Pardon me, pilgrim! This Thanksgiving, how about ditching the dead bird? In today’s farming system, beautiful, inquisitive, intelligent turkeys endure lives of suffering and painful deaths. Here are 10 good reasons to carve out a new tradition by flocking to vegan entrées, along with some scrumptious holiday cooking tips and recipes—and thankfully, none of them require stuffing anyone. But first, a video of your turkey dinner in reverse:
Turkeys are “smart animals with personality and character, and keen awareness of their surroundings,” says Oregon State University poultry scientist Tom Savage. The Atlantic article “Consider the Turkey” reports that researchers “have found that when an individual turkey is removed from his flock, even in domesticity, he’ll squawk in obvious protest until reunited with his posse.” They relish having their feathers stroked. They dance when reunited with a person they recognize. Anyone who spends time with them at farm sanctuaries quickly learns that turkeys are as varied in personality as dogs and cats.
Eating turkey has become a tradition for many families on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other holidays. However, there are many reasons why you may want to reconsider turkey this holiday season. Here are some of the top reasons to avoid turkey:
Turkeys Suffer Greatly
Over 46 million turkeys are slaughtered every year just for Thanksgiving meals These turkeys are living beings with their own personalities and feelings. They suffer tremendously in factory farm conditions The turkeys are kept in overcrowded sheds with no enrichment. Many become injured and ill and are never treated. Turkeys are bred to grow so large so quickly that they become crippled under their own weight. Many succumb to heart attacks and organ failure due to their genetics.
Inhumane Slaughter
There are no federal laws protecting turkeys during slaughter. Many turkeys are still conscious when their throats are slit. Others are boiled alive in the scalding tank meant to remove feathers. The slaughter process is utterly inhumane for these sensitive birds.
Health Risks
Turkey flesh and juices can contain dangerous pathogens like salmonella, campylobacter, and clostridium perfringens Eating undercooked or contaminated turkey can cause food poisoning For your health, it’s better to avoid it altogether.
Antibiotic Resistance
Turkeys are fed constant low doses of antibiotics to prevent disease in filthy factory farm conditions and to make them grow faster. This is contributing to antibiotic resistance which will make antibiotics less effective for treating human illnesses. The WHO calls antibiotic resistance a global health emergency.
Pandemic Risks
The unsanitary conditions on turkey factory farms are a hotbed for dangerous new viruses Public health experts warn that a new pandemic could emerge from a poultry farm, There have already been bird flu strains that have transmitted to humans and have a 60% mortality rate The conditions that produce new virulent viruses still exist,
Environmental Damage
Industrial poultry farming causes immense environmental damage. Air and water pollution sickens surrounding communities. The immense amount of feces ruins local ecosystems. And factory farms use staggering amounts of water and crops to feed the birds.
Unsafe Working Conditions
Working in turkey factory farms leads to respiratory illnesses, infections, and exposures to dangerous pathogens. Workers are also at risk of repetitive strain injuries. The work is difficult, dirty, and dangerous while the pay is extremely low.
Animal Cruelty
It’s simply unethical to raise and kill sentient beings to eat their flesh when we have so many cruelty-free meal options available to us. Choosing plant-based foods is better for the planet, our health, workers, and animals.
High Saturated Fat
While skinless white turkey meat is lean, consuming turkey skin drastically increases the saturated fat content. The skin alone contributes a huge amount of fat and calories. Dark meat with skin is also high in saturated fat which raises cholesterol levels.
Processed Turkey Is Unhealthy
Deli turkey, turkey bacon, sausages, and hot dogs should be avoided. They are high in sodium, chemical preservatives, and other additives. Eating processed meats raises the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Ethical Alternatives Exist
There are so many delicious plant-based main course options for holidays. You can find turkey substitutes made from wheat protein or tofu with a similar taste and texture to turkey. Or choose a veggie roast, stuffed squash, nut loaf, or mushroom wellington for your centerpiece.
Support Cruelty-Free Traditions
While traditions are important, most cherished holiday memories are not dependent on eating turkey. We can start new traditions that don’t infringe on the rights of others. Your holiday will be just as fun and meaningful with plant-based options.
Save Money
Pound for pound, a turkey substitutes like seitan or tofurky cost less than an actual dead turkey body. Going plant-based saves you money that is better spent on gifts for loved ones or donations to charity.
Avoid L-Tryptophan Effects
Roast turkey contains high levels of L-tryptophan which makes people tired after eating large portions. L-tryptophan is higher in turkey than beef or cheese per ounce. You’ll get more energy from plant-based meals.
Allergies/Intolerances
Some people are allergic to poultry or intolerant of ingredients often used to season turkey like garlic. Plant-based meals avoid these allergens. They are also free of mammalian hormones present in turkey flesh.
Moral Objections
Eating a once-living creature may go against your ethics. Most traditions around eating turkey come from times when we did not understand animal sentience as we do today thanks to science and reason.
Promote Your Health
Eating plant-based has been proven to lower risk for obesity, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses. Swapping turkey for veggie proteins protects your health in the long run.
Maintain Healthy Weight
Turkey with its skin is high in fat and calories compared to plant proteins. Sticking to plant foods makes it easier to stay within daily caloric needs, especially around the holidays.
The next time a holiday comes around, strongly consider leaving turkey off your table. There are now so many satisfying plant-based main dishes to choose from. You’ll be protecting your health, promoting compassion for animals, and doing your part to reduce environmental destruction. Have a happy and ethical holiday!
Can You Spell ‘Pandemic’?
The first human death from bird flu in North America has been reported, and that’s not a surprise, given that people are traveling more frequently worldwide. Also, The New York Times reported that “[c]ases of the new H7N9 avian influenza in China are surging alarmingly …. There are now about 300 confirmed cases, with more appearing every day. Roughly a quarter of the victims have died.” When comparing this strain to the H5N1 strain that emerged in 2003 and also spread from birds to people, experts report that the new strain is spreading faster. “H7N9 is blowing right by H5N1,” Michael T. Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, told The New York Times.
Let Them Give Thanks, Too
The natural life expectancy of turkeys is up to 10 years, but on factory farms, they are slaughtered when they’re just 5 months old. In nature, young turkeys stay with their mothers for the first few months of their lives. Since Thanksgiving is a time to take stock of our lives and give thanks for all that we have, let turkeys give thanks, too, by keeping them off your plate.