NAIROBI, Kenya, June 9 – The World Animal Protection (WAP) is urging Kenyans to reduce their animal meat intake, which is causing animals a lot of suffering.
WAP has launched a campaign aimed at raising awareness about the negative impacts of high meat consumption amidst a rising population.
The Food Systems Campaign Manager, Victor Yamo, singled out intensive animal farming as the biggest contributors to animal suffering, deteriorating human health, and climate damage.
“Over 50 billion farm animals are factory farmed every year, with around two in every three animals raised in intensive systems that prioritize production over welfare and health.Factory farming is not just bad for animals, it’s dangerous, unfair, and dirty, with significant impacts on human health and the environment,” he said.
Yamo further recommended taking several steps, such as identifying a meat-free day, swapping regular meat dishes with delicious meat-free alternatives, reducing the meat portion on your plate, and talking to a nutritionist for advice on meat-free protein alternatives.
“The market forces are always driven by demand and supply. By consuming less meat, there is a reduced demand which eases the pressure of producers turning to intensive factory farming to supply animal products. This directly translates to an improved lifestyle for farmed animals,” he said.
According to the organization, excessive meat consumption contributes to malnutrition in human health, including obesity (leading to noncommunicable diseases).
Yamo added that factory farms that supply meat are characterized by substandard husbandry practices and poor animal welfare, leading to the increased use of antimicrobials, which can spill over to humans through meat.
