BOYCOTTING MEAT? 

MEAT PACKING PLANTS – What the heck is going on?

There is a movement to boycott meat. The impetus is primarily to protect the workers who had very stressful working conditions before this pandemic but are now also getting slammed with Covid. I think meat should also be boycotted because, if we did not eat meat, Covid-19, along with just about every other mass infection out there would not have occurred, and we would all be healthier. In addition, there would be significantly less global warming not to mention animal abuse.

President Trump has announced that meat-packing plants are “essential”, basically forcing workers in those plants to keep working. Let’s be clear. This is a financial decision, not a public health decision. No one will die without meat but many people are dying because of it. The workers are dying. The public is dying from chronic diseases and a significant contributor to those diseases is our obsession with meat and dairy.

In the US alone, so far, 27,000 cases of Covid have been linked to these plants and over 200 meat plant workers have died from it, including 5 inspectors. What makes working in these facilities such a significant risk?

1. Poor PPE. Although they have gotten better at separating workers and providing masks, it is impossible to make them any safer. 
2. They are cooped up in close quarters.
3. Long hours = more exposure.
4. Little movement. They are usually relegated to one station and they stay there all day.
5. Indoors = continuous exposure.
6. Shared equipment.
7. Cold environment. Although they get hot and sweaty in their clothing and masks, which also increases spread, working in a refrigerated environment allows the virus to live much longer than in warmer working conditions. This equates to increased exposure.
8. Shared transportation. Many of these workers are poor and ride-share. Great for the environment but terrible for infection spread.
9. Stressful job. Stress impairs the immune system making them more vulnerable to get sick.

We are so accustomed to getting what we want when we want it and give little thought to the process leading to the food that ends up on our plates. We need to be more aware of where our food comes from and how it was grown or raised. How it was harvested or slaughtered. How it was transported. How it was handled… Sounds like a lot, but that awareness is important. We need to make well informed choices and make healthy, responsible and ethical choices, not just for our own health, but also for the health of everyone else.

As Maya Angelou said “Do the best you can until you know better. When you know better, do better”.

Stay safe and be well. 

AC 😎✌️🌱❤🐖🏃🏻🧘🏻‍♂️🌎😷