Although this is about farming practices in the UK, don’t think that it’s not just like this or worse in the USA or Canada. Pigs, cows, chickens, and turkeys are kept in horrific environments and under often dangerous and unsanitary living conditions.
Gordon Ramsay prefers to use free range vegetarian fed animals in his cooking, but at least after what he sees going on in factory farms he admits that he can see why people would choose to give up the taste of meat to become vegetarian or vegan. This is really really great to hear. I have been a fan of Gordon Ramsay for a while, but was always bothered by his often dismissive and negative comments to vegans and vegetarians on his shows. They could have been edited that way, but it sure seemed like he didn’t like us before. I have seen him create a few vegetarian recipes, but I am not sure of any vegan ones being made on his shows.
There are SO many more reasons to go vegetarian or vegan as well besides just animal cruelty. It does send a message when you vote with your dollars to buy fruits and vegetables instead of meat and dairy products. But you also are taking more control over your health and what goes onto your plate by questioning where it came from and how it was produced. The sad fact is that most meat and dairy products come from animals that are treated very poorly and sometimes even brutally and that’s not something that I want to be a part of. While some may argue it’s not natural or hard to be vegetarian or vegan, I think it’s important for your health, the planet and the animals to not support these disgusting factory farms. Everything you buy counts as your vote to have more of that. Big companies are profit driven and what you choose to eat every day makes a big difference.
If I can help people learn how to enjoy cooking and making vegan food, or even just eat more of it (and less meat) that makes a difference. Every little bit counts.
Great post Veronica! The celebrity chefs of the world have such an impact on how people think and eat. It so good to see Gordon saying things like this. I recently saw him do a special on shark finning and the black markets for it Asia and Central America. He was almost attacked in the show & it was kind of scary to watch, but I’m so glad he is addressing these things and getting them exposure.
Go Vegan.-
True, true. Most non vegetarians are wired to believe their brains run on animal flesh; why else does everyone think that bacon and eggs in the morning is brain food? They’re just cravings and good marketing campaigns. One must suppress desire for the greater good.
Hear Hear, Veronica! Excellent post – whole-heartedly agree with everything…
And any little baby steps that Gordon Ramsay (or anyone else for that matter) makes towards a greater understanding of the importance of having compassion for animals, is to be heartily cheered and gratefully welcomed!!:)
It can be difficult, it’s a shift in thinking and a shift in your tastebuds, we are addicted to it. But Veganism is truly more normal and natural than the way the majority of us eat in today’s world. It’s only the last 400-500 years +/- that we’ve had meat as a mainstay in our diet. Before that for many thousands of years it was not something that we ate on a regular basis. I’m still in the adjustment phase but I can tell the difference in how I feel so I’m determined to make it. Thinking of how those poor animals are abused haunts me and helps me to keep on track.