The vegetarian message is getting through to our celebrity chefs
On the six o'clock BBC news, on November 11, red meat was said to be a contributory factor in the development of bowel cancer.
Previously a meat-eating advocate, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall now has a series on vegetarian cooking.
In an interview he said: "Very far from diminishing your diet in any way, putting meat and fish to one side can lead you to a vast new area of wonderful, wholesome dishes.
Another series, The Food Hospital, explores how food can cure or alleviate specific ailments. So far, fresh fruit and vegetables, wholegrains, beans and pulses have featured prominently.
Even Jamie Oliver is said to be compiling a veggie cookbook, saying that "vegetarianism as a general concept is a brilliant thing. We've got to stop eating so much meat".
It seems that at long last the veggie message is getting through.
As if any more persuasion is necessary to encourage people to eat less meat, or preferably give it up, I've read that Government experts have extrapolated data from the Health Protection Agency and suggested that at least 15,000 people are carrying CJD; other experts believe up to 60,000 could be affected. Although BSE is no longer considered to be a health risk, from next year the European Commission is relaxing the ban on using animal remains in livestock feed.
To cut costs for farmers who rely on expensive imported soya beans, chicken meat will be used in pig feed and vice versa. This doesn't sound very healthy to me – best to go veggie!
Mrs Elizabeth Allison, Aylestone.
Comments
by wallace23
Wednesday, November 16 2011, 9:50AM
“Actually the report suggested that the risk of developing bowel cancer may be increased if red meat is cooked fast by grilling, frying or on the barbecue due to the presence of carcinogens in the surface of the meat produced by the high temperatures.
This whole argument is illogical, because, by Ms. Allison's logic there should be no carnivores in the wild; domestic cats would have to be removed as cats, unlike dogs, cannot survive on anything other than a carniverous diet.
Human Beings are omnivores as shown by our teeth and our digestive system. We also have the intelligence to make our own individual choice about what we eat, our lifestyle and our philosophy.”