There is an increasing number of people all over the world who are becoming vegan. Many argue that it is much better for the planet and for the animals, but is it really as beneficial as people say?
Becoming vegan is one of the most effective ways to reduce the volumes of greenhouse gases that are released into the atmosphere. A lot of water and crops is required to feed the animals that are farmed for meat or other animal products, and this large amount has a big impact on the environment, as it can lead to lots of deforestation, and therefore habitat loss and extinction of rare animals. Also, animal agriculture - which is a big industry - is one of the main reasons for worldwide water pollution. Slurry from cows pollutes the world’s water resources, and can result in harm to fish, other animals, and even humans. So, the spread of veganism would help slow down climate change and clean up the environment.
Being vegan has other positives. It can have great effects on humans as well. For example, the vast area of land used for growing animal feed reduces the opportunity for planting crops suitable for human food – which contributes indirectly to famine of communities in less economically developed countries. Crucially, the world human population has doubled since the 1960s, but world meat production has quadrupled. With the prediction that both human population and meat production will continue to rise, we have to consider just how many people in the world are going to starve, and whether eating meat is really worth it. Veganism appears to be the one of the best solutions to this problem, as a lot less land and water is used in the production of animal-friendly foods.
However, there are many people who argue that veganism doesn’t change the negative effects of the food industry on the environment by very much. As vegans refuse to eat meat, dairy or any other products that have come from animals, a lot of the time they use substitutes that taste similar, but don’t come from animals. For example, there are egg substitutes that are made from algae. Vegan diets often include food that comes from far-away countries, that has to be packaged up and shipped halfway around the world. This packaging often uses a lot of resource-intensive materials; although the food is not directly harmful to animals, it sometimes can contain ingredients such as palm oil which is taken from rainforests and results in deforestation. This is why veganism isn’t always as sustainable as vegans claim and, in fact, it can be just as ‘bad’ as a meat-eater’s diet.
A vegan diet could also be bad for a person’s health. There haven’t been any proven mortality benefits, and some argue that a vegan diet can even be unhealthier than an omnivorous diet, if the right foods and enough nutrients aren’t eaten. Vegan diets have generally been proven to be lower in calcium, vitamin D, iron and vitamin B12 (which only occurs naturally in animal products) amongst other necessary nutrients for normal body functioning. A 48 year old vegetarian said, “To put it simply: a packet of crisps and a fizzy drink are be vegan, but that doesn’t mean that they are good for you”.
Overall, veganism is often seen as a healthier, more environmentally friendly option, but you still have to be mindful of what you eat, as it is still possible to be vegan and eat unhealthily, or eat products that contain harmful ingredients. But what do you think: is the vegan diet better or worse than an omnivorous one?
By Raya Milushev, Newstead Wood School
