This Thanksgiving, Carve Out a New Tradition

November 21, 2006

WASHINGTON, D.C. — This Thanksgiving, The Humane Society of the United States encourages consumers to give their families—and turkeys—a reason to be truly thankful by celebrating with hearty, delicious plant-based foods. Choosing heart-healthy and animal-friendly fare this holiday not only protects our health, but alleviates the abuses commonplace on turkey factory farms.

According to The HSUS's Director of Public Health and Animal Agriculture Michael Greger, M.D., "This Thanksgiving, we can enjoy foods that are healthy for our families, giving ourselves and turkeys reason to celebrate. Simply by choosing from the wealth of delicious, easy-to-prepare plant-based meal options, we can leave saturated animal fat, cholesterol, and animal suffering out of our holiday festivities."

Many satisfying, mouth-watering vegetarian options are readily available for any Thanksgiving celebration—including the Tofurky Feast (complete with a roast, "drumsticks," dumplings, stuffing and gravy) and the Unturkey (also including a roast, stuffing, and gravy)—that are delicious centerpieces to any family's holiday table featuring such favorite side dishes as mashed potatoes, yams, and cranberry sauce.

People who choose not to eat vegetarian on Thanksgiving can still reduce animal suffering by  switching to products from animals raised in conditions that are less inhumane than those endured by factory-farmed turkeys, such as truly free-range turkey products.

Each Thanksgiving, tens of millions of turkeys endure lives filled with frustration and suffering. Most are confined in barren sheds where they are crammed beak-to-beak for months on end. Bred to grow at an unnaturally rapid rate, many birds cannot even walk normally and suffer from chronic health problems, including heart disease and skeletal disorders. Producers also amputate parts of turkeys' beaks, toes, and snoods, rarely using painkiller. These animals must often endure agonizing slaughter that would shock any compassionate person.

The HSUS encourages people to learn more about more humane Thanksgiving options at HumaneEating.org.

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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization with nearly 10 million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, marine mammals, animals in research, equine protection, and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy and field work. The nonprofit organization is based in Washington and has field representatives and offices across the country.