According to Philly.com, the first shipment in more than 20 years of raw beef from Brazil has just arrived in the United States.
This is why that’s bad news:
First off, the U.S. halted raw beef imports from Brazil more than two decades ago over concerns of deadly cattle-borne disease outbreaks. While Brazil hasn’t seen any outbreaks in quite a few years, foodborne diseases are incredibly common in the meat industry. From salmonella in chicken to antibiotic-resistant bacteria in pork, meat is filthy. In fact, Consumer Reports tested 458 pounds of store-bought beef and found that all of it was contaminated with fecal matter.
Gross, right? And tracing the source of contaminated beef would be incredibly difficult if it were imported.
In addition to health risks, beef imported from Brazil presents huge environmental threats. Brazil is the third-largest meat producer in the world. The country devotes an incredible amount of land to production of grains, primarily soybeans used to feed farmed animals. About 80 percent of all grains produced in Brazil are destined for farmed animals. Compare this to the global average of 50 percent.
This land usage is destroying the Amazon rainforest. In fact, raising animals for food is responsible for a shocking 91 percent of Amazon rainforest destruction and the extinction of many species in the region.
Earlier this year, Mercy For Animals expanded its efforts to Brazil to educate people on the many benefits of a vegan diet. In order to make veg eating as easy as possible, MFA has launched several new resources specifically for Brazil, including the new EscolhaVeg.com.br site, complete with all of the tools needed to make the transition to a healthy and humane plant-based diet: helpful hints, quick meal ideas, and inspiration.
Thankfully, you can help lead the charge in creating a more compassionate world by switching to a healthy, humane, and sustainable vegan diet.
Click here to order your FREE Vegetarian Starter Guide.