The FARM BuzzIf you need another reason to go vegan, consider this recent news from Washington as your catalyst. In a misguided attempt to lower food costs, President Donald Trump has introduced a new policy that aims to increase imports of animal-based meat from foreign countries. Under this proclamation, 300,000 metric tons of “ground beef” will enter the country with no added tariffs and sell for 25% below current market prices. It remains unclear whether the government will subsidize this discount.
The odd thing about this new declaration, however, is that no one has disclosed which countries the “beef” will come from. The President and his team refuse to say. Even top administrative officials do not know.
When asked, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins stated, “I am not privy to talk about that. I think the conversations are still going on.” She admits she is not a part of those conversations. Instead, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is working on the new policy.
Imported Mystery Meat Coming to a Plate Near You
Greer says the public will know “very soon” where the meat will be imported from. But when is soon? And why are they being so cagey about it? When asked directly where the cow meat would come from, Greer said, “I don’t want to say.” He disclosed that a few countries were being considered but refused to elaborate. What criteria are being used to determine who wins the bid to export beef to America?
Indiscriminately accepting meat from foreign countries begs the question, “What is in the meat?” How do those countries maintain lower prices than American ranchers? Do they cut corners? Do they add things to the meat to increase output? Non-vegan citizens should consider these questions when visiting the grocery store.
Is Imported Meat the Final Straw for Some Senators?
Many congressional Republicans who normally support the president without question have spoken out, denouncing the policy. Among them are Senators Tim Sheehy and Steve Daines, both Republicans from Montana; Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo. Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb.; and Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb. The latter decried the policy, saying, “We all want lower grocery prices, but as I’ve said for months, we cannot do it at the expense of American producers.” Trump tried a similar policy last October, opening the market for Argentinian beef. It was met with the same vitriol as this current decree.
While this move may have little direct impact for vegan consumers, it will have long-lasting consequences for the American economy. Advocates for American ranchers say the move will only increase prices in the future by discouraging farmers and ranchers from investing to rebuild and expand. Perhaps this would be a good time for some of them to consider a different, more compassionate career path.
Another Great Reason to Leave Animals Off Your Plate
One way to be sure to avoid this new mystery meat is to leave animals off of your plate. This new policy may be the final push some individuals need to adopt a vegan lifestyle. We all know the main reasons to go vegan. Health benefits and environmental concerns prompt many people to give up meat. Compassion motivates many more. Animals live short, miserable lives at the hands of humans before they are brutally slaughtered. It is unnecessary and cruel. Now we can add additional financial burden and the fear of mystery ingredients to the list.
Become a Part of World Day for Farmed Animals on October 2nd
Factory farms cage, crowd, mutilate, and kill over 80 billion land animals for food each year, not counting 1 to 3 trillion fish and sea animals. Each year on October 2nd, people around the world come together to shine a light on the plight of the billions of animals who are imprisoned and lose their lives to animal agriculture each year. World Day for Farmed Animals has inspired people to remember these victims and speak out against the suffering they endure each and every day. Find out more and get involved: www.dayforanimals.com or check out our previous post, 10 Ways to Get Involved on World Day for Farmed Animals.
The FARM Buzz
