Here is the full playlist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttgJtY-SPpI&list=PLabGT_eoaDQim1TD868KyUDpIbSLxYQO6
EP 8 - And Confusing Meat Labels - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBhuvidGhLQ
The 10 Most Misleading Meat Labels and What You Need to Know
Do you know what the labels on your meat actually mean? Many of the claims we see—like “natural,” “grass-fed,” “cage-free,” and “organic”—are far less transparent than they seem.
In this episode of ReThink Meat, we take a closer look at 10 of the most commonly misunderstood labels and the verification processes behind them.
What you’ll learn:
In just 18 minutes, this episode will give you the tools to make more informed and intentional choices, helping you align your purchases with what matters most to you.
summerizer
This video discusses ten commonly misunderstood meat labels, revealing how they can mislead consumers about the sourcing and production practices of meat products. It highlights the practices of greenwashing in the meat industry, where companies use terminology that misrepresents their practices to appeal to consumer demand for sustainable and humane options. The video also provides viewers with four steps to identify truly healthy and ethically raised meat.
The label 'grass-fed' often doesn't guarantee that cattle were only raised on grass, as it may include grain feeding and can include imported meat sold under this label. Therefore, consumers should be cautious and informed when selecting grass-fed products.
Common terms such as 'natural', 'cage-free', and 'free-range' often do not mean what consumers think they do, failing to accurately represent animal welfare or the conditions in which animals were raised. For example, cage-free does not mean outdoor access.
Claims of 'raised without antibiotics' can still permit the use of various drugs, and testing for antibiotic residues often shows that antibiotic contamination is still present in many animal products.
Over 90% of grocery store meats come from factory farms, and while niche markets for more ethical meat are growing slowly, the majority of the meat industry remains concentrated in large-scale operations.
The USDA's regulation of labels is often inadequate, allowing misleading terms to proliferate without sufficient oversight. Some organizations recommend looking for third-party certifications to ensure better practices.
Consumers play a significant role in shaping the meat industry. By making informed choices about meat labels and seeking out genuinely ethical options, consumers can influence farming practices and support better animal welfare and environmental sustainability.
Episode 8 - References Part 1
ReThink Meat: And Confusing Meat Labels | episode eight Claim: The Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) of the USDA regulates food labels, often approving claims based on written descriptions rather than on-site visits, and has a history of lax regulation. Source: https://www.grubstreet.com/article/is-deli-meat-bad-for-you-lunch-meats-boars-head-recalls.html https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/2020-10/Label-Approval-Guide.pdf
Claim: An Animal Welfare Institute report found that nearly half of 97 USDA-approved meat label claims had no application, a third provided no or inadequate evidence, and 85% lacked sufficient substantiation. Source: https://awionline.org/sites/default/files/publication/digital_download/Deceptive-Consumer-Labels-2023.pdf
Claim: Despite the vast array of labels designed to make you feel all warm & fuzzy about the meat you buy - almost 90% of grocery store meats come from factory farms.
Sources: https://ourworldindata.org/how-many-animals-are-factory-farmed#%3A%7E%3Atext=Nearly+all+livestock+animals+in+the+US+are+factory-farmed&text=It+makes+its+data+and%2Cwere+factory-farmed+in+2017.&text=That+was+10+billion+animals%2Cthan+the+global+human+population
Claim: In fact, according to 2017 estimates: 8.9 billion chickens, 520 million fish, 362 million egg laying hens, 285 million turkeys, 66 million cows and 71 million pigs, or over 10 billion animals were factory farmed, vs. 40 million that were not raised in factory farms. Sources: https://www.sentienceinstitute.org/us-factory-farming-estimates
Claim: And though niche markets are growing, only 4% of the 26 billion pounds of beef produced in 2023 was grass fed and less than 1% was actually labeled as such and up to 80% of grass-fed beef was imported. Sources: https://extension.sdstate.edu/grass-fed-beef-market-share-grass-fed-beef#%3A%7E%3Atext=About+4%25+of+U.S.+beef%2Cvalue+of+roughly+%244+billion
Claim: Consumer Reports found that 62% of consumers look for "natural" on labels, assuming it means no chemicals, artificial ingredients, pesticides, or GMOs. However, on meat labels, "natural" only means no artificial ingredients or added color and minimal processing, revealing nothing about the animal's diet, living conditions, or harvesting methods. Sources: https://www.consumerreports.org/food-labeling/what-food-labels-mean-and-dont/
Claim: Contrary to popular belief, Product of America doesn't guarantee domestic origin and meat could be imported and merely processed and packaged in the United States. And up to 80% of grass fed beef in America is actually imported from other countries… As was elucidated by Professor of Animal Science Doctor Jason Rountree.
Claim: Approximately 73% of antibiotics worldwide are used in animal agriculture, and though it suggests antibiotic free production, it's not always foolproof. Variations like no antibiotic growth hormones or raised without medically important antibiotics may still allow use for disease prevention or non-human use antibiotics.
https://www.consumerreports.org/overuse-of-antibiotics/what-no-antibiotic-claims-really-mean/
Claim: A 2015 analysis by the Environmental Working Group also found that antibiotic resistant bacteria was on nearly 79% ground turkey, 71% pork chops, 62% beef, 36% chicken. Non-for-profit moms across America also found several veterinary antibiotics and compounds called ionophores, in fast food meat.
https://www.momsacrossamerica.com/_press-release Claim: Researchers from George Washington University and In-Dept also tested 669 cattle within the “No Antibiotics Ever” program overseen by the USDA and found that 15% of the animals still tested positive for at least one antibiotic. They also found that 26% of cattle a in Global Animal Partnership Program, had also received antibiotics.
Sources: https://www.consumerreports.org/health/no-antibiotic-claims-on-beef-may-not-be-reliable-a3433700667/
Claim: Free range suggests chickens on an open field roaming, but only requires outdoor access, often through small doors, leading to limited outdoor spaces, sometimes just concrete or dirt plots (crocker holes).
Sources: https://certifiedhumane.org/range-requirements/ https://www.foodandwine.com/egg-buying-guide-8717579
Claim: Number five is vegetarian fed. While touted as a positive label, it overlooks the natural omnivorous diet of chickens and pigs, leading to potential nutrient deficiencies. Moreover, it implies they're raised in confinement without access to pasture for natural foraging behaviors,
https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/384740/foster-farms-usda-humane-story?
Claim: Number seven is organic. USDA Organic certification does assure third party inspection and prohibits antibiotics, growth hormones, GMO feed, and synthetic fertilizers.
Sources: https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/Organic%20Livestock%20Requirements.pdf
Claim: Under USDA regulations, cows need only 120 days on pasture annually and may be fed in feedlots. For birds, screen porches can count as outdoor access. Additionally, organic standards lack care requirements for weaning, space, transport, and harvesting. While better, organic still has significant gaps.
Sources: https://awionline.org/sites/default/files/products/FA-AWI-Food-Label-Guide-Full.pdf
Claim: The misuse of the grass fed label drove us to establish wild pastures and ethical meat delivery service due to the fact that in 2016 the USDA stopped regulating the grass fed label making it far more prone to abuse..
Claim: Research by doctor Jason Rowntree showed many producers selling “grass fed” meat were likely feeding cattle grains evident from their high omega six to 3 ratio. Some cattle are also confined and fed grass and fed grass pellets.
Sources: https://green-acres.org/grass_fed_production_methods/ https://green-acres.org/variation-in-nutritional-quality-of-us-grassfed-beef/
Claim: Number 9 is grading (Prime, Choice, Select): Beef grades primarily reflect fat distribution and do not indicate how the animal was raised. They often suggest grain feeding.
Sources: https://www.ams.usda.gov/grades-standards/carcass-beef-grades-and-standards
Claim: Finally, "no hormones added" is relevant for beef and pork but meaningless for chicken, poultry, bison, or veal, as hormone use in chickens has been illegal for decades.
Source: https://www.awionline.org/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/FA-AWI-Food-Label-Guide-Full.pdf
Claim: Many meat claims rely on written descriptions from producers without verification. To ensure authenticity, look for third-party certifications from organizations that inspect and verify that animals are raised under specific welfare standards. Check for logos on labels or visit their websites for certified producers. The USDA also offers “process verified” and organic shields, which involve inspections.
Source: https://cefs.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/NCC-Label-Claims-Final_seb.pdf?x47549
Claim: For beef, lamb, goat, pork, and bison, AGA requires inspections every 15 months. Certified animals are grass-fed, free from GMOs, antibiotics, and hormones, with a focus on environmental stewardship. They also certify truly pastured pork. For eggs and poultry, look for pastured claims and call the company if necessary and consider AWA certification for continuous outdoor access and humane practices. Certified Humane offers another option, though its standards are less stringent, permitting antibiotics in illness. Source: https://www.consumerreports.org/food-labels/seals-and-claims/american-grassfed
Claim: look for farms that use Regenerative practices: For those interested in buying meat that restores environmental health, as about regenerative practices or look for certifications like Certified Regenerative, Regenerative Organic, The Real Organic Project, RegenScore, Land To Market, and Regenified. These programs focus on restoring environmental health, building soil, and enhancing biodiversity. Sources: https://agreenerworld.org/certifications/certified-regenerative/ https://regenorganic.org/ https://regenified.com/ https://rfsi-forum.com/regenerative-certifications-cheat-sheet/
EP 7 - And Nutrient Density - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXYd5Ic5FwU
Factory-Farmed vs. Grass-Fed: The Shocking Truth About Animal Products Does it really matter how your meat is raised?
The answer might surprise you. In Episode 7 of ReThink Meat, we uncover the often overlooked nutritional differences between factory-farmed and grass-fed animal products—and why they matter for your health.
Why did we start feeding animals grain instead of grass? And how has this shift led to a dangerous imbalance in dietary fats that could be fueling chronic inflammation? We dig into the science, revealing how the way animals are raised affects thousands of nutrients like fats, vitamins, minerals, and even powerful phytonutrients.
Plus, we share human health studies showing why grass-fed beef isn’t just better for the environment—it may also be be better for you. And wait until you hear about the 90% difference in metabolites between plant-based burgers and real beef—proof that we’ve vastly oversimplified the true nutritional power of meat.
What if meat is more nutrient-packed than we’ve ever imagined?
summerizer
The video discusses the nutritional differences between factory-farmed and grass-fed animal products, highlighting the benefits of pasture-raised meats, eggs, and dairy for human health. It advocates for re-evaluating dietary choices to address nutrient deficiencies prevalent in American diets and emphasizes the importance of sustainable farming practices for better nutrition and ecological health.
The video establishes that meat, particularly when raised on pasture, can have similar or superior nutritional benefits compared to many plant foods. It contains essential nutrients, including bioavailable minerals and vitamins like B12, which are crucial for energy metabolism, brain health, and immune function.
The nutritional profile of animal products varies significantly depending on the animal's diet and farming practices. Pasture-raised animals have a better nutritional profile, including higher Omega-3 fatty acids and lower Omega-6s, which can contribute to reduced inflammation and improved overall health.
Over 90% of Americans suffer from nutrient deficiencies as a result of consuming lower quality food. Many experts attribute this to the lower nutrient content of modern food versus that of the past, prompting an urgent need to reassess dietary habits.
Research highlights substantial nutritional advantages of pasture-raised products, such as increased vitamins (e.g., B9, B12, D) and Omega-3 fatty acids, among others. This section compares conventional and pasture-raised eggs, chicken, pork, and beef in terms of their nutrient density.
The video emphasizes the importance of the ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 fatty acids in diets. Current Western diets are heavily skewed toward Omega-6s, which can exacerbate inflammation and related health issues. A balanced intake is crucial for optimal health.
Consumer choices around meat can significantly impact health. Regular consumption of grass-fed meats may help combat nutrient deficiencies and offer health benefits compared to conventionally produced meats, suggesting the potential for public health strategies centered on improved meat consumption.
The video states that choices around meat consumption not only affect personal health but also ecological health. Supporting sustainable and regenerative farming practices can contribute to the betterment of both personal health and the environment.
Ultimately, viewers are encouraged to rethink their meat consumption patterns and support producers who practice sustainable farming, underscoring the interconnectedness of dietary choices, health, and ecological well-being.
References https://docs.google.com/document/d/12vTYu0frQlUMiv7wHaa2JekT2QXUPSEQ5MEvOlYbbVA/mobilebasic
Episode 7 - References Part 1
ReThink Meat: And Nutrient Density | episode seven
Claim: Today more than 90% of Americans suffer from one or more nutrient deficiencies that can result in fatigue, brittle hair and nails, weight gain and an increased risk of disease (Parsons, 2016) (KIANI et al., 2022).
Sources:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7019700/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3509882/
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09546634.2017.1395799
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22998754/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9710417/
Claim: One main reason being that the nutrient content of our food is lower than at any other point in history (Bhardwaj et al., 2024)..as is discussed by Dr. van Viet…
Claim: It’s been estimated we need to consume 2x the amount of meat, 3 x the amount of fruit and 4-5 x the number of vegetables today, just to get the nutritional equivalent of the food previous generations ate in the 1940s (Thomas, 2003) (Thomas, 2007).
Source: https://www.agpath.com.au/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/jones-recovering-depleted-soils.pdf
Highlight:
"An individual today would need to consume twice as much meat, three times as much fruit, and four to five times as many vegetables to obtain the same amount of minerals and trace elements available in those same foods in 1940."
Original source:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14653505/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18309763/
Claim: We’ve learned about the negative impacts of soil degradation and other environmental impacts in factory farms (soil degradation, lung issues, pesticide exposure, hormonal impacts, pathogen exposure and antibiotic resistance) (Anomaly, 2014) (The Hidden Health Impacts of Factory Farming, 2022)..
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9757169/
https://www.worldanimalprotection.ca/news/hidden-health-impacts-factory-farming
Claim: Humans require six basic types of nutrients to function: water, minerals, vitamins, protein, fat, and carbohydrates (Morris & Mohiuddin, 2023).
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554545/
Claim: Vitamins and minerals have hundreds of roles including building strong bones, supporting immune function and breaking down food (Morris & Mohiuddin, 2023).
Source:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554545/
Claim: “Non-essential” nutrients like antioxidants and phytochemicals also prevent disease and protect the body from free radicals and oxidative stress (Hou et al., 2015) (Nielsen, 2017).
Sources:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26041391/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780128021682000439
Claim: The Protein in meat builds and maintains the physical body, reduces appetite and optimizes body composition while fats create and store energy, absorb nutrients, build hormones and aid immune function (Morris & Mohiuddin, 2023) (Radzikowska et al., 2019).
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554545/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31817726/
Claim: And while highly processed fats like trans fat and vegetable oils ARE likely contributing to ill health – natural animal fats are not the same and can be beneficial, especially when raised as nature intended.
Sources:
https://www.bmj.com/content/346/bmj.e8707
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0735109720356874
Claim: Fats in food come in 3 types: saturated fat, monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat (Trans Fat, 2024) (Pipoyan et al., 2021) (3.3: Lipid Molecules - Introduction, 2022).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8535577/
Claim: Certain saturated fats (pop on screen: behenate, arachidate, pentadecanoic acid, hepatadecanoic acid) may even have health benefits and stearic acid, found in higher levels of grass -fed beef, does not raise cholesterol levels (Haspel & Vonesh, 2023).
Sources:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2023/06/09/saturated-fat-nutrition-debate-settled/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10649853/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10141165/
https://www.beefresearch.org/resources/human-nutrition/white-papers/stearic-acid
Claim: Animal products can also contain monounsaturated fats, found in olive oil, beef and avocado which are lauded for their heart-protective properties (Monounsaturated Fats, 2023) (Cook, 2024).
Sources:
https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/fats/monounsaturated-fats
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2024/03/18/olive-oil-heart-cholesterol-health/
Claim: Last but not least we have polyunsaturated fats, the omega 3’s found in fish and green leaves and omega 6 fatty acids found in grains, nuts seeds, and VO). (Ander et al., 2003)
Source:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2719153/
Claim: And while both PUFAs are essential and they are considered one category in America’s Dietary Guidelines, many experts believe their differences are important (USDA, 2020).
Claim: Omega 3’s are vital for our heart, eyes, immune system and brain & Omega 6’s are important in small amounts 0.5-1% calories) for our skin and immune system - but many experts believe the balance these two fats is important(Krupa et al., 2024) (Djuricic & Calder, 2021)…
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK564314/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8308533/
Claim: Historically, humans consumed one to four O6 for every O3 but today the average American consumes about 15-20x more omega 6’s which certain experts believe is one factor driving the epidemic of inflammation which causes swelling, joint pain and skin issues but also increases the risk of allergies, asthma, mental health issues, autoimmune disease and heart disease (DiNicolantonio & O’Keefe, 2021).
Episode 7 - References Part 2
Claim: And while the massive increase in seed oil consumption and the lack of fish is the main reason for the disruption in this balance, grain-feeding our animals is also contributing (DiNicolantonio & O’Keefe, 2021)…
Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8504498/
Claim:
More vitamins and minerals (Daley et al., 2010)
Elevated levels of antioxidants and phytonutrients (Daley et al., 2010) (van Vliet et al., 2021)
Beneficial saturated fats and omega 3 fatty acids (EPA, DHA, DPA) (Daley et al., 2010)
A low omega 6:3 fatty acid ratio (Nogoy et al., 2022)
And for those of you looking to build muscle and increase the protein in your diet, leaner meats with less fat and more protein - may also be something you can look for (Van Vliet, n.d.) (Daley et al., 2010).
Sources:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2846864/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8728510/
Highlight:
Grass-fed beef also contains an increased level of total n-3 PUFA which reduced the n-6 to n-3 ratio thus can offer more health benefits than grain-fed.
https://nutritionj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1475-2891-9-10
Claim: Several studies have shown that, when compared to conventionally raised eggs, often from factory farms, pasture-raised (not always the same as cage free and free range) eggs have:
50% more B9 (important for mental health and energy production) (Tolan et al., 1974)
70% more B12 (important for brain health, DNA, and nervous system function) (Tolan et al., 1974)
2X as much vitamin E (Research Shows Eggs From Pastured Chickens May Be More Nutritious, 2010) (Karsten et al., 2010)
38% higher vitamin A concentration (Karsten et al., 2010)
3-4X vitamin D which Americans are widely deficient in (Kühn et al., 2014, #)
Sources:
Note: B9 = Folic Acid
Full study, from 1974:
See table 4 for B9 (folic acid) and B12
Original study:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24607306/
Highlight:
The study shows that the vitamin D3 content of egg yolk was three- to fourfold higher in the groups that were exposed to sunlight
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532266/
Claim: Research has also shown that pastured eggs can contain more than double (study says “three times as much”) the total omega 3 fatty acids and less than half the omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acid ratio which is vital for healthy inflammation levels (Karsten et al., 2010) (Sergin et al., 2022).
Sources:
Study actually says " three times as much omega-3 fatty acid content"
Original study:
Claim: That being said, most factory farmed chickens consume exclusively grain and do not live on pasture, while pastured birds consume grass, bugs and a little bit o f grain - and these differences do affect the nutritional composition of their meat (Sergin et al., 2022)….
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9658713/
Highlight:
Pasture-raised hens are able to forage on phytochemically diverse grasslands and scavenge for invertebrates, allowing them access to nutrients such as fats, vitamins and minerals, and secondary compounds including antioxidants that benefit both animal and human health
Claim: Research has shown pasture-raised chickens have significantly higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids, a lower 06:03 ratio, sometimes more iron and antioxidants and even, higher protein levels than conventionally raised chicken as was seen in chicken farmer, Matt Wadiak’s analysis (Husak et al., 2008) (Badger, n.d.),
Sources:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579119393885?via=ihub#bib16
Claim: We typically think of pork as the “other white meat,” but what may surprise you is that most pork you buy at the grocery store has a very inflammatory 06:03 fatty acid ratio as was noted by pioneering pig farmer John Arbuckle (Dugan et al., 2015)..
Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4693156/
Claim: Other research has revealed pastured pork can have higher levels of heart and immune-supportive vitamin C and D, iron, antioxidants and that consuming omega-3 rich pork may even reduce certain risk factors for heart disease (Lindqvist et al., 2009) (Is Bacon Paleo?, n.d.). (Larson-Meyer et al., 2017) (Rivero et al., 2019) (Coates et al., 2008)
Sources:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18634706/
full study:
https://thepaleodiet.com/is-bacon-paleo/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6680544/
Full study for omega-3 rich pork:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0377840103002530?via=ihub
Claim: All cows begin their lives on grass. But it's what they consume in the last 30 to 90 days that totally changes the nutrient profile of the meat. (Gomes da Silva, et al., 2017)
Source:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5625619/
Claim: Nonetheless, grass-fed beef consistently offers several advantages.…
#1. Higher levels of protein, typically because it is leaner (Van Vliet, n.d.)…
Source:
https://www.rootsofchange.org/wp-content/uploads/Nutrient-Density-Data-Report-Sample.pdf
Claim: 1.5-3x higher (study says 2-4 x) levels of a special and beneficial type of trans fat called conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) that is inversely related to the risk of colorectal and breast cancer and may have heart-protective and weight loss benefits (Van Vliet, n.d.) (Benbrook et al., 2018) (Dhiman et al., 1999, #).
Source:
CLA levels in grass-fed cows’ milk were about double those of grain-fed cattle as well.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29876120/
https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S0022-0302(99)75458-5/pdf
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10531600/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4429457/
See table 2
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17449580/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12196420/
Claim: Increased antioxidant levels that protect our cells from oxidative stress like GSH and SOD (van Vliet et al., 2021) (Descalzo et al., 2007) (Gatellier et al., 2004)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22063662/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22061512/
Claim: higher levels of vitamins like B vitamins (thiamine & riboflavin), Vitamin A & its precursors and Vitamin E & its precursors. (Magan et al., 2020) (Daley et al., 2010) (Descalzo et al., 2005)
Sources:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7278826/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2846864/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22063278/
Claim: Several advantages were also noted in the largest study to date which I got to play a small role in, the Beef Nutrient Density Project, with Dr. van Vliet and the Bionutrient Institute (Defining Nutrient Density in Beef — The Bionutrient Institute - Understanding the Science… From Field to Plate., n.d.)….
Sources:
https://www.bionutrientinstitute.org/beef
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4869019/#__ffn_sectitle
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2846864/
Claim: The research also found more minerals like iron and calcium in Grass Fed Beef. Which aligns with previous research showing higher levels of Calcium, Potassium, Zinc, Iron, Sodium and Phosphorous in Grass Fed meats (Williamson et al., 2005).
Sources:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-3010.2005.00525.x
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0085300&type=printable
Episode 7 - References Part 3
Claim: Currently, we track 13 nutrients on nutrition labels and about 150 nutrients in the USDA database, but there are literally tens of thousands of nutrients that impact human health in ways we are only beginning to understand (Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels, 2024) (Shaw, 2019).
Sources:
https://www.fda.gov/food/nutrition-facts-label/daily-value-nutrition-and-supplement-facts-labels#%3A%7E%3Atext=Which+Nutrients+Are+Required+to%2Cand+certain+vitamins+and+minerals https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/blog/new-nutrient-content-information-now-online
Claim: Research has revealed secondary compounds can improve satiety and are also well known for their antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anticarcinogenic, and antidepressant effects (Sheng et al., 2019, #) (Kan et al., 2022) (Krusinski et al., 2023) (Bisht et al., 2021) (Darabi et al., 2023) …
Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31354627/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9424995/
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349489830_A_Review_on_Therapeutic_Uses_of_Terpenoids
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9424995/
Claim: Research also suggests Grassfed animals may contain less desirable compounds such as advanced glycation end-products, triglycerides, and short chain acyl carnitines (Perkins et al., 2023)…..
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10580815/
Claim: … many, though not all, grass-fed and pasture-based farms do not use antibiotics, growth promotants like ractopamine and pesticides which means fewer residues will end up in pasture raised meats too, as they revealed in Zen Ho neycutt’s 2022 analysis of 10 fast food meats (Mills, 2023)…
Source: https://www.momsacrossamerica.com/fast_food_glyphosate_herbicide
Claim: This effect was also found in those consuming pasture raised cheese vs. grain fed cheese by Sofi in 2010 and other studies have found those eating grass fed beef had lower levels of triglycerides ((Adams et al., 2010; Gilmore et al., 2011)...
Sources:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19674491/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21525253/
Claim: ..elevated levels of carotenoids and tocopherols that protect the meat from protein and lipid oxidation and Dr. van Vliet is also studying the changes in blood chemistry after eating grass fed beef, grain fed beef and plant based meat (Daley et al., 2010) (Yang et al., 2002)….
Source:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2846864/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22063104/
Claim: This paper revealed that Grass Fed Beef can be a significant contributor to omega 3 intake, especially for those who do not consume fish and levels of DHA, one of the omega 3 fatty acids known for its heart and brain benefits, is 200 times higher in beef liver than in muscle meat.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37004100/
Claim: In fact, the daily recommended amount of long chain omega fatty acids DHA + EPA per the World Health Organization is 250 mg and 100 grams of grass fed beef liver contains about 225 mg. Which may be comparable to the amount in certain types of fish like cod, flounder and haddock! (Omega-3 Fatty Acids - Health Professional Fact Sheet, n.d.) (EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products & Nutrition and Allergies (NDA), 2012, #)
Sources:
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Omega3FattyAcids-HealthProfessional/
https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2012.2815
https://thepaleodiet.com/omega-3-fatty-acid-content-of-fish-and-seafood/
Claim: So grass fed meat & organ meats can meaningfully contribute to omega 3 fatty acid intake which is important given that omega 3 deficiency kills up to 84,000 Americans each year. (Domínguez, 2009)
Sources:
https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1000058
Claim: Natural. Consumer Reports found that 62% of consumers seek the term "natural" on products, but its presence on meat labels lacks substance (More Shoppers Buying 'Natural' Food, yet Most Don't Know What It Means, 2016) and only implies minimal processing without artificial additives after slaughter, but tells us nothing about crucial details like animal diet, living conditions, and harvesting methods (Meat and Poultry Labeling Terms | Food Safety and Inspection Service, n.d.).
Claim: Made in America. Contrary to popular belief, "Made in America" doesn't guarantee domestic origin; meat could be imported and merely processed and packaged in the U.S. , The government is currently in the process of making this a more truthful label, but for now, be wary of labels telling you they’re “Made in America.” (“How the Meaning of a 'Made in the USA' Label Could Change for Meat and Poultry Products,” 2023)
Sources:
Claim: Raised without antibiotics approximately 73% of antibiotics worldwide are used in animal agriculture and though this label suggests antibiotic-free production, it's not foolproof (Tiseo et al., 2020) (Meat and Poultry Labeling Terms | Food Safety and Inspection Service, n.d.). Variations like "no antibiotic residues" or "no antibiotic growth promotants" may still allow prior antibiotic use for disease prevention. Even "raised without medically important antibiotics" can overlook non-human-used antibiotics, contributing to antibiotic resistance, a global health crisis that kills over 700,000 people each year (A Greener World, 2018).
Sources:
https://www.consumerreports.org/overuse-of-antibiotics/what-no-antibiotic-claims-really-mean/
Claim: A 2015 analysis by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found antibiotic-resistant bacteria on nearly 80% of supermarket meat (79% ground turkey, 71% pork chops, 62% ground beef, 36% chicken breast, wings and thighs (“Report: Superbugs Found in More Than Three-Fourths of U.S. Supermarket Meat,” 2018) - put on screen and Mom’s Across America also found several veterinary antibiotics, and compounds called ionophores, in fast-food meat (Harmful Antibiotics and a Contraceptive Found in Top Ten Fast Food Samples, 2023)…
Sources:
https://www.fda.gov/media/108304/download?attachment
https://www.momsacrossamerica.com/_press-release
Claim: When it comes to chickens - Cage Free or Free Range - can also be misleading because cage free" doesn't guarantee outdoor access; chickens may be confined indoors with thousands of others. Similarly, "free range" suggests open-field roaming but only requires outdoor access, often through small doors leading to limited outdoor spaces, sometimes just concrete or dirt lots. (Meat and Poultry Labeling Terms | Food Safety and Inspection Service, n.d.) (Cage-Free Vs. Battery-Cage Eggs, n.d.)
There is also no government definition of “pasture” and no in-farm visits required - so their “pasture access” is never confirmed ("Free Range" and "Pasture Raised" Officially Defined by HFAC for Certified Humane® Label, 2014).
Sources:
Highlight "Free Range: Producers must demonstrate to the Agency that the poultry has been allowed access to the outside."
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/2021-02/RaisingClaims.pdf
https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/cage-free-vs-battery-cage-eggs
Claim: Pasture-Raised - Similar to “free range,” with no government definition of “pasture”, companies can easily label their products “pasture-raised” when their animals are on pasture, tightly confined by wire and with low roofs that they overheat, are surrounded by their own feces, and other substandard conditions (How to Decode Egg Labels, 2018).
Sources:
CNN article on lack of regulation: https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/07/business/food-labels-meaning/index.html
No definition by USDA: https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/organic-certification/organic-basics
https://www.thedodo.com/i-saw-pasture-raised-chickens--812858589.html
Episode 7 - References Part 4
Claim: "All Vegetarian Fed": While touted as a positive, this label overlooks the natural omnivorous diets of chickens and pigs, leading to potential nutrient deficiencies. Moreover, it implies they are raised in confinement without access to pasture for natural foraging behaviors which would include insects and anything they can find!. (Adams, n.d.) (Whoriskey, 2015)
Sources:
https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/how-decipher-food-labels
Claim: 6. Heritage Pork: Refers to traditional pig breeds with centuries-old lineage, like Berkshires. Despite misconceptions associating it with pasture or humane raising, heritage designation solely denotes genetic heritage, offering no insight into diet, drug use, or living conditions. Factory farming of heritage pork is possible but not common.(Food Safety and Inspection Service, 2019)
Sources:
https://awionline.org/content/consumers-guide-food-labels-and-animal-welfare
original: The USDA does not define “crate free” and typically, it's used to mean the animal was not housed—and is not the offspring of an animal so housed—at any time in a gestation crate (used to confine sows during pregnancy) or a farrowing crate (used to confine sows from just before birth until the piglets are weaned). However, it is possible that some producers are using the claim to signify avoidance of gestation crates only, while still using farrowing crates
https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media_file/2021-02/RaisingClaims.pdf
Highlight:
Breed claims refer to the declaration of a specific breed of livestock or poultry. Examples of this type of claim include, but are not limited to: Angus, Wagyu (American Kobe), Hereford, Berkshire, Duroc, Muscovy, Silkie, and heritage poultry, pork or beef breeds.
Claim: Organic: This label is often perceived as superior because organic certification assures third-party inspection and prohibits antibiotics, growth promoters, GMO feed, and synthetic fertilizers. However, it doesn't guarantee grass feeding or continuous pasture access. Organic animals may still consume organic corn and soy treated with approved pesticides, with cows mandated only 120 days of pasture per year by USDA regulations (United States Department of Agriculture, 2013).
Animal care standards such as weaning, space requirements, transport and slaughter (which varies widely from producer to producer) are also not defined and according to the Animal Welfare Institute, the USDA has allowed screened porches to qualify as outdoor access for birds (Animal Welfare Institute, 2019).
Sources:
https://awionline.org/sites/default/files/products/FA-AWI-Food-Label-Guide-Full.pdf
Highlight:
They don’t address many animal care issues such as weaning, physical alterations, minimum space requirements, handling, transport, or slaughter.
However, the USDA has allowed screened porches to qualify as outdoor access for birds
https://awionline.org/sites/default/files/products/FA-AWI-Food-Label-Guide-Full.pdf
Claim: GRASS FED: The misuse of the "Grass Fed" label drove us to establish Wild Pastures, an ethical meat delivery service. According to the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, the "grass fed" label lacks clear definition and is prone to abuse (Stone barns Center for Food and Agriculture, 2017).
Sources:
https://www.stonebarnscenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Grassfed_Full_v2.pdf
Claim: Given that most livestock consume grass at some point, many meat producers exploit this label to inflate prices.(Animal Welfare Institute, 2019)
Source:
https://www.awionline.org/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/FA-AWI-Food-Label-Guide-Full.pdf
Claim: Research by Dr. Rowntree revealed wide variations in the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio in American grass-fed beef, ranging from 2:1 to 28:1, indicating significant grain consumption despite the label.
Source: As we have learned, cows fed grain will have a higher 06:03 ratio and this research by Dr. Rowntree demonstrated this ratio for American grass fed varied widely from 2:1 to 28:1, while the BNDP showed grain fed at 7:1 which means many of these cows consumed large amounts of grain despite this label.
Claim: Some cattle are also kept in confined factory farming conditions and fed grass pellets (Holden, 2018).
Sources:
Forbes article:
Highlight: "Pasture is out there. In here, in the barns, they use grass pellets. Pellets that don't have anywhere near the right kind of nutrition.":
Claim: Whenever possible look for pastured chicken and pork and 100% grass fed and finished beef from regenerative farms and look for The American Grassfed Association (AGA) which performs in-farm visits to make sure products are: (Our Standards, n.d.)
Source: https://www.americangrassfed.org/about-us/our-standards/
EP 6 - And The Way We Raise It - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw9FRK56KL4
The Hidden Costs of Factory Farming & The Regenerative Revolution
Factory farms dominate our food system, but at what cost? In this eye-opening episode of ReThink Meat, we dive into the disturbing history of factory farming and its devastating effects on human health and the planet. From the rise of antibiotic resistance and hormone-laden meat to soil degradation, toxic pesticides, and environmental pollution, this system is broken—and unsustainable.
But there’s hope.
Join us as we explore the transformative power of regenerative agriculture, a solution that prioritizes the planet and the people. Hear the inspiring stories of regenerative farmers who are rebuilding soil health, restoring biodiversity, and securing water resources—all while creating a future where farmers, an ethical and sustainable food system and generations to come, can thrive.
summerizer
The video discusses the detrimental effects of factory farming on the environment, livestock health, and human health, while advocating for regenerative agricultural practices that restore ecosystems and improve meat production. The narrator emphasizes the importance of ethical sourcing of meat to support human and planetary health.
Factory farms, which produce the majority of meat today, have been linked to environmental degradation, animal cruelty, and negative health consequences for both livestock and humans. Issues include overcrowded conditions, reliance on antibiotics, and poor overall livestock health.
Regenerative agriculture offers a sustainable alternative to factory farming by restoring soil health, increasing biodiversity, and utilizing animals in a manner that benefits the ecosystem. This method emphasizes practices that heal the land rather than deplete it.
The way animals are managed significantly impacts environmental health. When livestock are managed well, they contribute positively to soil health and carbon sequestration. The video highlights that the problem lies not in livestock themselves, but in how they are raised.
Soil degradation poses a significant threat to food security and environmental sustainability, with current agricultural practices leading to nutrient depletion and reduced soil productivity. Protecting and enhancing soil health is vital for sustainable agriculture.
Consumers play a crucial role in influencing agricultural practices. By supporting regenerative farming methods and being mindful of meat sourcing, consumers can help restore ecosystems and promote a healthier planet.
Transitioning to regenerative agriculture can lead to increased profitability for farmers. Practices that enhance soil health not only improve crop yields but also reduce the need for expensive chemical inputs.
A significant transition from conventional farming to regenerative practices is necessary to combat climate change and environmental degradation. The video calls for a collective effort to support sustainable agriculture.
Episode 6 - References Part 1
ReThink Meat: And The Way We Raise It | episode six Claim: When you walk into a grocery store today almost all animal products come from factory farms (Anthis, 2019) (Zampa, 2019)… Sources: https://www.sentienceinstitute.org/us-factory-farming-estimates https://www.worldanimalprotection.us/latest/blogs/which-animals-live-factory-farms-us/ https://faunalytics.org/fundamentals-farmed-animals/
Claim: In factory farms the problems are numerous. Crowded conditions, gestation crates (Anomaly, 2015) Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9757169/#%3A%7E%3Atext=First%2C+crowding+animals+together+in%2Cby+animals+being+kept+in
Claim: …calves separated from their mothers within hours of birth (Busch et al., 2017) Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5354428/#%3A%7E%3Atext=Separating+the+calf+from+the%2Cwith+milk+or+milk+replacer
Claim: …painful procedures like tail docking and beak clipping with no anesthesia and millions of animals euthanized every year that don’t fit into our efficient production systems (Morrison & Hemsworth, 2020) (Lawrence, 2016) (Animals Australia, 2021).
Sources: Tail docking: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7552632/ Beak clipping: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/apr/24/real-cost-of-roast-chicken-animal-welfare-farms https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/debeaking Euthanizing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udSiluTAOaQ
Claim: However, several advances in the 1900’s – including the discovery of supplemental vitamins and antibiotics, surpluses in grain production, refrigeration, transport and a booming population (Pasado's Safe Haven, n.d.) – led to dramatic changes and a prioritization of efficiency over ecology.
Claim: Though today, a 1200 pound steer can be produced in 14 months with grain feeding (Pollan, 2002), cattle before 1850 consumed mostly grass and were harvested between 4-5 years. (Cordain, et. al., 2005) (Whitaker, 1975).
Sources: https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/31/magazine/power-steer.html https://www.performancemenu.com/article/31/The-Paleo-Diet-for-Athletes/ https://cir.nii.ac.jp/crid/1130282268756882432
Claim: Widespread consolidation has also led to a system where four Multinational Companies control approximately 85% of the beef market (JBS, National Beef) (Lakhani et al., 2021) (Polansek et al., 2021)
Sources: https://www.reuters.com/business/how-four-big-companies-control-us-beef-industry-2021-06-17/ https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2024/january/concentration-in-u-s-meatpacking-industry-and-how-it-affects-competition-and-cattle-prices/ https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2021/jul/14/food-monopoly-meals-profits-data-investigation
Claim: …and according to Robert F. Kennedy, In Iowa, the rise of pork factory farms put at least 45,000 farmers out of business. (Kennedy, 2023) (“Smithfield Foods: The Truth Behind Its Pigs and Factories,” 2003)
Sources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08RXal8XTm4 https://theecologist.org/2003/dec/01/smithfield-foods-truth-behind-its-pigs-and-factories
Claim: This industrialized system means razor thin margins for farmers which may be why farmers have high rates of suicide. (Forrest, 2022) (Peterson, 2020).
Sources: https://news.illinois.edu/view/6367/1856210606 https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6903a1.htm
Claim: First, is the looming threat of antibiotic resistance and the fact that about 80% of antibiotics worldwide are used in animal production (Martin et al., 2015, #)
Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4638249/
Claim: Second, Factory farms are also a source of numerous novel pathogens. Outbreaks have been known to spread quickly through the cramped conditions of CAFOs and infect the humans that care for them. Like Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a bacterial infection that kills over 11,000 Americans annually (Dweba et al., 2018) (Lina et al., 1999), and bird flu strains like H5N1 (Graham, 2008), which threatens a very real pandemic risk because of its ability to mutate and infect people more easily (Farm Forward, 2023).
Sources: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6278885/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10524952/ https://www.cdc.gov/antimicrobial-resistance/media/pdfs/ar-threats-2013-508.pdf?CDC_AAref_Val=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fdrugresistance%2Fpdf%2Far-threats-2013-508.pdf https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2289982/ https://www.farmforward.com/news/can-you-get-bird-flu-from-eating-chicken/
Claim: While over 30 have been used historically, only 6 remain due to safety concerns (Stephany, 2001).
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11505585/
Claim: The European Union banned the import of hormone-treated meat in 1988 (Congressional Research Service, 2015) and one report also linked an estrogen used in livestock, (zearalenone ) with early puberty (Massart et al., 2008),
Sources:
https://sgp.fas.org/crs/row/R40449.pdf
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18410776/
https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(07)00983-3/fulltext
Claim: A recent analysis by a non for profit called Moms Against America by Zen Honeycutt also revealed alarming levels of several chemicals including pesticides, antibiotics and ionophores and fast food meat (Mills, 2023).
Source: https://www.momsacrossamerica.com/fast_food_glyphosate_herbicide
Claim: The pesticides used to grow the corn and soy fed to animals also has a number of deleterious effects and were originally created as weapons of war during WWII (Kuca et al., 2009) (ScienceDirect, 2021) (Carson, 2022).
Sources: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/parathion https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780123744845000663 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK209597/ https://joegardener.com/podcast/chemical-age-how-tools-of-war-became-agricultural-chemicals/
Claim: It’s estimated that 72 million birds are killed every year in the US alone (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, n.d.) (3 Billion Birds, n.d.) by pesticides that also harm dozens of endangered animals.
Source: https://www.fws.gov/library/collections/threats-birds
Claim: According to the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic to humans. (Benbrook, 2019) (International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2015)
Sources: https://enveurope.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s12302-018-0184-7#%3A%7E%3Atext=The+US+EPA+considers+glyphosate%2Cvivo+via+the+oral+route.%E2%80%9D https://www.iarc.who.int/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/MonographVolume112-1.pdf
Claim: Studies have found that it may cause DNA damage and increase the risk of non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (Kwiatkowska et al., 2017) (Weisenburger, 2021).
Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28351773/#%3A%7E%3Atext=To+sum+up%2C+we+have%2CDNA+methylation+in+human+cells https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0278691517301497?via=ihub https://www.clinical-lymphoma-myeloma-leukemia.com/article/S2152-2650(21)00151-8/fulltext#seccesectitle0005
Claim: As of May 2022 Monsanto had paid out $11 billion dollars setting over 100,000 Roundup lawsuits (Gaines, 2024) (ELIAS, 2019) (Gonzales, 2019).
Sources: https://www.forbes.com/advisor/legal/product-liability/roundup-lawsuit-update/#%3A%7E%3Atext=Monsanto+has+settled+over+100%2C000+Roundup+lawsuits%2C+paying%2Cout+about+%2411+billion+as+of+May+2022 https://apnews.com/article/8196f16997d74abb83f22a88f2e57d12 https://www.npr.org/2019/05/13/723056453/california-jury-awards-2-billion-to-couple-in-roundup-weed-killer-cancer-trial
Claim: Despite all the evidence, Monsanto still claims that glyphosate is perfectly safe. Though they have removed Glyphosate from their residential products (brown, 2021), it is still available for commercial use, effectively applied to 298 million acres annually in agricultural settings (Environmental Protection Agency, 2019).
Sources: https://thecounter.org/bayer-glyphosate-products-roundup-residential-2023-cancer/ https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2019-04/documents/glyphosate-response-comments-usage-benefits-final.pdf
Claim: And experts like soil scientist Jessica Chiartas, worry that the combination of chemicals used today may be far more dangerous than any one alone….(Lovejoy & Fiumera, 2019)
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6920984/
Claim: And #5 Factory farms produce up to 1 trillion pounds of manure every year - roughly 2 times the amount produced by humans (Hribar, 2010) (Environmental Protection Agency, 2005).
Sources: https://www.hecweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/CDC-report.pdf https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2019-04/documents/glyphosate-response-comments-usage-benefits-final.pdf
Claim: In pasture-based systems, manure works as fertilizer, but massive amounts of manure from factory farms can contain over 100 harmful compounds that pollute our air and waterways (Hribar, 2010) and are linked to asthma (Barrett, 2006), lung disease (Bongers et al., 1987), and nausea (Hribar 2010).
Sources:
https://www.hecweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/CDC-report.pdf
https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/ehp.114-a241a
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3689717/
Episode 6 - References Part 2
Claim: Elevated nitrates in drinking water are also linked to infant death, cancer, and miscarriage (Manassaram et al., 2006) (Hribar, 2010) (Grant & Steele, 1996) (Picetti et al., 2022) and runoff from factory farms has also created over 400 dead zones –
Sources: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1392223/ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935122003152?via=ihub https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-022-13604-z https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2554824/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9132576/
Claim: runoff from factory farms has also created over 400 dead zones – areas where aquatic life cannot survive, one of the largest in the Gulf of Mexico..
Claim: And though we don’t often think about the importance of soil, A 2022 paper (Kopittke et al., 2022): concluded…that the loss of our soil is a threat that could negatively impact food and energy security, water resources, and our ability to support a biodiverse ecosystem and adapt to climate change.
Source: https://cnrs.hal.science/hal-03852445/document
Claim: 98.7% of our calories come from the soil - and today our food is less nutritious than at any other time in history..…In fact, it’s been estimated you’d need to eat four servings of kale to get the same amount of calcium from one serving in 1950. Geomorphologistx, Dr. Montgomery discusses one reason this may be happening…
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15637215/
Claim:the UN's assessment of the global state of the soil today, they project that we're losing about a third of a percent of our ability to grow food each and every year
Sources: https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/81533344-7e7c-473d-96d7-e18de59d6548/content https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/6ec24d75-19bd-4f1f-b1c5-5becf50d0871/content
Search for this quote: "The range of estimates of annual crop loss due to erosion ranges from 0.1 percent to 0.4 percent, with two studies estimating 0.3 percent yield reduction."
Cited from this study: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/222204398_The_Global_Impact_Of_Soil_Erosion_On_Productivity_I_Absolute_and_Relative_Erosion-induced_Yield_Losses
Claim: Savory has since created a system called holistic management, that uses animals in a highly managed way to restore environmental health (Savory Institute, 2023).
Source: https://savory.global/ebooks/
Claim: Imagine this plate with flour as representative of dirt, with broken soil structure and this plate with bread as representative of healthy soil (Finnian, 2021).
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSlagEpKtTo
Claim: Alejandro Carrillo, a regenerative rancher in the largest desert in North America, the Chihuahua desert, has restored his water cycle so successfully his neighbors accused him of stealing the rain (Las Damas Ranch Case Study, 2024) (Schwartz, 2015) (Grazing For Rain - Alejandro Carrillo, 2022)…
Sources: https://understandingag.com/case_studies/las-damas-ranch-case-study/
https://savory.global/dispatch-from-the-chihuahuan-desert-grasslands/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANZNt8LXM6o
Claim: Most climate scientists agree that rising levels of atmospheric carbon are problematic (Lindsey, 2023), (Simmon, 2011) (Greenhouse Gases Continued to Increase Rapidly in 2022, 2023)
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/CarbonCycle/page5.php
https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/greenhouse-gases-continued-to-increase-rapidly-in-2022
Claim: We’ve lost 60% of species biodiversity in the last 40 years - and soil is the foundation of it all. (Grooten & Almond, 2018)(Living Planet Report 2018 | Pages, n.d.).
Sources: https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/living-planet-report-2018#%3A%7E%3Atext=60%25-%2CPopulations+of+mammals%2C+birds%2C+fish%2C+reptiles%2C+and+amphibians%2Crecent+year+with+available+data https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/living-planet-report-2018
Claim: farmers only make 8 cents on every dollar (Fast Facts About Agriculture & Food, 2021 (American Farm Bereau Foundation for Agriculture, 2021)…
EP 5 - And The Environment - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVpR4TBou7w
Meat and the Environment: Debunking 7 Myths About Cows, Meat and Climate
Are cows really destroying the planet? In Episode 5 of ReThink Meat, we challenge the most common environmental myths about meat, revealing how much of what we hear about cattle and climate is based on flawed science and misinformation.
This 27-minute episode explores:
summerizer
In this episode of ReThink Meat, the video debunks seven common myths surrounding the environmental impact of cows and livestock farming. It challenges the mainstream narrative that meat consumption is a leading cause of climate change and deforestation, emphasizing that the way livestock is managed is more crucial than the animals themselves. It highlights the potential of regenerative agriculture and responsible meat choices to restore ecosystems instead of harming them, advocating for a nuanced understanding of meat's role in sustainability.
Common beliefs suggest that cows contribute significantly to methane emissions and climate change. However, methane from cattle represents a small fraction of global emissions compared to many natural and industrial sources. Additionally, methane's impact is often overstated, as it breaks down naturally in about ten years.
A misconception claims livestock generates more greenhouse gases than transportation. Studies have shown that livestock contributes significantly less to emissions than the transportation sector. Proper accounting reveals a clear disparity, with transportation responsible for almost three times the emissions compared to livestock.
It’s often thought that livestock farming consumes land that could support crops, but a large portion of agricultural land is unsuitable for other uses. Livestock can convert non-arable land into nutritious food while also improving soil health.
Contrary to popular belief, livestock farming does not use excessive amounts of water. Most water for cattle comes from rainfall, and livestock can improve soil's water retention capabilities, countering issues like drought.
Livestock are often seen as harmful to ecosystems. This video argues that livestock, when managed well, can benefit ecosystems by sequestering carbon, improving biodiversity, and restoring soil health.
Research suggests that eliminating livestock from diets would have a minimal impact on overall greenhouse gas emissions. Nutrient deficiencies would likely rise due to the loss of animal-derived nutrients.
Quality meat is sometimes perceived as expensive, but when considering health and environmental costs, grass-fed beef can be more economical compared to processed foods. Furthermore, the true cost of cheap meat from industrial farming includes environmental damage.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/17x7mcJmKuyegIOMJnyaG-YQcdNEk_4e0-wk3uCEt6KU/mobilebasic
Episode 5 - References Part 1
ReThink Meat: And The Environment | episode five
Claim: There are many greenhouse gases, but the main ones are carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, which all have different warming potentials.
Source: Overview of Greenhouse Gases | US EPA, 2023
Claim: Methane has a warming effect 28x greater than CO2, and nitrous oxide has a warming effect 273x greater.
Source: Understanding Global Warming Potentials | US EPA, 2023
Claim: "According to the FAO, the main sources of methane are as follows:"
50% from natural sources and wetlands
16.5% from fossil fuels
9% from landfills and waste
4.5% each from rice cultivation and biomass/biofuel burning
13% from enteric fermentation (cows and other ruminants)
2.5% from manure
Source: FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)
FAO Methane Emissions Report
Claim: Of the 737 million tons of methane emitted globally, 571 million tons are absorbed into the soil.
Source: ESSD - The Global Methane Budget 2000–2017, 2020
Claim: Because of this, scientists are even proposing a new way to measure methane called the GWP* which would more accurately reflect the cyclical nature of methane.
"Scientists have proposed a new way of assessing the climate impact of methane, using a metric known as GWP* (Global Warming Potential Star), which better accounts for the cyclical nature of methane emissions."
Claim: In the early 1800’s, Lewis and Clark wrote about bison herds that blanketed the prairie and some estimate 30-75 million bison - which is comparable to the 90 million cattle we have in the US today.
Source:
Lewis and Clark on the Great Plains: A Natural History, 2003
https://lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu/item/lc.sup.johnsgard.01
“Bison were reported in present-day Montana from at least 33 locations, from the North Dakota boundary west up the Missouri Valley almost to Great Falls, along the Sun and Marias Rivers, and along the Yellowstone Valley from about present-day Billings to the North Dakota boundary. After the great bison slaughter of the middle and late nineteenth century, when more than 40 million animals were destroyed, the only remaining bison south of Canada were a few hundred individuals that were protected in Yellowstone National Park.”
Claim: Animal ag creates more GHG emissions than transportation (FAO, 2006).
Source: https://www.fao.org/3/a0701e/a0701e.pdf
The 2006 FAO report "Livestock's Long Shadow" states that the livestock sector is responsible for 18% of global greenhouse gas emissions, a share higher than that of the transport sector.
Claim: The FAO produced a follow up report and stated that if we were doing it on an apples to apples basis, livestock would be 5% and transport would be 14%....
Source: 2013 follow up: https://www.fao.org/3/i3437e/i3437e.pdf
Go to page 86 of the document (or 63 within Adobe), Figure 1.7, Titled: Greenhouse gas emissions by economic sectors
Claim: Meaning, the transportation sector produced nearly 3x the emissions (Buxton, 2022) (Mottet & Steinfeld, 2018) (Pachauri & Meyer, 2015).
Source: https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/02/SYR_AR5_FINAL_full.pdf
IPCC, 2014: Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Core Writing Team, R.K. Pachauri and L.A. Meyer (eds.)]. IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland, 151 pp.
Claim: It’s also important to note that this report was in direct contrast to the other credible estimates like the IPCC estimate that all of agriculture was responsible for 10-12% of emissions AND epa Which put all of ag at 10%.
Source 1: https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/03/ar4_wg3_full_report-1.pdf
The IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report (2007) estimates that global emissions of non-CO₂ greenhouse gases (GHGs) from agriculture were between 5,120 and 6,116 million metric tons of CO₂-equivalent per year in 2005. This accounts for approximately 10-12% of total global anthropogenic GHG emissions.
Source 2: https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions, https://climatechange.chicago.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions
The EPA's "Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions" page indicates that, as of 2014, agriculture accounted for 9% of U.S. GHG emissions.
Claim: A 2013 report by FAO’s sister organization the United Nations Environmental Program stated all of agriculture was responsible for 11% (UN Environment Programme, 2013) (Niman, 2021) (Gerber et al., 2013).
Source: https://www.unep.org/resources/emissions-gap-report-2013 ,
Discusses the significant role of the agricultural sector in contributing to GHG emissions and emphasizes the potential for emission reductions within this sector.
Source: https://www.wri.org/insights/5-questions-about-agricultural-emissions-answered
The World Resources Institute notes that emissions from agricultural production currently account for 11% of global greenhouse gas emissions and have risen 14% since 2000
Source: https://www.c2es.org/content/international-emissions/
Additionally, the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions reports that the primary sources of greenhouse gas emissions are electricity and heat (31%), agriculture (11%), transportation (15%), forestry (6%), and manufacturing (12%)
Claim: For beef cows - it's actually 2% (Quinton, 2019), according to Mitloehner.
Source: https://www.ucdavis.edu/food/news/making-cattle-more-sustainable
“Cows and other ruminants account for just 4 percent of all greenhouse gases produced in the United States, he said, and beef cattle just 2 percent of direct emissions.”
Claim: Not to mention certain types of beef production result in fewer emissions and actually sequester carbon, which can offset methane emissions, a fact the FAO acknowledges
he FAO report "Livestock and Climate Change" (2013) mentions that specific practices in livestock production, particularly in grazing systems, can result in carbon sequestration. Well-managed grazing systems can improve soil organic matter and act as carbon sinks, offsetting emissions from livestock methane production.
Source: https://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/gleam/docs/GLEAM_2.0_Model_description.pdf
The FAO's Global Livestock Environmental Assessment Model (GLEAM) recognizes that the adoption of better livestock management practices can lower the carbon footprint of beef production. Techniques such as improved feed efficiency, agroforestry integration, and manure management help reduce net emissions while enhancing soil carbon storage.
"Grasslands, which occupy more than 25% of the Earth's surface, can sequester significant amounts of carbon under improved management, potentially offsetting emissions from livestock grazing."
Claim: A report from the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated that 89% of agriculture’s mitigation potential (GHG) rides on improving soil carbon levels (Smith 2007).
Source: https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/2018/02/ar4-wg3-chapter8-1.pdf
"Soil carbon sequestration (enhanced sinks) is the mechanism responsible for most of the mitigation potential (high agreement, much evidence)”
Source: https://www.soilassociation.org/media/4954/policy_soil_carbon_full_review.pdf
According to IPCC scientific advisers, 89% of agriculture’s GHG mitigation potential resides in improving soil carbon levels.
Claim: The truth is, about ⅔ of agricultural land is unsuitable for crop production (Agricultural Land
“Arable land takes up one third of agricultural land, and is dedicated for crop production. The remaining two-thirds, marginal land, is either untouched or is home to grazing livestock, which by and large is cattle.”
Claim: Despite what you hear about animal agriculture requiring excessive amounts of water, 94% of the water used to raise cattle comes from rain (Mekonnen and Hoekstra, 2010) (Manning, 2019) (Rotz et al., 2019, #) (Glossary – Water Footprint Network).
“Beef production is able to draw the overwhelming majority of its water needs from natural rainfall because the beef production system begins with a cow-calf operation where herds of cows are raised on pasture and bred to have a calf once a year.”
“What the infographic does not disclose, however, is that 94% of the water “used” to make typical beef and 97% of the water used to make grass-finished beef is naturally occurring rainfall - rain that would have fallen whether or not that animal was grazing the grass.”
Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308521X18305675
Source:
https://waterfootprint.org/resources/Report-48-WaterFootprint-AnimalProducts-Vol1.pdf
“The green water footprint refers to consumption of green water resources (rainwater in so far as it does not become run-off).”
“The water footprint is dominantly green water (94%) and the largest share comes from the feed the cattle consume (99%).”
Episode 5 - References Part 2
Claim: And when those animals are grass fed? That number is more like 97%. Most importantly, much of that water is actually returned to the Earth.
Source:
“In a grass-finished beef operation, the amount of green water used is closer to 98% because the cattle are raised exclusively on pasture.”
Source:
https://waterfootprint.org/resources/Report-48-WaterFootprint-AnimalProducts-Vol1.pdf
“In the grazing system, over 97% of the water footprint related to feed comes from grazing and fodder crops and the water footprint is dominantly (94%) green.”
Claim: In fact, these plant-based foods require far more water and provide nowhere near the nutritional profile.
Source:
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/10/1518
“However, plant-based diets have low contents of essential micronutrients, such as iron, zinc, vitamin B-12, vitamin D, omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids, calcium, and iodine, and such micronutrient deficiencies lead to the risk of malnutrition. People who follow vegan diets usually are required to take daily supplements of some of these nutrients because the averages of these nutrients are insufficient in their diets. Although some sources of plants can compensate for the required amounts of nutrients, vegans need to consume 20% more food than non-vegans (omnivore) to arrive at the recommended daily doses of the above-mentioned nutrients [60].
“However, crop-only production and an exclusively vegan diet may lead to the loss of important plant and animal genetic materials, increase pressure on land and water resources, and exacerbate problems with agricultural crop residues.”
“the conversion of large forests into arable lands, particularly into cash-crop plantations, has a direct influence on vegetation and local climate through its control of water and energy fluxes.”
Claim: It takes an average of 2,000 Liters of water (528 gallons) to produce 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of avocados. And every time you throw away one of those over-ripe avocados, it’s like running your shower for one hour.
Source: https://www.treehugger.com/avocado-chile-petorca-united-kingdom-village-drought-4868652
“the average American shower uses 2.1 gallons of water per minute. Throwing away one avocado would be like letting the shower run for more than an hour with no one in it.”
Source:https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/aug/10/avocado-illegal-deforestation-mexico-pine-forests
“Two thousand litres of water are needed to produce just one kilo of avocados – “
Claim: There is also a misconception that livestock are consuming the majority of our grains – 50% in the US according to some estimates, and around 80% globally.
“In the US alone, more than 50% of grain is fed to farmed animals rather than people (the world’s cattle consume a quantity of food equal to the caloric needs of 8.7 billion people — again more than the human population on Earth).”
Source:
https://sentientmedia.org/food-over-feed-war-in-ukraine-highlights-need-for-dietary-change/
“According to a study about food security, livestock producers used 61 percent of global corn and 20 percent of wheat between 2016 and 2018. In addition to grain, livestock farmers feed around 80 percent of global soy to farmed animals, another crop that humans could eat directly.”
Claim: An article in The Economist said “die-hard leaf eaters can claim to have knocked 85% off their carbon footprint.” (“How Much Would Giving up Meat Help the Environment?” 2019)
Claim: The average emission per person per year related to diet is just 16% …
Source: https://www.amazon.com/Great-Plant-Based-eating-plants-only-improve/dp/1408717441
Claim: Research has also shown when we adjust these models to consider necessary nutrients, emissions are similar between plant & animal foods.
Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/srep26074#Sec13
The findings suggest that when adjusting for essential nutrient content, the environmental impacts of animal and plant-based foods are more comparable than commonly perceived.
“The main conclusion of the study is that, under this perspective, the theoretical advantage of producing vegetal rather than animal proteins, is either markedly blunted, abolished or even reverted, with the notable exceptions of soybeans (still requiring ≈85% less land and producing ≈90% less GHGE, than those associated to beef meat).”
Claim: And the environmental cost of plant-based nutrients increases when you consider their reduced bioavailability and the emissions of animal foods can be reduced by up to 14% by eating nose to tail.
Source: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.8b06079
“A diet to a higher amount of offal with less needs to be thrown away (S8) showed the second largest reduction potential or 14% reduction of the original GHG emissions..”
Source: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/10/12/1841
“In spite of the higher iron content in vegan diets, typically vegetarians have lower serum ferritin (iron stores) than meat-eaters, likely due to the reduced bioavailability of the type of iron found in plants,”
A review in Nutrients highlights that while plant-based diets can improve health and environmental sustainability, they may require careful planning to meet micronutrient needs due to lower bioavailability of certain nutrients. This could potentially lead to increased consumption of plant foods to meet nutritional requirements, thereby raising environmental impacts
Claim: Certain studies have found processed foods have a higher carbon footprint (Ridoutt et al., 2020, #) (da Silva & et. al., 2021),
Source: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(21)00254-0/fulltext
“Between 1987–88 and 2017–18, diet-related GHGE increased by 21% (from 1538·6 g CO2 equivalent [CO2e] per 1000 kcal [95% CI 1473·3–1604·0] to 1866·0 g CO2e per 1000 kcal [1788·0–1944·0]; ptrend<0·0001), diet-related water footprint increased by 22% (from 1447·2 L/1000 kcal [95% CI 1400·7–1493·8] to 1769·1 L/1000 kcal [1714·5–1823·7]; ptrend<0·0001), and diet-related ecological footprint increased by 17% (from 9·69 m2/1000 kcal [95% CI 9·33–10·05] to 11·36 m2/1000 kcal [10·91–11·81]; ptrend<0·0001).”
Ultra-Processed Foods and Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A review highlighted that ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, with items like processed meats, burgers, and pizza contributing the most.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38173129/
Carbon Footprint of Ultra-Processed Food Purchases: Research published in Public Health Nutrition found that the highest quintile of ultra-processed food purchases was associated with a 14.4% increase in carbon footprint compared to the lowest quintile
Claim: …and that healthful diets containing meat and plants may actually be the most eco-friendly when considering worldwide populations (Buxton, 2022) (Peters et al., 2016).
Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41538-023-00239-6
A study published in The Lancet Planetary Health introduced the concept of the "Planetary Health Diet," which emphasizes a balance of plant-based foods with modest amounts of animal-based products. This diet aims to promote health and environmental sustainability. The researchers suggest that such a diet could reduce greenhouse gas emissions and land use compared to current dietary patterns, while still providing adequate nutrition.
Claim: The soy that makes up much of the plant-based market - 95% is genetically modified and sprayed with pesticides that degrade environmental health (USDA ERS, 2023) (Non GMO Project, 2023).
“Herbicide-tolerant (HT) crops, which tolerate potent herbicides (such as glyphosate, glufosinate, and dicamba), provide farmers with a broad variety of options for effective weed control. Based on USDA survey data, the percent of domestic soybean acres planted with HT seeds rose from 17 percent in 1997 to 68 percent in 2001, before plateauing at 94 percent in 2014. In 2024, HT soybean acreage reached its highest adoption at 96 percent. HT cotton acreage expanded from approximately 10 percent in 1997 to 56 percent in 2001, before reaching a high of 95 percent in 2019. “
Source: https://www.nongmoproject.org/blog/the-gmo-high-risk-list-soybeans/
“Roughly 95% of soy grown in the United States is genetically engineered to withstand weedkillers, a GMO trait known as herbicide tolerance. The first herbicide-tolerant GMO soy was created by inserting DNA from a glyphosate-resistant bacteria into the soy plant so farmers could apply weedkillers to their fields without damaging their cash crop.”
Episode 5 - References Part 3
Claim: A 2019 report by Quantis labs at WOP revealed that (Quantis, 2019)..Grass fed beef was the only net positive food when compared to other calculations for conventional beef, soy, pork, and chicken.
Source: https://blog.whiteoakpastures.com/hubfs/WOP-LCA-Quantis-2019.pdf
Claim: A recent paper comparing Grass Fed BEEF & Impossible burger also found that though the nutrition labels looked the same - 90% of the metabolites were different.- meaning they are not nutritionally interchangeable (van Vliet et al., 2021).
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34226581/
“Despite apparent similarities based on Nutrition Facts panels, our metabolomics analysis found that metabolite abundances between the plant-based meat alternative and grass-fed ground beef differed by 90% (171 out of 190 profiled metabolites; false discovery rate adjusted p < 0.05). Several metabolites were found either exclusively (22 metabolites) or in greater quantities in beef (51 metabolites) (all, p < 0.05). Nutrients such as docosahexaenoic acid (ω-3), niacinamide (vitamin B3), glucosamine, hydroxyproline and the anti-oxidants allantoin, anserine, cysteamine, spermine, and squalene were amongst those only found in beef.”
Claim: Not to mention recent lawsuits point to a lack of validity regarding certain nutritional claims..specifically the protein content (Wile, 2023).
“The suits allege Beyond Meat Inc., which sells plant-based meat-substitute products, miscalculates and overstates the protein content in its foods and misleads consumers about the nutritional benefits, compared to traditional meat products.”
Claim: With 3% of the global population being vegan, that leaves 97% of people still eating animal products that contain essential nutrients so rather than demonizing animal foods perhaps the more important question is one posed by environmental activist John Roulac (IPSOS, 2018)…
“Vegan
3%
Do not eat animal products at all”
Claim: .Snickers is more expensive than grass fed beef and provides nowhere near the nutrition (FoodData Central Search Results, 2017) (FoodData Central Search Results, 2019)(Rodgers, 2018).
Source for Snickers: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/557863/nutrients
Source for Grass Fed Beef: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/168608/nutrients
“pack of 6: $4.27 or $0.39 per ounce at Walmart”
EP 4 - And Veganism - https://youtu.be/eVvAZ3udiyU
I don't like posting about other diets, as everyone should be able to make their own choices. However, given the frequency of these arguments and talking points against ASF in other non-diet communities I think posting this ReThink Meat episode is a net benefit to the dialog.
The Vegan Diet: Myths, Risks, and What You Need to Know
Is a vegan diet as healthy and sustainable as it’s made out to be? In Episode 4 of ReThink Meat, we take an open-hearted, nonjudgmental look at the vegan lifestyle and separate fact from fiction.
This 27-minute episode busts 4 common myths about vegan diets—including the idea that “everyone is doing it” and that it’s the most sustainable choice. We also dive deep into the nutritional challenges of a plant-only diet, revealing why it’s so difficult to get all the nutrients your body needs from plants alone.
👀 What you'll learn:
summerizer
In this episode of ReThink Meat, the host, a holistic nutritionist, explores common misconceptions about vegan diets, their health implications, and environmental impact. Contrary to popular beliefs, vegan diets can lead to nutrient deficiencies, health issues, and may not be as eco-friendly as assumed. The video shares personal experiences, research findings, and advocates for a balanced view on plant and animal-based nutrition.
The belief that everyone who cares about health and the environment is vegan is misleading. Studies indicate only about 0.5% of U.S. adults identify as vegan, and most abandon the diet within three months.
Common claims that vegan diets are superior for the environment are challenged. Research shows that a significant shift to veganism may only reduce greenhouse gases by 2.6%. Additionally, many plant products involve harmful agricultural practices, countering sustainability claims.
Contrary to expectations, plant agriculture is responsible for numerous animal deaths due to field clearing and pesticide use. Analyses suggest plant-based diets may lead to more animal deaths per kilogram of protein than meat consumption.
Obtaining essential nutrients solely from a vegan diet is difficult. Deficiencies in vitamin B12, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, and others are common among vegans, which can lead to serious health issues, including mental health disorders.
Vegan diets can lead to deficiencies associated with various health issues such as depression, osteoporosis, and hormonal disruptions, particularly in women.
The video suggests that a dietary approach combining both plant and animal products is essential for optimal health and nutrients. It promotes awareness of ethical farming practices and calls for respect for individual dietary choices.
Vegan diets can pose serious risks to children, potentially leading to developmental issues. The video highlights warnings from multiple countries about the health consequences of vegan diets for vulnerable populations.
I found these two paper's from the episode particularly interesting about the environmental impacts of ruminants and nutritional arbitrage of a PBF diet (the proposed replacement for all pasture land).
Ruminants have exist before humans, they are not hurting the environment, they are the environment. Sustainable regenerative ruminant based agriculture is key to maximizing the output of the land.
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1707322114 Nutritional and greenhouse gas impacts of removing animals from US agriculture
only reduced total US GHG by 2.6 percentage units.
This assessment suggests that removing animals from US agriculture would reduce agricultural GHG emissions, but would also create a food supply incapable of supporting the US population’s nutritional requirements.
Interestingly on this model, calories and carbohydrates would increase but there would be more nutritional gaps.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s43247-023-00945-9 Levelling foods for priority micronutrient value can provide more meaningful environmental footprint comparisons
references 2
Claim: Research has shown deficiencies in B12, iron, VD, calcium, and DHA during pregnancy can increase the risk of symptoms like morbidity, low birth weight, altered growth, neurological issues, fetal malformations and the outcome of the overall pregnancy (Sebastiani et al., 2019) (Zec et al., 2020).Sources: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6470702/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32302504/
Claim: To add insult to injury, current testing methods for B12 are thought to miss many of those who are deficient (Iltar et al., 2019).
Sources: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6614102/
Claim: Research has also shown that exclusively breast fed infants of vegan mothers are at a relatively high risk of vitamin B12 deficiency, anemia and failure to thrive (Honzik et al., 2010).
Sources: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1090379809002220
Claim: It's often believed that well planned vegan diets with supplementation can avoid deficiency and these permanent side effects. But unfortunately, a 2021 study compared vegan, vegetarian and omnivore children whose meals were carefully planned by a dietician and still found vegan children had lower levels of several nutrients, including protein, vitamin A and DHEA and cholesterol (Hovinen et al., 2021).
Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33471422/
Claim: In extreme cases, these deficiencies can even result in childhood death or irreversible damage from malnutrition (Von Schenck et al., 1997) (Sebastiani et al., 2019) (Codazzi et al., 2005) (Guez et al., 2012).
Sources: https://adc.bmj.com/content/77/2/137.info https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6470702/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15982440/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22726312/
Claim: Given these serious risks, many countries like Italy (“Italy Proposal to Jail Vegans Who Impose Diet on Children,” 2016), Switzerland (Hooper, 2014), Spain (Redecillas-Ferreiro et al., 2020), Belgium and Germany (Richter et al., 2016) have warned about the possible negative consequences of vegan diets.
Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37034619 https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2014/09/17/Swiss-government-Vegan-diet-bad-for-kids/6161410965963/ https://www.analesdepediatria.org/en-position-paper-on-vegetarian-diets-articulo-S2341287920300211?referer=buscador https://www.ernaehrungs-umschau.de/fileadmin/Ernaehrungs-Umschau/pdfs/pdf_2016/04_16/EU04_2016_Special_DGE_eng_final.pdf
Claim: And if you visit any of vegan forums online, like the reddit thread for “ex vegans”, you'll find hundreds of other stories involving a myriad of health issues including…teeth issues, kidney stones, joint pain, fatigue, & hair loss (Ex Vegans).
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/exvegans/
Claim: According to a report from Bloomberg Intelligence, the plant-based market was worth 29.4 billion in 2020, and is projected to reach $162 billion by 2030 (“Plant-Based Foods Market to Hit $162 Billion in Next Decade, Projects Bloomberg Intelligence | Press,” 2021).
Claim: While corporations are profiting off this message, a recent analysis of the incredibly influential and plant-based Eat Lancet diet, revealed it was unaffordable for 1.58 billion people worldwide, not to mention nutritionally inadequate for many populations as we discussed in video 1. (Hirvonen et al., 2020)
:::spoiler Episode 4 - References Part 1
ReThink Meat: And Veganism | episode four Claim: Only Approximately one half of 1% of adults in the US self-identify as vegan and most people abandon the diet after 3 months (Faunalytics, 2014) (Buxton, 2022). Sources: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0033062022000834?via=ihub https://osf.io/7cqmw/ https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Great_Plant_Based_Con/GMhuEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover
Claim: It's also been estimated that 84% of those who try veganism end up reverting to eating animal foods in some capacity (Faunalytics, 2014). And there are 5-times more former vegetarians/vegans than current ones (Faunalytics, 2014). Sources: https://osf.io/preprints/osf/7cqmw
Claim: Second, models have shown if all Americans went vegan, it would not significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, a 2017 analysis estimated a 2.6% reduction in GHGs and widespread nutrient deficiencies if 300 million Americans made the switch (White & Hall, 2017). According to professor and air quality extension specialist, Dr. Frank Mitlhoener… Sources: https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1707322114
Claim: Much of the soy, corn and wheat in vegan products are grown in monocultures treated with pesticides and other environmentally-harmful chemicals (Dorgbetor et al., 2022). Not to mention many fruits and vegetables are imported (Karp, 2018). Sources: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/10/1518 https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/13/dining/fruit-vegetables-imports.html
Claim: …many of the models suggesting plant foods result in fewer GHG emissions use fossil-fuel dependent feedlot beef as a comparison rather than other types of beef production that can sequester carbon and improve environmental health (Guo et al., 2022) (Scarborough et al., 2023).
Sources: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9367784/ https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-023-00795-w
Claim: A 2018 analysis for example, estimated that between 63 and 127 million field deaths per year in the US are due to plant based agriculture. For perspective, 40 million cattle and 120 million pigs are estimated to be slaughtered for consumption each year in the US (Fischer and Lamey, 2018).
Source: https://r.jordan.im/download/ethics/fischer2018.pdf
Claim: “Producing wheat and other grains for vegan/vegetarian diet results in at least 25 times more sentient animals being killed per kilogram of usable protein, more environmental damage and a great deal more animal cruelty (Archer, 2011).”
Claim: A recent paper by Doctor Lauren Cordain outlined most common health risks that can occur via vegan diet induced nutrient deficiencies including depression, anxiety, hypothyroidism, sarcopenia, hair loss, dermatitis, anemia and osteoporosis or bone fractures (O'Keefe et al., 2022).
Sources: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0033062022000834
Claim: True vitamin B12, which is important for your brain and the health of your nervous system, is almost exclusively found in animal products and was found to be deficient in 92% of vegans, versus 11% of meat eaters (Herrmann et al., 2003).
Sources: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916522032683?via=ihub#s0030
Claim: Due to anti-nutrients, you would absorb .8 mg of iron from beef yet only .18 mg from spinach, in servings both containing about 3.5 mg of iron (Vasconcelos & Oliveira, 2004) (Hurrell & Egli, 2010) (How Much Iron Do You Actually Absorb From Food?, n.d.)
Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15302522/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20200263/ https://lilynicholsrdn.com/iron-absorption/
Claim: And though you can obtain certain essential omega three fatty acids for plants, the longer chain forms like EPA and DHA, which are critical for the heart, brain, and immune function are only found in animal products, which is likely why up to 50% of vegans can be deficient (Swanson et al., 2012) (Rosell et al., 2005, 5).
Sources: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3262608/ https://ajcn.nutrition.org/action/showPdf?pii=S0002-9165%2823%2929563-5 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16087975/
Claim: It’s also important to note that due to the complexity of whole foods, supplemental nutrients don't often yield the same health benefits (Jacobs & Tapsell, 2007).
Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17972438/
Claim: In fact, for certain nutrients like calcium and beta-carotene, their supplemental forms have been linked to an increased risk of disease (Boland & Grey, 2011) (Blumberg & Block, 1994) while their whole food forms are linked to decreased risk (van Vliet et al., 2020).
Sources: https://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d2040 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8090376/ https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainable-food-systems/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2020.00128/full
Claim: The brain is a hungry organ and accounts for only 2% of total body weight and requires 20% of our daily calories (Siegel et al., 1999).
Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK20385/
Claim: According to a 2018 analysis. The most important nutrients for depression prevention and treatment include many nutrients often deficient in vegan diets (LaChance & Ramsey, 2018).
Claim: Recent research has also provided evidence that avoiding meat can increase the risk of mental health issues with a 2020 review concluding that 11 of the 18 studies found meat abstention was associated with poorer psychological health (Dobersek et al., 2021).
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32308009/
Claim: Other studies have found not eating meat is associated with a:
2X risk of depression 3X risk of self harm 2X the prevalence of suicide attempts
Sources: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/public-health-nutrition/article/how-does-the-health-and-wellbeing-of-young-australian-vegetarian-and-semivegetarian-women-compare-with-nonvegetarians/1B49FD85C44CCDA7AEF40972F28B29BF Table 3 (Taken prescription medication for depression): 4.2 for meat / 8 for veg
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/public-health-nutrition/article/how-does-the-health-and-wellbeing-of-young-australian-vegetarian-and-semivegetarian-women-compare-with-nonvegetarians/1B49FD85C44CCDA7AEF40972F28B29BF *Look for TABLE 2 (Deliberate self-harm)
https://www.jahonline.org/article/S1054-139X(01)00258-0/abstract
Here is the figure to show the 2x prevalence of suicide attempts (Table 1): https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Characteristics-of-vegetarian-adolescents-in-a-Perry-McGuire/c54a2b48406d132c310bbb29ff04171f655f4b46/figure/0
Claim: And finally, meat-inclusive Mediterranean and ketogenic diets have shown promising results in clinical trials for improving (and even reversing) brain-based issues like depression, epilepsy, and Alzheimer’s (Dobersek et al., 2021) (Brietzke et al., 2018) (Ułamek-Kozioł et al., 2019) (Jensen et al., 2020) (Shafiei et al., 2023).
Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32308009/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33233502/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30075165/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31635247/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33233502/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36928725/
Claim: A lack of calcium and vitamin D are two of the biggest concerns (Menzel et al., 2021) but studies have also shown - omega 3 fatty acids (Sadeghi et al., 2019), vitamin B12, vitamin A (Menzel et al., 2021), zinc (Hyun et al., 2004) and selenium (Menzel et al., 2021) are also important.
Sources: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/2/685 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10408398.2017.1405908?cookieSet=1 https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/2/685 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15321813/ https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/2/685
Claim: A recent study also showed that vegans had 2x the risk of hip fractures (Tong et al., 2020).
Sources: https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12916-020-01815-3#citeas
Claim: Another analysis of twenty studies noted that, compared with omnivores, vegetarians and vegans had higher fracture rates and lower bone mineral density at the femoral neck and lumbar spine (Iguacel et al., 2019).
Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30376075/
Claim: And when a vegan and vegetarian diet was compared with the meat-inclusive Mediterranean Diet in those with Rheumatoid arthritis, the meat-inclusive Mediterranean diet proved more successful in reducing pain (Schönenberger et al., 2021).
Sources: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8706441/
Claim:. Deficiencies in iron, zinc, and vitamin A are common in vegans, and are also associated with menstrual cycle disruptions. One study compared ovulation of women aged 19 to 27, and 7 out of 9 meat eaters ovulated while only 2 out 9 non-meaters ovulated (Pirke et al., 1986).
Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3096794/
Claim: Vegan diets can also be an issue for those who hope to become pregnant, as a recent study revealed that 90% of women trying to conceive in developed countries are already nutrient-deficient (Keith et al., 2023).
Sources: Study: https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1004260
Article: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-12-pregnant-women-vital-nutrients-situation.html
Episode 4 - References Part 2
Claim: Research has shown deficiencies in B12, iron, VD, calcium, and DHA during pregnancy can increase the risk of symptoms like morbidity, low birth weight, altered growth, neurological issues, fetal malformations and the outcome of the overall pregnancy (Sebastiani et al., 2019) (Zec et al., 2020).
Sources: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6470702/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32302504/
Claim: To add insult to injury, current testing methods for B12 are thought to miss many of those who are deficient (Iltar et al., 2019).
Sources: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6614102/
Claim: Research has also shown that exclusively breast fed infants of vegan mothers are at a relatively high risk of vitamin B12 deficiency, anemia and failure to thrive (Honzik et al., 2010).
Sources: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1090379809002220
Claim: It's often believed that well planned vegan diets with supplementation can avoid deficiency and these permanent side effects. But unfortunately, a 2021 study compared vegan, vegetarian and omnivore children whose meals were carefully planned by a dietician and still found vegan children had lower levels of several nutrients, including protein, vitamin A and DHEA and cholesterol (Hovinen et al., 2021).
Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33471422/
Claim: In extreme cases, these deficiencies can even result in childhood death or irreversible damage from malnutrition (Von Schenck et al., 1997) (Sebastiani et al., 2019) (Codazzi et al., 2005) (Guez et al., 2012).
Sources: https://adc.bmj.com/content/77/2/137.info https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6470702/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15982440/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22726312/
Claim: Given these serious risks, many countries like Italy (“Italy Proposal to Jail Vegans Who Impose Diet on Children,” 2016), Switzerland (Hooper, 2014), Spain (Redecillas-Ferreiro et al., 2020), Belgium and Germany (Richter et al., 2016) have warned about the possible negative consequences of vegan diets.
Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37034619 https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2014/09/17/Swiss-government-Vegan-diet-bad-for-kids/6161410965963/ https://www.analesdepediatria.org/en-position-paper-on-vegetarian-diets-articulo-S2341287920300211?referer=buscador https://www.ernaehrungs-umschau.de/fileadmin/Ernaehrungs-Umschau/pdfs/pdf_2016/04_16/EU04_2016_Special_DGE_eng_final.pdf
Claim: And if you visit any of vegan forums online, like the reddit thread for “ex vegans”, you'll find hundreds of other stories involving a myriad of health issues including…teeth issues, kidney stones, joint pain, fatigue, & hair loss (Ex Vegans).
Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/exvegans/
Claim: According to a report from Bloomberg Intelligence, the plant-based market was worth 29.4 billion in 2020, and is projected to reach $162 billion by 2030 (“Plant-Based Foods Market to Hit $162 Billion in Next Decade, Projects Bloomberg Intelligence | Press,” 2021).
Claim: While corporations are profiting off this message, a recent analysis of the incredibly influential and plant-based Eat Lancet diet, revealed it was unaffordable for 1.58 billion people worldwide, not to mention nutritionally inadequate for many populations as we discussed in video 1. (Hirvonen et al., 2020)
EP 3 - Why Meat is Essential: The Health Benefits You Can’t Ignore - https://youtu.be/qsZCJYerAxQ
Is meat really necessary for optimal health? Episode 3 of ReThink Meat dives into the fascinating history and undeniable health benefits of meat, showing why it’s not just important—but irreplaceable—for human well-being.
From its role in human evolution to its impact on modern health, this 23-minute episode uncovers why meat has been essential throughout history and why no culture has ever survived without it. Learn how meat supports appetite control, fat loss, muscle growth, and provides critical nutrients you simply can’t get elsewhere.
We’ll also explore: Why animal products were critical to our evolution The research behind a meat-only diet and its surprising health benefits. How a woman reversed her autoimmune condition with a meat-inclusive diet backed by clinical trials. The weight loss, cardiovascular, and longevity benefits of whole food diets that include meat. Why meat is key for appetite control and building muscle in a way plants just can’t match. And how much meat you should eat for best results Walk away with a new appreciation for meat as a modern-day health tool and discover how much meat you need for optimal results.
Meat in human evolution, Why humans need meat, Meat and brain development, Evolutionary diet science, Carnivore vs omnivore, Meat-eating across cultures, Traditional diets and meat, Animal protein and growth, Is meat natural for humans?, Anthropology of eating meat
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The video discusses the essential role of meat in human health and evolution, challenging the prevailing notion that meat is unhealthy. It emphasizes that meat provides crucial nutrients and benefits that are difficult to obtain from plant-based diets alone, highlighting the historical significance of meat consumption in human evolution and contemporary health issues related to the decline in meat consumption.
The video explains how meat consumption was pivotal for human evolution, contributing to brain development and overall health. It posits that our ancestors thrived on diets that included animal products, which were critical for their growth and health.
It discusses the adverse health impacts observed in humans transitioning from hunter-gatherer diets to agricultural diets with lower meat consumption, showing that those who ate primarily meat were healthier compared to those who later adopted farming.
The documentary highlights that animal proteins are of higher quality, containing all essential amino acids necessary for human health, whereas plant proteins often require combining different sources to achieve the same effect.
It reveals that many common nutritional deficiencies can be attributed to a lack of animal products in the diet, emphasizing that animal foods are often the richest sources of essential vitamins and minerals that are crucial for maintaining health.
The video stresses the dangers of ultraprocessed foods which comprise a significant portion of modern diets, arguing that these foods are linked to numerous health problems, contrasting them with the benefits of whole animal foods.
It critiques food rating systems that unfairly give low rankings to animal products compared to ultraprocessed foods, raising questions about the integrity and biases behind such assessments.
The discussion includes studies indicating that meat can improve various health outcomes, including weight management and cognitive function, countering the arguments that deem it harmful to modern health.
The conclusion reaffirms that animal products are irreplaceable for optimal health, especially in supporting growth and repair processes in the body, suggesting that modern dietary guidelines should reconsider their stance on animal foods.
Episode 3 References
ReThink Meat: And Your Health | episode three Claim: Maybe you've seen the Food Compass that rated Lucky Charms and Almond M&Ms higher than beef and eggs (Mozaffarian et al., 2021) (Noren). Sources: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-021-00381-y https://sites.tufts.edu/foodcompass/research/data/
Claim: And since there's never been a fully vegan culture (O'Keefe et al., 2022), eliminating animal products is essentially an experiment… Sources: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0033062022000834?via=ihub
Claim: Let's take it back to over 3.5 million years ago, when our ancestors stood four feet tall and began consuming meat (McPherron et al., 2010) (Will et al., 2017). Sources: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.171339#d1e1062 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20703305/
Claim: Fast forward to the agricultural revolution - the transition from primarily hunter gatherers to agriculture when meat consumption declined (Paley, 2023) (Williams & Hill, 2017). Sources: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/hunter-gatherer-culture/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5417583/
Claim: Two other major shifts occurred in the late 1700s with the Industrial Revolution when food manufacturing began, and in the 20th century, when processed foods became a staple in American diets (Ramsey & Graham, 2012) (Huebbe & Rimbach, 2020).
Sources: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/04/how-vegetable-oils-replaced-animal-fats-in-the-american-diet/256155/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7466326/#B23-foods-09-01056 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10885101/
Claim: First, Arctic explorer Dr. William Steffensen was forced to consume an exclusively animal-product diet on an expedition (Oddsson, 2018).
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gT7u2GlEfxs
Claim: Stephanson maintained an animal-heavy diet, following the lead of cultures like the Inuit & Massai of Africa with good health, until his death at 82 -a time when the average life expectancy was around 40 (O'Neill, 2022) (Rea, 2023) (Henighan, 2009, 106).
Sources: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1040079/life-expectancy-united-states-all-time/ https://www.britannica.com/biography/Vilhjalmur-Stefansson https://books.google.com/books?id=6WgecW9Ho_IC&printsec=copyright#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Claim: Around the same time, Doctor Weston Price, an American dentist, took a trip around the world to discover an ideal diet that might help his patients overcome the dramatic increase in cavities.
Sources: https://books.google.com/books/about/Nutrition_and_Physical_Degeneration.html?id=RD-TygAACAAJ
Claim: Dr. Price was also able to witness what happened when modern foods like wheat, sugar and vegetable oils infiltrated traditional diets. He observed detrimental changes like the crowding of teeth, the narrowing of the face and reduced immunity (Price, 2009).
Claim: Today, almost 60% of American adult calories and. 67% of children’s calories come from ultra processed foods (Steele et al., 2016) (Wang et al., 2021), which may be causing unintended consequences.
Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26962035/ https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2782866?guestAccessKey=f3e0c73c-6e37-4261-a465-ab155d5f3b30
Claim: There are 20 amino acids that make up protein in the body, 11 that our body can make and nine we need to get from our diet called essential amino acids (Nelson et al., 2021).
Sources: https://books.google.com/books/about/Lehninger_Principles_of_Biochemistry.html?id=5Ek9J4p3NfkC
Claim: Proteins, often animal products like beef and eggs, that contain all nine essential amino acids in high enough quantities are complete, while those that do not, often vegetarian sources, are incomplete (Mikstas, 2023).
Sources: https://www.webmd.com/diet/difference-between-complete-and-incomplete-proteins
Claim: For example, to get about 20 grams of protein, you would need to eat half a chicken breast for about 140 calories or five tablespoons of peanut butter for 477.5 calories (FoodData Central Search Results, n.d.).
Source: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/171477/nutrients
Claim: And given that today ⅔ Americans are overweight or obese (Yang & Colditz, 2015), I talked with two Times bestselling author Robb Wolf - about why high quality, low calorie protein can be important…
Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4625533/
Claim: Research has shown that increasing the percentage of protein in your diet can reduce nighttime eating and cravings by half. Reduce daily calorie intake by 441 calories per day and encourage up to 10 pounds of weight loss in 12 weeks (Weigle et al., 2005).
Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16002798/
Claim: The current dietary reference intake for protein for women and men is 46 and 56 grams respectively (When It Comes to Protein, How Much Is Too Much?, 2020), which many experts believe is far too low.
Source :https://www.health.harvard.edu/nutrition/when-it-comes-to-protein-how-much-is-too-much
Claim: Dr. Beal created a rating system that identified foods containing the largest amounts of the nutrients many people are deficient in (Beal & Ortenzi, 2022). Nine out of ten of the most nutrient dense foods are animal products, and only one plant based food group, leafy greens, made the top ten.
Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8936507/#%21po=30.0000
Claim: And though vegetables are often lauded for their nutrient density, when you compare carrots to liver for 100 gram portions, liver contains 14 times the iron, 13 times the zinc, 150 times the copper and 83 times vitamin B12 (Beal & Ortenzi, 2022).
Sources: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8936507/#%21po=30.0000
Claim: And B12 deficiency is common for those who do not consume animal products and can result in a number of abnormalities, including death and irreversible cognitive impairment (Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment, 2022) (Moore et al., 2012).
Sources: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22831-vitamin-b12-deficiency
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22221769/
Claim: This 2020 review also discussed the weight loss, cardiovascular and overall benefits of often-overlooked animal-based nutrients like taurine, an essential nutrient for kids, carnosine, carnitine and anserine (Wu, 2020).
Sources: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7088015/
Claim: Take the Food Compass Rating system I mentioned at the beginning of the video, created in 2022 by researchers at Tufts University (Noren.). In this rating system, foods were ranked from 1 to 100 and processed foods like Lucky Charms, Frosted Flakes, Almond M&Ms and ice cream cones with nuts received higher scores than beef and eggs.
Sources: https://sites.tufts.edu/foodcompass/research/data/
Claim: As you may have guessed, many people questioned the legitimacy of this rating system and even Dr. Beal published a critique in Nature stating the algorithm was not well justified and exaggerated the risks of animal sourced foods and underestimated the risks of ultra processed foods (Ortenzi et al., 2022).
Sources: https://osf.io/preprints/socarxiv/eu578/
Claim:. It might surprise you to know that eating a food doesn't guarantee your body can use all of its nutrients. Bioavailability refers to the fraction of the nutrients your body can use which is not always equal to the numbers on the nutrition label (Gibson, 2007).
Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17521121/
Claim: Anti Nutrients found in plants can inhibit our ability to utilize some of their nutrients. For example, a recent study showed that for meat substitutes, the zinc and iron bioavailability is very low due to the high anti nutrient content (Mayer Labba et al., 2022).
Sources: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/19/3903
Claim: The form of vitamin A found in plants, for example, is not the active form our bodies require and it’s estimated you need 12x more of the plant-based form. Like in animal products. In other words, you could eat about one ounce of beef liver or over 5 cups of kale to get the recommended daily amount and for some people, genetics and health status can still limit the conversion. (Nutritiondata.Self.Com Calories, Carbs & Nutrition Facts).
Claim: Because of these unique nutritional benefits, animal source foods have been shown to reduce stunting and improve cognitive performance in children and the World Health Organization describes them as “the best source of high-quality nutrient-rich food for children aged 6–23 months (Adesogan et al., 2020) (World Health Organization, 2014).”
https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/149019/WHO_N?sequence=1
Claim: Several trials have shown their ability to reduce stunting and improve cognitive performance and one trial revealed that children whose diet was supplemented with meat had test scores 45% higher than baseline whereas those supplemented with milk (28%) and oil (7%) had much smaller improvements. (Hulett et. al., 2013)(Adesogen 2020)
Sources: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211912419300525#bib52
EP2 - The Truth About Saturated Fat, Cholesterol, and Red Meat - https://youtu.be/EVJkhT2yoIo
Are saturated fat, dietary cholesterol, and red meat really the enemies of your health? In Episode 2 of ReThink Meat, we uncover the truth about their supposed connection to heart disease, diabetes, and cancer—and what the latest science actually says.
This 22-minute episode exposes the shaky origins of the anti-fat narrative, revealing how conflicts of interest, hidden research, and oversimplified science created one of the biggest misconceptions in dietary history. From the American Heart Association's support of seed oils to the controversial WHO classification of meat as a carcinogen, we separate fact from fiction and reveal the true dietary culprits.
👀 What you'll learn: The origins of the myth linking saturated fat to heart disease. Why dietary cholesterol is not as dangerous as you’ve been told. Shocking new studies that were hidden from the public. How conflicts of interest shaped America’s dietary guidelines. The truth about red meat, its role in cancer risk, and what the science says today.
This episode will change the way you think about meat, fat, and the real causes of chronic disease. Don’t settle for outdated advice—get the facts and rethink what you thought you knew about animal products.
Study links: docs.google.com/document/d/1on6jebC_JAN-QUv5dvgbLo_KsUvfTxVHXEY-DGjqCmI/edit?tab=t.0
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This video explores the controversial views on saturated fat, cholesterol, and red meat in relation to health risks such as heart disease and cancer. It questions the prevailing narrative that demonizes animal products while emphasizing their nutritional value and calling for a re-evaluation of dietary guidelines based on scientific evidence.
The long-held belief that saturated fat and cholesterol are primary causes of heart disease stems from the diet-heart hypothesis promoted in the 1950s. Recent reviews indicate that dietary cholesterol is not a significant concern for most people, as 80% of blood cholesterol is produced by the body, undermining older dietary recommendations.
Influential dietary guidelines, like those from the American Heart Association beginning in the 1960s, have driven the avoidance of saturated fats. However, many supporting studies lack rigorous data and have led to confusion about the real health impacts of these fats.
Red meat has been classified as a possible carcinogen, but these claims often rely on limited evidence particularly when compared to well-established risk factors like smoking. Many studies show weak links between red meat and diseases, suggesting the risks may be exaggerated.
As obesity rates have increased, meat consumption has actually decreased in some areas, casting doubt on the narrative that red meat is to blame for health issues. Increasing consumption of processed foods and sugars is likely more responsible for rising disease rates.
The video encourages a focus on whole foods and cautions against processed products that have emerged in recent decades. Evidence suggests a diet rich in natural fats and protein from animal products is beneficial, while processed foods are linked to various health problems.
Episode 2 References
ReThink Meat: The Link Between Meat & Disease | episode two Claim: while our rates of disease have risen in the last several decades, our consumption of red meat and certain animal fats has in fact, declined (Lee et al., 2022). Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2021.748847/full?s=09
Claim: If you've been paying attention lately, you might have heard that dietary cholesterol has been vindicated (USDA, 2015). Sources: https://health.gov/sites/default/files/2019-09/Scientific-Report-of-the-2015-Dietary-Guidelines-Advisory-Committee.pdf
Claim: It turns out only 20% of the cholesterol in your bloodstream comes from the food you eat. The remaining 80% is naturally produced by your body (Corliss, 2017). Source: https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/how-its-made-cholesterol-production-in-your-body
Claim: According to Harvard School of Public Health, scientific studies show a weak relationship between the amount of cholesterol a person consumes and his or her blood cholesterol levels (Cholesterol | The Nutrition Source | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, n.d.). Sources: https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/what-should-you-eat/fats-and-cholesterol/cholesterol/
Claim: When we don't have enough fats, we become nutrient deficient, causing symptoms like skin issues (Anez-Bustillos et al., 2018), hair loss (Guo & Katta, 2017), slow wound healing (Anez-Bustillos et al., 2018), and a weakened immune system (Goodwin & Gunnars, n.d.).
Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5840041/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5315033/#%21po=1.72414 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5840041/ https://www.healthline.com/health/fat-deficiency https://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/1999/05/2753.html
Claim: And in 1977, the diet heart hypothesis went public when the McGovern report urged Americans to swap saturated fats for unsaturated fats like vegetable oils (Select Committee on Human on Nutrition and Human Needs, United States Senate, 1977) in the interest of their health
Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3910043/
Claim: But even at this time, many scientists were skeptical (Astrup, 2021, 4).
Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32562735/
Claim: In 2016, researchers uncovered not one but two large studies on saturated fat and unsaturated fat and their effects on cholesterol and disease from the late sixties and early seventies (Ramsden, 2016) that should have been available to McGovern at the time of these guidelines, but were never fully reported.
Sources: https://www.bmj.com/content/353/bmj.i1246
Claim: It wasn't until Franz passed away and the entirety of the Minnesota Corn Experiment data was uncovered in a box in his basement that we learned the truth (Begley, 2017).
Claim: Some of these trials also noted a worrisome increase in the risk of cancer for those consuming seed oils. Even the American College of Cardiology concluded that whole fat, dairy, unprocessed meat and dark chocolate are saturated fatty acid rich foods with a complex matrix that are not associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The totality of the available evidence does not support further limiting the intake of such foods(Astrup, 2020).
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32562735/
Claim: In 2020, the ninth edition of Dietary Guidelines for Americans was released and recommended saturated fats should not make up more than 10% of one's total calories (USDA, 2020).
Claim: A group of nutrition scientists, two of whom served on a prior Dietary Guidelines Committee, wrote a letter to the USDA in an effort to draw attention to the lack of evidence supporting the limiting of saturated fat. They wrote, There is no evidence that current population wide, arbitrary upper limits on commonly consumed saturated fats in the United States will prevent cardiovascular disease or reduce mortality (Regulations.gov, 2020).
Sources: https://www.regulations.gov/document/FNS-2019-0001-42017
Claim: the most influential report suggesting red meat causes cancer was written by the World Health Organization, where they deemed fresh meat a possible carcinogen and processed meat a probable carcinogen (Bouvard et al., 2015).
Source: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(15)00444-1
Claim: But what most people don't realize is these meats fall into risk categories alongside air, leather, dust, hot beverages and sitting near a sunny window.In 2015, the World Health Organization acknowledged that eating unprocessed red meat has not yet been established as a cause of cancer (Cancer: Carcinogenicity of the Consumption of Red Meat and Processed Meat, 2015).
Source: https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans_2020-2025.pdf https://monographs.iarc.who.int/agents-classified-by-the-iarc/
Claim: For example, a 2010 review of studies examining the link between red meat and cancer noted a very weak association between red meat consumption and cancer and a lack of a dose dependent response (Alexander & Cushing, 2011), meaning more meat did not equal a greater risk, which is reason to question the association.
Sources: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20663065/
Claim: Data from the Women's Health Study showed that the more red meat women consumed, the lower their risk of colon cancer ( (Lin et al., 2004)).
Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8504498/
Claim: A 2022 analysis of USDA data revealed that over the last 100 to 200 years, red meat consumption has declined by 21%. Fluid and cream dairy has declined by 48%, and lard consumption has declined by 78% (Lee et al., 2022).
According to this report? Margarine consumption has increased by 192%. Shortening has increased by 91%. Cooking oils has increased by 329%. Artificial sweeteners increased by 1,227%. Grain availability also increased by 41%, and overall calories increased by 18% (Lee et al., 2022).
Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2021.748847/full?s=09
Claim: Remember Arctic Explorer Dr. Stefansson? After one year long experiment, doctors observed neither high blood pressure nor kidney trouble. Two of the biggest fears around meat at that time. On top of that, Stefansson described having more vigor and ambition on his meat focused diet (Henighan, 2009).
Sources: https://books.google.com/books?id=6WgecW9Ho_IC&dq=he+took+issue+with+the+medical+dogma
Claim: He reportedly stuck to a diet of meat and fat, and some said he could be seen at dinner parties eating nothing but butter on a spoon. He lived to be 82 (Ostenso, 2022),
Sources: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Vilhjalmur-Stefansson
Claim: Sylvain Le Weinberg, former president of the American College of Cardiology, stated The low fat, high carbohydrate diet may well have played an unintended role in the current epidemics of obesity, lipid abnormalities, type two diabetes and metabolic syndrome (Weinberg, 2004).
Sources: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0735109703016310
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EP1 - Why Do We Fear Meat? The Shocking Origins of a Misguided Narrative - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttgJtY-SPpI
Ever wondered why meat is often blamed for our health problems?
It turns out the answer isn’t as simple—or scientific—as you might think. In Episode 1 of ReThink Meat, we dive into the surprising origins of the anti-meat movement, revealing a tangled web of religion, entrepreneurship, biased science, and industry-driven agendas.
Discover how figures like Ellen G. White, Ancel Keys and the rise of Crisco shaped public opinion, why seed oils became dietary staples, and how conflicts of interest skewed scientific conclusions about meat and disease. By the end of this 18-minute deep dive, you’ll walk away with a whole new perspective on meat and the real culprits behind the chronic diseases plaguing modern society.
👀 What you'll learn: The religious roots of the anti-meat movement. How an entrepreneurial genius turned seed oils into “health food.” The science that demonized meat—and why it doesn’t hold up. Who really benefits when we fear animal products. If you’ve ever questioned whether meat deserves its bad reputation, this episode will fascinate you and help you make your own informed decision.
☑️ Study links: docs.google.com/document/d/1kvRF5ymuxCf73ivSMdz_1GXC4049hVcH/edit#heading=h.jl77ljlx896z
summerizer
The video explores the origins of the belief that meat is harmful to health. It argues that historical narratives driven by religious beliefs, marketing efforts, and flawed research have contributed to the demonization of meat. It suggests that meat consumption has been integral to human health for thousands of years and challenges viewers to reconsider the narrative surrounding meat without relying on outdated and misleading information.
The belief that meat is harmful originated in the early 20th century, influenced by religious views, particularly from the Seventh Day Adventist Church, and early health movements that falsely associated meat consumption with moral and health issues.
Fictional works like 'The Jungle' and aggressive marketing campaigns by companies like Proctor & Gamble promoted alternatives to meat, such as Crisco, which were marketed as healthier options despite their harmful effects, including the introduction of trans fats.
Current dietary guidelines are largely based on correlational studies which can misinterpret data, leading to misconceptions that fat consumption, particularly from animal sources, causes health issues without considering other factors.
The sugar industry historically influenced dietary guidelines to downplay sugar's health risks while exaggerating the dangers of dietary fats. This influence continues to affect modern dietary recommendations and public perceptions of meat.
Despite a decline in red meat consumption, chronic diseases have risen, suggesting that factors like increased vegetable oil consumption and processed foods are more significant contributors to health issues than previously thought.
Episode 1 References
Sources:
The ultimate, zero carb, elimination diet
Meat Heals.
We are focused on health and lifestyle while trying to eat zero carb bioavailable foods.
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Other terms: LCHF Carnivore, Keto Carnivore, Ketogenic Carnivore, Low Carb Carnivore, Zero Carb Carnivore, Animal Based Diet, Animal Sourced Foods
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