Health Canada, the governmental department
responsible for the country’s public health, is proposing warning labels for unhealthy foods
that are high in saturated fat, sugar, and sodium. This has the dairy industry
concerned.
Dairy farmers are worried that most of their
products would fall under this category and be slapped with a warning label
that could inhibit consumers from purchasing them.
David Wiens, chair of Dairy Farmers of
Manitoba, claims the dairy industry could lose more than $800 million in sales
if its products were labeled unhealthy. “Our concern is that many Canadians
would actually put that product back down if they see a warning label, he says.
“So it would impact our markets domestically.
The truth is, the dairy industry should be
scared. Milk, cheese, yogurt, and other dairy products are incredibly
unhealthy. In fact, dairy is the number one source of saturated fat in the United States.
Additionally, dairy consumption can increase one’s risk of cancer. According to a
2006 Harvard study, women with diets high in meat and dairy increased their
risk of cancer by 33 percent.
For men, dairy consumption has been linked to
prostate cancer in more than 20 studies. And don’t be fooled by the industry’s
claim that we need milk for calcium. We can get all the calcium we need from plant-based sources.
Thankfully, a new draft of Canada’s food guide suggests a shift away from
dairy and other animal products. And the new warning labels could be part of
this shift. Dr. Laurent Marcoux, president of the Canadian Medical Association,
says the proposal is “a step towards enabling
all Canadians to make the healthy choice, the easy choice.
Dairy is not only unhealthy; it’s also unspeakably cruel. At dairy factory farms,
cows are treated as mere milk-producing machines. They are forcibly impregnated
and kept in terrible conditions. Shortly after they are born, calves
are torn from their mothers. Male calves are killed for veal. Females are
forced into the dairy herd, trapped in a cycle of abuse for years until they
are considered “spent and sent to slaughter.
See for yourself.
Fortunately, consumption of cow’s milk in the
U.S. has fallen 40 percent since 1970, while sales of
dairy-free milk alternatives have soared by 30 percent since 2011. In fact, a recent
survey reveals that half of U.S. dairy consumers also use vegan dairy
alternatives.
But you don’t have to wait for the government
to take action. You can help protect your health and cows by withdrawing your financial support
from this horrible industry. Join the millions of people who are ditching dairy
and adopting a compassionate vegan diet. Click here
to get started!
For a list of delicious dairy alternatives,
click here.