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Human Impact

The Human Cost of Killing Animals

Driven by profit, factory farming is an inherently hazardous industry that exploits workers, marginalized populations and community health. While the animals pay the ultimate price with their lives, these communities are oppressed by the same system that puts profit above anything else. This only adds to the massive suffering caused by these industrial farms.

38%

of slaughterhouse workers were born outside of the U.S.1

Pig Factory Farms

are disproportionately located in Black and brown communities in the U.S.2

More than 60%

of meat plant workers are Black, Latino, Asian American or Native American.3

The Impact on Vulnerable Workers

A large percentage of factory farm workers are people of color, with an unknown percentage of workers being undocumented.1 The industry depends on these undocumented individuals because they are less likely to complain about the low wages, dangerous working conditions and treatment of the animals. Because company profits are based on extreme speed and efficiency, workers are expected to perform at a rate that often compromises their safety and causes great suffering for the animals.4

Vulnerable Workers 1

The Impact on Marginalized Communities

Black and brown communities and low-income communities are burdened with a disproportionate number of factory farms and CAFOs (specifically pig farms) that fill the air, soil and water with contaminants.2 These communities experience numerous health and water access issues due to the vast manure lagoons these ‘farms’ create to hold the enormous amount of waste from the thousands of pigs being raised for food.

Lagoon Anaerobic Manure CAFO Waste

The Impact on World Hunger

Many impoverished communities across the world grow more than enough food to feed their inhabitants. Unfortunately, the food they grow is used to feed animals who are then killed and eaten by people living in richer, Western countries.5 Research has found that if the land required to produce animal products were used for a “nutritionally equivalent combination” edible plants, the total food available would increase by 120%.6 Additionally, animal agriculture requires an extraordinary amount of fresh water, which diverts this precious resource from struggling communities who do not even have proper sanitization. A widespread adoption of a more plant based diet focused on grains and vegetables would create a larger abundance of food and would even reduce the price of grains and other staple items.

World Hunger 1

The Impact on Pandemics

Experts believe that the COVID-19 pandemic started in a live animal market.7 However, these live animal markets continue to happen around the world, including in the U.S. Evidence shows us that live animal markets and factory farms are a breeding ground for pathogens and viruses that can spread to humans. In fact, this is not the first time a virus has come from our use of animals for food; SARS and H1N1 also originated in our food system, among other deadly viruses.

Pandemics 1

The Impact on Public Health

From reducing your risk of cancer to lowering high blood pressure to avoiding Type II Diabetes and many other diseases, medical experts like the Harvard Medical School, the Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine, and the American Dietetic Associate agree that a balanced plant-based diet is good for your health.8 9 The saturated fat and trans fat found in dairy products and meat can even increase the risk for Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive conditions. Additionally, 65% of the global population cannot tolerate dairy, yet it is still a recommended food group in many countries. Eating a plant-based diet also comes with other benefits like healthy skin and weight loss or management.

Public Health 1

The vegan movement is one of the fastest growing social justice movements in the world today.

- Dr. Melanie Joy

Get Inspired!

These facts can feel overwhelming and hard to digest, but knowing the facts also inspires change. And no change is too small! There are so many ways that we can make a compassionate difference in the world and feel good doing it. Get inspired by all of the ways that you can improve your health and embrace a lifestyle that is kind to animals and the environment here.

Get Inspired!

References:

1 Food Empowerment Project
2 Environmental Health Perspectives
3 Washington Post
4 United States Government Accountability Office. Workplace Safety and Health: Safety in the Meat and Poultry Industry, while Improving, Could Be Further Strengthened
5 The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
6 Kaplan, Karen. By going vegan, America could feed an additional 390 million people, study suggests
7 Maron, Dina. ‘Wet markets’ likely launched the coronavirus. Here’s what you need to know.
8 Harvard Health Publishing
9 Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

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