To ask you to think twice about eating chicken regularly

[Tigofigo]

...it's just not sustainable for us to consume as much as we do.

Intensive chicken farming is polluting and destroying our rivers and also potentially causing breathing difficulties and lung issues in those who live near farms spraying chicken / other animal manure as fertilizer.

Really worrying too, at a time when govt are ripping up EU regs on environmental laws that will further destroy our rivers and the animals, plants and people that rely on them (along with the shit already pumped into them...).

www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/sep/25/chicken-farm-giant-linked-to-river-wye-decline-was-sued-over-water-blight-in-us

www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/14/muck-spreading-could-be-banned-to-reduce-air-pollution

inews.co.uk/news/brexit-bonfire-environment-regulations-otters-dolphins-birds-conservationists-1875799

I'm not vegetarian but I try to consider both ethical and environmental factors in food choices. But I don't get this.

I clicked on the three links. The first one was about problems to do with one specific poultry company and made no claims extrapolating those to the worldwide poultry industry in general. The second wouldn't open. The third was about government policy and endangered wildlife species, and didn't even mention the word "chicken".

For ethical reasons I only ever eat free range chicken. Beyond that, chicken is surely the best meat you can eat from an environmental standpoint. Far better than beef with all its wasteful land use and methane implications.

@VioletInsolence that's where we have the problem - most of the vegan proteins have gluten in them (eg quorn vegan has gluten - the veggie has egg white so it's out right away)

Also OP - you are banging on about US mega farms, and other international breeding chickens. Imported chickens are cheap, and granted, they do not have as good a welfare as British Chickens. But, in general, most chickens bred in the UK have very high welfare, are not routinely given antibiotics, and we don't use hormones in the UK either.

Vegan dishes are far tastier and far more nutritious than a slab of meat.

Meat substitutes are good when you don’t know how to cook and first starting out. But the veg, pulses, nuts, herbs and spices is all you need to make the most delicious food in the world.

I never imagined I would say this. I have cooked vegan meals for meat eating friends and they are absolutely astounded about how delicious it was.

Ha! Don’t delude yourself

Vegan dishes are far tastier and far more nutritious than a slab of meat

In YOUR opinion, give me a steak or chicken breast over a bowl of lentils any day of the week.

I never imagined I would say this. I have cooked vegan meals for meat eating friends and they are absolutely astounded about how delicious it was

Or just being polite.

Come on people, there are so many good vegan subs now. No excuse!

I don't need an excuse. I want to eat meat, I like meat.

I can't stand vegan dishes, they are not tasty at all and if you don't eat meat you have to have extra vitamins, how can that be good.

This

Oh look, now the lecturing and patronising on this thread has fully taken off. Buckle up kids, the finger wagging is in full swing now.
**
It amazes me how they don't ever realise that lecturing and patronising isn't the way to sell their cause.

Why do vegans have to have stuff like vegan sausages and vegan burgers, if they hate meat so much why have an imitation

I don't. They are gross.

Are your friends very young or sheltered?

How can they be 'astounded' about how tasty a particular dish is?

I'm having - we are having - taco chicken (shredded chicken) with loads of veggies and beans added to the chicken and a salad for lunch and I've a pot of soup on with the bones of the chicken (carrot and coriander). I don't waste the chicken - I hardly ever buy just the breast - usually buy a whole chicken and if not it's because legs or thighs are on offer.

I struggle with thinking of new things to eat that fit with the restrictions of my dd intolerances and I can't afford to pay any more. Gluten free pasta and bread and oat milk and so on is expensive as it is.

Their "entire life" is anywhere from 10 weeks - 6 months if they're being raised for meat or about 2-5% of their their natural span. But I'm sure they're grateful they get to spend those fleeting moments outside before being carted off to slaughter.

I have ex caged chickens - the state of some of them when they come is heart breaking. The last ones I got had white wattles and combs, never been outside, never had a dust bath, had no idea what to do with sweet corn. I’d say get the best chicken you can afford, but buying ethically costs money. I’m not a veggie, but I don’t eat chicken. I’m trying to eat a lot less meat, and having meat substitutes, which have got so much better - but some of it is so expensive…I can afford it, but many people wouldn’t be able to.

Oh come on. If you see 'vegan dish' and think 'bowl of lentils' then you arent even discussing this in good faith.

Id rather eat a delicious veggie burger, or a big plate of chips than a plate of tripe or potted brawn, btw.

I’m not sure this is the ‘gotcha’ you think it is…

Why do some meat eaters fail to understand that many vegans may have liked meat? It’s the killing the animals to get it part that they don’t like.

I rarely eat meat substitutes, many vegans don’t eat them.

I remember reading a similar discussion on a different forum a while back.
There was one woman who had a low income and teenagers at home.
She explained how they had to rely on inexpensive meat to provide enough protein for her growing kids. Not everyone can afford expensive organic meat/ vegan substitutes and not everyone can eat pulses.

One chicken I got this year had barely any feathers, in caged and in such big numbers they can’t establish a proper pecking order, and she suffered, she’s getting there now though.

I suppose in the 'wild' they might get lucky and escape being pulled to pieces by a wolf

Hasnt the wolf ever thought of going vegan? Bloody wolves.

The patronising BS is strong on this thread...

Has lecturing people worked for anyone to turn others vegan?!

That’s just it, it’s not a bowl of lentils

They could have been polite, but they asked for the recipes and have since made the dishes, so I think not.

I was a meat eater for longer than I’ve been mostly vegan. I am a foodie. I am so surprised that I don’t miss animal products. I don’t use meat substitutes. I have discovered a whole new world of flavour - check out vegan instagram pages and see for yourself.

Compassion in World Farming have good info on various aspects of farming and animal welfare.

www.ciwf.org.uk/your-food/your-higher-welfare-shopping-guide/