Humans are omnivores by nature. We have been harvesting wild animals and consuming animal meat since the cavemen days. But the ways in which humans produce meat have changed drastically over the years. Humans have transitioned from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to an agricultural society. Live animal markets, factory farms, and large-scale industrial livestock productions are now a common part of modern society, and these methods can be very damaging to the environment, as well as to human health.
Zoonotic diseases are caused by harmful germs that spread from animals to humans and cause serious illness or even death (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The CDC estimates that 3 out of every 4 new or emerging infectious diseases in people come from animals. Zoonotic diseases can be spread by direct or indirect contact, vectors (such as insects), and through contaminated food and water. The conditions found in industrial livestock operations and “wet markets” make it easier for diseases to jump from animals to humans. When live animals that don’t naturally exist together are kept in close proximity and killed, processed, and cooked together, there is an increased risk of disease transmission (Business Insider).
According to research published in Nature Medicine (2020), bats are the suspected source of the coronavirus that is currently sweeping the globe, with an intermediary host that has yet to be identified. Many of the first cases of COVID-19 have been linked to the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, China. Before it closed on January 1, 2020, this market was known to sell not only fish, but also pigs, snakes, chickens, badgers, and other animals, all in close contact. The SARS outbreak that took place in 2003 was caused by similar conditions as COVID-19. It was also traced to a population of bats, with civets as the intermediary host that allowed the virus to infect humans. Between 2002 and 2004, SARS killed 774 people across 29 countries (Business Insider). COVID-19 has so far killed over 445,000 people worldwide.
Another human health issue related to modern day meat production is the widespread use of antibiotics. Antibiotics are added to the food and water supplies of livestock to prevent the spread of disease between animals, which are kept in far too close quarters on factory farms. This has led to antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, which can enter our food supply and infect farm workers. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been traced to industrial-scale livestock operations, with farm workers showing significantly higher rates of the disease compared to the general population (Smithsonian Magazine).
In addition to the risks to human health, intensive animal farming requires massive amounts of pesticides, fertilizer, fuel, and water, which adds up to significant problems for the environment (Scientific American). Acres upon acres of land are plowed to grow corn, soybeans, and other grains in order to feed livestock. Industrial meat production also contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and water pollution. Avoiding meat is regarded as the single biggest action you can take to reduce your environmental impact (The Guardian).
It stands to reason that the spread of zoonotic diseases could be reduced if farm animals are given more space, if live animal markets are prohibited or at least better regulated, and if meat is raised organically (organic meat is produced without the use antibiotics). As a society, we can protect human and environmental health by embracing a more balanced approach to meat production, with a focus on small-scale farming methods that limit cross-contamination and protect natural resources.
