Risks associated with eating fruit and vegetables, too
Re: “No bullying, just a straight question for those who eat meat”, Have Your Say, January 8.
Jenny Moxham is of course correct to point out that she and other letter writers are not demanding that meat eaters be forced to turn vegetarian, but, let’s face it, in their ideal world none of us would be eating meat or dairy products. Nowadays there are many “single issue” pressure groups of one sort or another seeking to promote their particular agenda, and while they must be allowed the freedom to speak freely, those of us who do not agree with their outlook need to ensure that our chosen lifestyles are also safeguarded.
Some vegans/vegetarians appear to be primarily concerned with the environmental impact of rearing cattle and sheep for human consumption, and their concerns are genuine. No doubt scientific research leading to the production of alternative sources of nutrition is needed to cater for an expanding world population, and to lessen environmental damage, but such new sources of nutrition should be seen as an alternative, and complementary, to meat and dairy, not a total replacement.
Ms Moxham seems particularly concerned about the ethical aspect of killing what she describes as sentient creatures on a par with human beings. This is a moral issue, and while I respect her views, I cannot agree with them. I do of course accept that the killing of animals should be done as humanely as possible, and that regulations to ensure this happens must be rigorously enforced.
Finally, while health issues relating to the consumption of meat and dairy have been argued to the point of tedium, one issue which seems to have been overlooked is the risk associated with eating fruit and vegetables. Recent reports indicate that an alarming proportion of fruit and vegetables sold in Thailand is contaminated by chemicals potentially harmful to health, some of which are banned in other countries. This problem will not be confined to Thailand, and it is surely an issue to which Ms Moxham and her fellow vegans/vegetarians should be giving more attention.
Robin Grant
Bangkok
