CHAIR OF THE ALL-PARLIAMENTARY GROUP ON ANIMAL WELFARE CALLED OUT FOR SUPPORT OF MEAT INDUSTRY

PETA Cites High Cost for Environment, Public Health and Animal Welfare

Devon – When news hit that Tory MP Neil Parish – recently re-elected as chair of the All-Parliamentary Group on Animal Welfare – is calling for new promotions of red meat to be served in Parliament restaurants, PETA, whose motto reads, in part, that "animals are not ours to eat", was quick to send a polite letter reminding the MP of the high cost of meat for animals, the environment and human health and encouraging him to reconsider his support of the industry.

"In a time when people are increasingly avoiding animal products – for health, environmental or animal welfare reasons – a proposition that actively endorses meat consumption is not only out of touch but also grossly irresponsible", says PETA Manager of Special Projects Elisa Allen. "British MPs can set a positive example for their constituents by reducing or eliminating their meat intake."

Recent scientific research has linked meat consumption to a range of health problems that are plaguing the UK, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, strokes and certain types of cancer. What's more, animal agriculture is devastating to the planet. When the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently held a news conference discussing what individuals can do to decrease their contribution of greenhouse gases, one of the key recommendations was to stop eating meat.

And even in what are considered the industry's best conditions, animals are often mutilated: calves' horns may be gouged out, and pigs' teeth and testicles may be cut off – without any painkillers. They're denied everything that's natural and important to them, including the opportunity to care for their offspring. All animals used for food endure the terror of transportation and are strung up and have their throats slit, often while they're still conscious.

PETA's letter to Parish is available here. For more information, please visit PETA.org.uk.