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Issue 1
Soaring Prices of Meat and Other Animal Products
Issue 2
Meat Consumption Increases the Risk of Cross-Species Disease Transmission
Issue 3
Excessive Consumption of Animal Protein Is Detrimental to Human Health
Issue 4
Widespread Misconceptions About Plant-Based Diets Being Bland and Tasteless
Issue 5
Plant-Based Products Tend to Be Less Affordable
Issue
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1
Soaring Prices of Meat and Other Animal Products
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Animal husbandry is much more resource-intensive than crop farming as it requires vast quantities of land, water, animal feed, and human labour (to care for, process, and transport livestock). These existing high manufacturing costs are expected to increase considerably more as the effects of climate change worsen and inflation continues to grow without an end in sight.
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Recent surges in the price of meat and other animal products can be attributed to a perfect storm of global events consisting of, among others, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a major exporter of animal feed that is now struggling to deliver its grain to customers; and flu outbreaks among swine and poultry populations worldwide.
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Local Chinese-language news outlet Sin Chew Daily reports the price of pork in Malaysia was adjusted upwards at least 10 times in 2022 – as a result, pork prices are now up to 400% higher, creating a huge strain on consumers’ budgets. Within the same timeframe, the nation experienced a chicken shortage that prompted the government to temporarily ban exports to Singapore.
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Malaysia is far from the only nation experiencing shortages and spiralling prices. Data collected by the United States Bureau of Labour Statistics shows that prices of all animal products rose year-on-year in April 2022, forcing consumers to pay more for chicken (16.4%), eggs (22.6%), beef (15%), milk (15%), and fish and seafood (11.9%).
2
Meat Consumption Increases the Risk of Cross-Species Disease Transmission
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Scientists have unearthed strong evidence to prove that Covid-19, like SARS, avian influenza, swine flu, and a host of other deadly diseases, originated and spread widely in animals before jumping to human hosts. The risk of infection increases exponentially when animals are packed closely together in small, confined spaces (as is common in industrial feedlots) or when animals are not slaughtered and butchered in hygienic conditions.
3
Excessive Consumption of Animal Protein Is Detrimental to Human Health
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Animal protein contains much higher concentrations of nitrogen than plant protein. High nitrogen levels may lead to health complications such as kidney failure and diminished bone density.
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Animal protein sources are typically high in cholesterol and saturated fat, both of which may harm cardiovascular health.
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Animals raised on industrial farms are regularly fed large doses of antibiotics and growth hormones. These chemicals are still present in an animal’s flesh after it is butchered and may negatively impact human health if consumed.
4
Widespread Misconceptions About Plant-Based Diets Being Bland and Tasteless
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Malaysians largely view plant-based cuisine as fixed and unchanging, with most picturing a ‘traditional’ plant-based meal consisting of noodles or brown rice with curried vegetables and a meat analogue when asked to imagine a plant-based diet.
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Such a monotonous diet would prove challenging to even the most committed vegetarian or vegan, much less meat-eaters curious to try plant-based cuisine for the first time.
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Some individuals also (wrongly) perceive a plant-based diet to be lacking in certain nutrients, which deters them from exploring further.
5
Plant-Based Products Tend to Be Less Affordable
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The Dalhousie University Agri-Food Analytics Lab has revealed plant-based alternatives are, on average, 38% more expensive than the animal products these are meant to replace. Plant- based ‘chicken nuggets’, a consumer favourite, are more than twice the cost (104%) of actual chicken nuggets.