to throw 80% of it in the bin rather than putting it in the fridge).
Final Thoughts
Instead of attempting to force veganism, I think it’s more productive to provide useful solutions and to hold the true culprits accountable (hint: corporations). I definitely think we should stop overconsumption and food wastage but I don’t think completely cutting meat out of our diet is a feasible solution for everyone. Unlike shaming people for wasting food or refusing to watch content promoting overconsumption, there’s nothing inherently wrong with eating meat. It’s an accepted practice in most places and shaming people for that will only make the shamer seem crazy. Instead, we need to work on reducing the amount of meat, poultry and seafood we consume.
We need solutions that are doable. And unfortunately, veganism is not a viable solution for everyone. It’s expensive, it may trigger someone’s allergies and there’s always the risk of deficiencies. In fact, when I first gave up meat, I became anaemic and was told not to do it. It’s a process and not everyone has the patience for it. Accept it and move on.
Sources
Effects of food production and consumption on the environment and climate
Education about vegan diet may improve Indigenous health
