If the USDA 2020 Nutrition Guidelines calls for an increase in plant-based proteins, the United States—which has one of the highest rates of meat consumption of any country in the world—can reduce its meat consumption and lower the overall demand for factory-farmed meat.
You’re likely wondering what the USDA Nutrition Guidelines has to do with animal protection. The short answer is an awful lot. The foods we eat not only impact our health, but also the health and wellbeing of animals.
The majority of animals killed for food in the United States are raised on factory farms where they’re treated as mere machines. Factory farming evolved as a means to satisfy an ever-increasing demand for meat. However, if the USDA 2020 Nutrition Guidelines calls for an increase in plant-based proteins, the United States—which has one of the highest rates of meat consumption of any country in the world—can reduce its meat consumption and lower the overall demand for factory-farmed meat.
Once demand decreases, World Animal Protection expects that industrial animal agriculture can start being phased out, creating a shift towards farming practices that are more sustainable and kinder to animals.
Right now, the USDA is reviewing recommendations for the suggested American diet. These nutrition recommendations—set forth by the United States Department of Agriculture and Department of Health and Human Services—shape food choices made by millions of children, parents, seniors, and veterans each day and guide more than $80 billion in federal spending every year.
Cows, pigs, and chickens raised for food are among the most abused animals in the world. Will you join World Animal Protection and urge USDA Secretary Perdue to reduce the amount of recommended animal-based proteins in the 2020-2025 Nutrition Guidelines?
