General 2 — Be The Aternative

Veganism Builds on Vegetarianism

If you chose to go vegetarian, it's likely you did so out of concern for animal welfare. I know we certainly did.
Or maybe you did so out of concern for your carbon footprint.
Well, you might be surprised to learn that, in eating dairy and eggs, you’re still supporting the meat industry.
They also still contribute massively to the destruction of the planet, impacting the oceans and rain-forests.
This destruction directly affects wild and marine animals through habitat loss, pollution, and climate change.
By embracing veganism, you can more fully align your diet with your ethics, prevent animal suffering, and contribute to the preservation of our precious planet.
To learn more about the reality of dairy and eggs, please read on.

The Reality of Dairy

Dairy products are produced primarily from cows milk, though, of course, there is some demand for goats milk within the UK, too. Both of these animals have strong maternal instincts and carry their babies for may months - cows actually carry their calves for nine months, the same as us, and the milk that they produce, just like all mammals, is intended for their babies.

Approximately two-thirds of all British milk is taken from pregnant cows, while the remaining third comes from cows that have recently given birth. Prior to human intervention, cows would naturally produce up to 6 liters of milk per day for their calves, but have been bred over time to produce 20-50 liters daily for human consumption, which is extremely taxing on them. This constant demand on their bodies places them at risk of severe calcium deficiency and painful conditions, like mastitis.

In the dairy industry, most cows are impregnated through artificial insemination - a highly distressing processes that involves farmers restraining the cows and inserting their whole arm into their rectum. Their calves are taken away shortly after birth, in order to maximize milk production. After being separated, both mother and calf experience tremendous grief and anxiety, with farmers freely admitting that they cry out for one another for days, if not weeks afterwards. Now, it is true that some, very, very few farms (certainly not those who provide supermarket shelves) do keep the calf with the mother and allow the calf to have some milk, for a short period of time, but the fact remains, the cruel cycle of forced pregnancy and eventual slaughter still remains.

Female calves endure the same torturous fate as their mothers, while male calves are typically killed just a couple hours after birth, often in a brutal, violent way, or they’re kept for several months before being slaughtered for veal. Both sexes are denied the right to drink their mother’s milk and placed onto a weak formula and kept in solitary confinement for prolonged periods of time.

For mother cows, this relentless cycle of insemination, pregnancy and grief leads to physical and mental exhaustion, often resulting in them collapsing with despair and fatigue. These are commonly referred to as "downer cows" within the industry. Once a cow gets into this state, they are brutally hoisted by machinery to be transported for slaughter. This usually happens when they are around 4-5 years old, despite their natural lifespan being around 20-25 years.

Here in the UK, over 150,000 pregnant dairy cows are sent to slaughter every year because they no longer produce enough milk. With many calves nearing full-term, they suffer a prolonged, painful demise in the womb as their mother bleeds to death after having her throat slit. Additionally, during the slaughter process, the calves will be cut out from the mother during the removal of her internal organs and then tossed on the bloody kill floor, left to die.

And the goat milk industry mirrors the brutality of cow dairy production, with similar practices of forced impregnation, calf separation, and eventual slaughter. The dairy industry, with its horrifying cycle of forced pregnancy, abduction and killing, is intrinsically linked to the meat industry. It is an endless cycle of exploitation and cruelty.

The Reality of Eggs

Before human intervention, in their natural environment, hens used to lay around 12 eggs per year, like many other wild birds. But the egg industry has now selectively bred hens to produce up to 350+ eggs per year. This intensive egg-laying cycle severely strains their small bodies, leading to numerous health issues, such as crippling osteoporosis and debilitating prolapses.

To maintain the population of productive hens, hatcheries incubate eggs to produce new chicks. Both male and female chicks hatch from these eggs, but the males, unable to lay eggs, are considered useless by the industry. Consequently, they are killed shortly after hatching, often by methods such as grinding them alive or suffocation. In some cases, they are discarded in garbage bins to die slowly.

Throughout their lives, most hens in the egg industry are confined to small, crowded cages where they never experience sunlight or fresh air. They are unable to perform natural behaviors like spreading their wings, perching, or foraging for food. This extreme confinement leads to significant behavioral issues, including aggression and frustration among the hens. To mitigate these issues, the industry often resorts to de-beaking, a process where over a quarter of a hen’s sensitive beak is cut off, all without the use of painkillers. This procedure causes long-term pain.

The use of the words “Free-range” and “organic” were created to make you, the consumer, feel better about your purchase. But, the sad reality is, whether factory farmed, free range, or organic, the egg industry still depletes hens of their calcium through the demand for their eggs, it still sees male chicks as waste products to be disposed of and, whilst cages cannot legally be used, in the eyes of the law, all free-range means is that they must have about an iPad’s worth of space, and they are invariably still confined to overcrowded sheds, with very little opportunity to ever see daylight.

When hens are no longer productive, they are sent to slaughter, after enduring a short life of suffering. Many hens die from the harsh conditions before they even reach the slaughterhouse, and many die on the slaughter trucks themselves. Many suffer broken bones, as they are crammed into tiny crates and piled on top of one another. Others die of suffocation or fear.

Health Implications

You might not know it, but a significant shift is occurring within the medical community, with an increasing number of doctors advocating for plant-based diets, due to their profound health benefits and potential to prevent and manage chronic diseases. A recent article in The Independent reported on doctors calling for the UK government to stop promoting meat and dairy as essential for health. They argue that such recommendations are misleading and do not align with the latest scientific evidence.

Did you know that the Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of The World Health Organisation (WHO), has emphasized the necessity of transitioning to plant-based diets to improve both human health and environmental sustainability? He pointed out that food production, particularly animal agriculture, is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions and the global burden of disease.

And did you also know that two of the largest and most respected nutritional organizations, The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the British Dietetic Association, affirm that vegan diets are suitable for all stages of life? These include pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, adolescence, and older adulthood, and they can provide all necessary nutrients if properly planned, just like all diets.

Health Benefits

Cardiovascular Health: Studies have consistently shown that plant-based diets are linked to lower blood pressure, reduced cholesterol levels, and a decreased risk of heart disease. A comprehensive review of 48 studies found that vegetarian and vegan diets are associated with significantly lower risks of heart disease, gastrointestinal, and prostate cancers.

Cancer Prevention: Plant-based diets, rich in antioxidants, fiber, and phytonutrients, have been shown to reduce the risk of various cancers. The review highlighted that these diets are associated with a reduced risk of metabolic diseases and cancers due to their impact on key health markers like blood pressure and cholesterol.

Diabetes Prevention: a vegan diet improves insulin sensitivity due to the high fiber content, which helps regulate blood sugar levels. It also tends to have a lower glycemic load, promoting stable blood sugar. Additionally, plant-based diets are associated with better weight management, reducing the risk of obesity—a major risk factor for diabetes. They are low in saturated fats and rich in anti-inflammatory foods, both of which improve metabolic health and reduce insulin resistance. Studies, including the Adventist Health Study-2 and EPIC-Oxford, support these benefits, showing significantly lower diabetes risk among those following a vegan lifestyle.

Many people might, understandably, be sceptical about switching to a plant-based diet, especially if their general practitioners (GPs) have traditionally recommended meat for iron and dairy for calcium. However, it is worth remembering that many regular GPs receive minimal nutrition training—often only about 24 hours throughout their entire education.

One major example of the ignorance of doctors is, as we’ve just mentioned and the topic of this whole page: dairy. It’s no coincidence that the countries with the highest dairy consumption also have some of the highest rates of osteoporosis. I know, right? How can this be, when doctors are so vocal about dairy being essential for bone health?

Absorption Issues: While dairy products are rich in calcium, the human body does not efficiently absorb it. According to Harvard Health, only about 30% of the calcium in dairy is absorbed by the body. The consumption of all animal protein, be it dairy, meat, or eggs, causes your body to leach calcium from your bones, which is then excreted through urine. This is because animal protein is too acidic for our bodies. Because of this, it has to find a way to neutralize that acidity and fast, and our bone density is the cost, putting people at higher risk of developing conditions like osteoporosis and developing sometimes fatal fractures in later life.

It can feel so scary, having lived your whole life believing in one thing, believing in the knowledge of certain individuals, only to be told something completely contradictory. You feel betrayed, confused. We get it. Every vegan has been there, and it is indeed terrifying. But these are the very real facts, and very real consequences of consuming meat and other animal products. Mastitis is also a common and serious infection in dairy cows, affecting about one-third of them. Fully aware of this, the EU allows up to 400,000 pus cells per milliliter of milk - and organic milk is worse, if anything, due to the limited use of antibiotics.

Key points to consider:

Humans are the only species that continues to drink milk after weaning.
The overuse of antibiotics in agriculture is a significant contributor to the global issue of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic residues in milk can promote the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can be transferred to humans through consumption.
Human breast milk is ideal for babies, but cow’s milk is not.
About 70% of adults worldwide are lactose intolerant and cannot digest milk sugar.
Cow’s milk contains 35 hormones, including those linked to cancer.
Milk can contain millions of pus cells; the EU permits up to 400,000 pus cells per milliliter.
Milk consumption and whey protein powders can lead to acne, especially in teens and young adults.
Children with a cow’s milk allergy are more likely to suffer from asthma; avoiding milk can improve their health.
Dairy products may increase the risk of prostate, ovarian, and breast cancers.
Milk can contain bacteria linked to Crohn’s disease in genetically predisposed individuals.
Dairy may contribute to the development of type 1 diabetes, while fatty dairy products can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Environmental Concerns

Animal agriculture significantly impacts the environment through various channels, including greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, land use, waste production, and deforestation. Here's a detailed explanation of how animal agriculture is contributing to environmental destruction:

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Major Contributor: Animal agriculture is responsible for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions, surpassing the combined exhaust from all transportation (13%). Livestock and their byproducts account for 32,000 million tons of CO2 annually, which is 51% of all worldwide emissions.
Methane and Nitrous Oxide: Methane, produced by livestock, is 25-100 times more destructive than CO2 over 20 years, with a global warming potential 86 times that of CO2. Livestock emits 65% of human-related nitrous oxide, which has 296 times the global warming potential of CO2 and remains in the atmosphere for 150 years.
Projections and Impact: Emissions from agriculture are projected to increase by 80% by 2050. Even if fossil fuels were eliminated, the greenhouse gas emissions from animal agriculture alone would exceed the sustainable limit by 2030.

Water Consumption

High Usage: Animal agriculture consumes between 34-76 trillion gallons of water annually. Producing 1 pound of beef requires 2,500 gallons of water, while 1 pound of eggs needs 477 gallons, and 1 pound of cheese requires 900 gallons. Producing 1 gallon of milk needs 1,000 gallons of water.
Global Impact: This sector is responsible for 20%-33% of all fresh water consumption worldwide.

Land Use

Extensive Occupation: Livestock or livestock feed occupies one-third of the Earth’s ice-free land and 45% of the Earth’s total land.
Habitat Destruction: It is a leading cause of species extinction, ocean dead zones, water pollution, and habitat destruction due to land clearing for feed crops and grazing. Pesticides and fertilizers used for feed crops poison waterways and disrupt animal reproductive systems.
Desertification and Deforestation: Livestock operations contribute significantly to land degradation and desertification, with one-third of the planet desertified primarily due to livestock. They also drive massive deforestation, particularly in the Amazon, where animal agriculture accounts for up to 91% of destruction.

Waste Production

Pollution: A farm with 2,500 dairy cows produces waste equivalent to a city of 411,000 people, contributing significantly to pollution and environmental degradation.

Ocean and Rainforest Impact

Ocean Dead Zones: Livestock operations have created over 500 nitrogen-flooded dead zones in oceans, severely impacting marine life.
Rainforest Destruction: Animal agriculture is the primary driver of rainforest destruction, responsible for clearing 136 million acres. This deforestation leads to the loss of up to 137 plant, animal, and insect species every day.

Humanity and Resource Allocation

Inefficient Food Production: Although enough food is produced to feed 10 billion people, over 50% of grain is fed to livestock. This misallocation contributes to global hunger, with 82% of starving children living in countries where food is fed to animals that are consumed in wealthier nations.
Land Use Efficiency: Feeding a person on a vegan diet requires significantly less land compared to a meat-eater. One and a half acres can produce 37,000 pounds of plant-based food or just 375 pounds of beef.

Health and Economic Costs

Health Risks: Dairy consumption has been linked to health issues such as breast lumps.
Economic Burden: The externalized cost of animal agriculture amounts to $414 billion annually.

Environmental Savings of a Vegan Lifestyle

Reduced Footprint: A vegan diet can reduce a person's carbon dioxide emissions by 50%, oil consumption by 1/11th, water use by 1/13th, and land use by 1/18th compared to a meat-eater. Daily savings for a vegan include 1,100 gallons of water, 45 pounds of grain, 30 square feet of forested land, 20 pounds of CO2 equivalent, and one animal’s life.

Animal agriculture's extensive resource use, greenhouse gas emissions, land and water consumption, and contribution to deforestation and pollution demonstrate its substantial role in environmental degradation.

So What’s the Alternative?

By choosing not to buy dairy or eggs, you actively withdraw your support from these cruel industries. It's a powerful demonstration of your principles. And you might say, "What difference does it make if I stop buying them? I’m just one person, that won’t make a difference." This scepticism isn’t uncommon, but remember, social change is driven by individuals. It always has been. And each time you choose a plant-based alternative over an animal product, you contribute to a growing force that pressures industries to move away from their reliance upon animal suffering. The prevalence of vegan options in supermarkets, fast food chains, cafés and restaurants is proof that this shift is happening. And, eventually, we will see a society where vegan foods are the norm, and animal products are few and far between. And you can play a very real part in making that happen even sooner.

Moreover - you’re not even missing out, because everything you enjoy eating can be made vegan. Yes, really. Everything, from cheesy pasta bake, creamy cheesecake, to scrambled “eggs” on toast and even omelettes - all can be made without animal products. You might be daunted at the thought of change, at first. It’s natural. We all are, and it can be hard to know where to start, and you might think you can’t to devote the time to it, but, the truth is, with so many resources and alternatives available now, transitioning to a vegan lifestyle has never been easier, or quicker.

Challenge 22 is just one of the many free, online challenges that will help you transition to a vegan lifestyle, but what’s special about them is there’ll be over a dozen vegan mentors available to help you at any given time and suggest recipes and alternatives, and there’s even a trained nutritionist on hand to give advice (not that nutrition is a concern, but sadly a lot of people think it is, due to all the misinformation out there about veganism) - it’s less than a month of your life, and completely FREE. So give it a go!