Vegan Thanksgiving – Better for You and the Planet!

For many people, Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner mean ‘Roast Turkey’. Every year in the US the president saves one turkey from slaughter. But what about the 46 million other turkeys that are eaten each Thanksgiving in America?

The horror of turkey ‘farms’

Worldwide, 640 million turkeys are killed for food each year. The US produces almost half of turkey meat eaten globally. Sadly, 99% of these turkeys are raised in CAFOs or factory farms.

Thousands of turkeys are crammed together in warehouses. They do not have room to graze and roost. Instead, fighting and pecking each other is common. To stop this, the turkeys have their beaks and toes cut off. This can result in infection and sometimes death.

Genetically modified, the turkeys grow at very fast rates. They reach their slaughter weight of 15-25 pounds in just 14-18 weeks. A wild turkey lives for an average of 5 years. Their bones are too weak to support their weight and the turkeys are often crippled and barely able to walk. In addition, their breasts are so large that they cannot mate naturally.

Turkey slaughter for Thanksgiving

The workers grab turkeys by their legs and thrown them into open-sided wooden crates. The crates are loaded onto trucks for transport to the slaughterhouses. In the US, it is legal to transport turkeys for up to 28 hours without water, food or rest. Many turkeys die ‘on the road’ from exposure to extreme cold or heat.

In the slaughterhouse, the turkeys hang by their legs on a moving rail. Then, the turkeys are dipped in a bath of electrified water to stun them unconscious. As stunning is not required in the US, this step can be missed and the birds are left fully awake. Next, an automated blade cuts their throats. Finally, the turkeys are scalded in a tub of boiling water.

Turkeys pollute air and water

Each CAFO holds up to 60,000 turkeys. This huge number of turkeys in one place has a very bad impact on air and water quality. Turkey manure is one of the biggest problems for water and air pollution. Manure run-off pollutes local water supplies with poisons such as nitrogen, phosphorous, hormones and antibiotics. Poisonous gases and heavy dust particles pollute the air. Turkey manure also attracts flies, cockroaches and rats.

Sick CAFO workers and locals

In the US, CAFOs are usually located in poor, rural communities. The residents are often desperate for work. Many are illegal immigrants who work for low wages and in poor conditions. Seventy percent of CAFO workers earn wages below poverty level. They breathe in dust and toxic gases that cause diseases like asthma and bronchitis. Dangerous, repetitive work causes accidents and muscle problems. Many workers end up with missing fingers or severe muscular pain.

Living next-door to a CAFO is unpleasant and unhealthy. Locals complain of  ‘chest tightness, wheezing, runny nose, scratchy throat, burning eyes, headaches and plugged ears’.  They talk about the horrible stench, buzzing flies and scavenging rats. Manure spills and leaks into the water supply are commonplace. People living near factory farms suffer from depression and stress more than normal.

Turkey’s High Carbon Footprint

The average turkey weighs 8.4 kg or 18.5 pounds and has a carbon footprint of 91 kilos of CO2e. This means it has the fifth highest carbon footprint of any food, just after lamb, beef, cheese and pork. About half of this carbon footprint comes from the CAFO, a quarter from processing and under a quarter from home cooking.

Worldwide, the global carbon footprint of 640 million turkeys is 58,500 million kilos of CO2e or 58.5 million tonnes CO2e. This is more than the total carbon dioxide emissions of the country of Sweden!

Turkey, arsenic and bugs

Factory farms are the perfect breeding grounds for bacteria. At least 3 million Americans get sick from ‘dirty’ meat and poultry every year. In August 2011, Cargill recalled 36 millions pounds of turkey due to salmonella contamination. Over-use of antibiotics in CAFOs leads to the development of antibiotic-resistant super-bugs.

Animal feed often contains dioxins, PCBs, arsenic and cancer-causing poisons. Turkey fat soaks up these poisons and passes them into the food chain. Turkeys also feed on the ground-up bodies of diseased turkeys. Turkeys are given arsenic in the form of the antibiotic roxarsone. It kills parasites and enhances the pink color of the flesh. Poultry feed is the biggest cause of arsenic in our food and water supply. Fresh turkey also contains BPA, the plastic linked to hormonal disorders.

Turkey is a low-fat meat but roasting at Thanksgiving adds butter, high in saturated fat. Saturated fats increase the risk of high cholesterol and heart disease. Eating a diet low in animal fats is a healthier option.

Just say NO to turkey this Thanksgiving!

Let’s send a message to Big Food that we don’t like cruel turkey farming that is bad for turkeys, our health and our planet.

There are lots of alternatives to a Thanksgiving Turkey. Have a browse on the internet or a look through your cookery books for vegetarian menus. Here’s a vegan loaf that looks tasty and filling, or try my recipe for the ultimate comfort food of Vegan Shepherd’s Pie. If you’re not much of a cook, why not try some of the great options from the supermarket such as Tofurkey or Quorn Turk’y. And some vegan restaurants sell a complete takeaway Vegan Thanksgiving meal at a price!

So what are your plans for Thanksgiving Dinner this year? Love to get your comments!