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Each year around the world, roughly 56 billion animals are raised and slaughtered for food. This startling figure doesn’t include the untold number of aquatic animals also killed.
Just like dogs and cats, chickens, pigs, cows, and other animals used for food have their own personalities, inquisitive natures, likes and dislikes. Most importantly, they have the ability to feel pain, suffer from boredom and frustration, and experience joy. Yet these animals are routinely mistreated at overcrowded, stressful, and unsanitary factory farms.
As a compassionate consumer, one of the most effective steps you can take to help animals is to make wise food choices.
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Check out our selection of international veg recipes from the cookbook of celebrity chef Robin Robertson! |
Each one of us can help prevent animals from suffering in factory farms simply by selecting veg food options.
If you currently consume meat, eggs, or dairy products, take measures to reduce your consumption. Consider setting aside one day of each week when your diet draws only from plant-based foods. Once you are comfortable with that adjustment, consider taking other steps to further reduce your intake of animal products.
If you continue to eat animal products, know that not all are equal when it comes to animal welfare. Make an effort to determine the source of any meat, eggs, or dairy products in your diet. Avoid products from factory farms that employ intensive confinement practices, such as the use of battery cages for egg-laying hens and gestation crates for female pigs. Favor those operations, including smaller-scale farms, that meet meaningful animal welfare standards.
Need Help Getting Started?
Read The Humane Society of the United States (The HSUS)'s Guide to Vegetarian Eating (on the Web or in PDF form) for more information on how you can help animals when you eat, including delicious recipes, tips on incorporating more animal-free meals into your diet, and much more.
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