Choose Prevention: Embrace a Healthier Future with Less Meat

Choose Prevention: Embrace a Healthier Future with Less Meat

Choose Prevention: Embrace a Healthier Future with Less Meat

The World Animal Protection launched a #EatLessMeat campaign in Nairobi, Kenya.

 

While it’s true that many African countries already consume less or no meat compared to developed nations, it remains crucial to steadfastly promote the benefits of a preventative approach—#EatingLessMeat. Previously I have advocated for this cause through a joint publication with the University of Nairobi and the National Cancer Registry of Kenya in the year 2016 on embracing healthier lifestyles (including reduction of red and processed meat) to avert cancer (https://www.onehealthjournal.org/Vol.2/8.html).

 

Experts unanimously endorse prevention as the superior choice. Just as animals and humans wisely vaccinate to avert the onset of diseases, shouldn’t we passionately advocate for a proactive and preventative approach to Eating Well by consuming less meat? (Remember, it is about a targeted reduction of meat consumption rather than eliminating it entirely). Waiting until our meat consumption reaches alarming levels before advocating a reduction would be counterproductive. The World Health Organization has unequivocally established the detrimental health consequences associated with the consumption of red and processed meat. However, we acknowledge the importance of tailoring the campaign to specific populations, particularly those in major urban setups across Africa (including Kenya), who may have higher meat consumption patterns.

 

Eating well, through targeted and informed Meat Reduction habits, is not merely a choice; it is our sole, indispensable option. The #EatLessMeat campaign aims to raise awareness that meat is not an essential requirement but rather an optional necessity. By showcasing the diverse and healthier protein sources abundantly available in Africa, it emphasizes the importance of Eating Well by Consuming Less Meat (where and when applicable).

 

Together, let us strive towards a future where prevention takes precedence and paves the way to a healthier society.

Yes, reducing meat consumption can have several benefits for both individuals and the environment. Here are some reasons why eating less meat is often considered a good thing:

  1. Environmental Impact: The meat industry significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and water pollution. Livestock farming requires vast amounts of land, water, and feed, leading to habitat destruction and increased pressure on natural resources. Individuals can help mitigate climate change and reduce their ecological footprint by reducing meat consumption.

  2. Health Benefits: While moderate meat consumption can be part of a healthy diet, excessive consumption of red and processed meats has been linked to an increased risk of various health issues, including heart disease, certain types of cancer, and obesity. By reducing meat intake, individuals can lower their risk of these health problems and improve overall well-being.

  3. Animal Welfare: The meat industry often involves practices that raise ethical concerns regarding the treatment of animals. Many animals raised for meat production endure crowded and stressful conditions, and some may be subjected to painful procedures without adequate anaesthesia. By reducing meat consumption or adopting vegetarian or vegan diets, individuals can help reduce the demand for animal products and support more humane and sustainable farming practices.

  4. Food Security: Meat production requires large amounts of resources, such as land, water, and feed. With a growing global population, reducing meat consumption can free up resources that can be allocated to more efficient and sustainable food production methods. This can contribute to improved food security and ensure that more people have access to an adequate and nutritious diet.

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Untangling antimicrobial resistance – the legacy of an unhealthy development model

Untangling antimicrobial resistance – the legacy of an unhealthy development model

Untangling antimicrobial resistance – the legacy of an unhealthy development model

The Society for International Development (SID), in collaboration with the AMR Think Do Tank released a new report during a workshop on 24th October 2022 titled, “Untangling antimicrobial resistance – the legacy of an unhealthy development model.

The discussions in the workshop highlighted the importance of challenging the highly industrialized food systems and their dependency model on antibiotics, pesticides, and external input that impact people’s and planet’s health, while increasing the concentration of power in the hands of only a few.

Page 78-80 of the report provides recommendations for creating “transformative policies.” Sharing below some of those recommendations:

  • A moratorium on intensive factory
  • A conversion from industrial food systems to scaling up agroecology
  • Cut off funding to the factory farming industry – “development banks must stop funding factory farming, instead, they should support and help expand truly sustainable farming projects with a focus on plant-based proteins and high animal welfare, that takes into account the needs of animals, local communities and the environment.
  • Reconverting financial flows from the global agrifood system to agroecology
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How much do you know about the food on your fork?

How much do you know about the food on your fork?

How much do you know about the food on your fork?

Food production and consumption has a major impact on the environment (True/False)

True

Food systems place considerable pressure on the environment, generating between 21 and 37 per cent of all human greenhouse gas emissions. Because it requires vast amounts of land, agriculture is responsible for three-quarters of global deforestation and trends suggest that by 2050, about 10 million km2 of forests will have been cleared to meet food demand. This a serious loss, particularly because trees mitigate climate change by storing carbon and releasing oxygen.

Also, food that is wasted accounts for 8 per cent of annual greenhouse gas emissions and unnecessary packaging results in solid waste – the majority of which ends up as landfill.

Food production and consumption has nothing to do with coronaviruses (True/False)

False

Wildlife habitats act as natural buffer zones that can reduce opportunities for viruses to spill over from wild animals to people. So, when we remove trees and wildlife habitats to create space for farming and other industries, in many cases we are also increasing our exposure to disease risks.

Intensive livestock farming may also provide a bridge for pathogens to be passed from wild animals to domesticated animals, and then from those animals to humans.

According to a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) assessment released last year, increasing demand for animal protein, unsustainable agricultural intensification and climate change are among the human factors affecting the emergence of zoonotic diseases.

People living in developed countries are typically healthy and well-nourished (True/False)

False

While large quantities of food may be available in developed countries, it is not necessarily nutritious. In every part of the world, people are consuming more foods that are energy-dense – high in sugar and saturated fats – but low in nutritional value. In fact, 46 per cent of the global burden of disease is at least partly attributable to poor diets.

Malnutrition can be found in every part of the world and many countries now face a double burden of both undernutrition and overweight or obesity.

Globally, hunger is more common than obesity (True/False)

False

More people are obese than underweight. Worldwide, 39 per cent of all adults are overweight and 13 per cent are obese. This increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, musculoskeletal disorders and some cancer, and results in at least 2.8 million deaths every year.

Excess weight and obesity are not just problems in high-income countries. Cases are rising dramatically in low- and middle-income countries and particularly in urban areas. In fact, many low- and middle-income countries now face simultaneous challenges of malnutrition and obesity.

690 million people in the world are hungry, even though there is enough food for everyone (True/False)

True

The world produces enough food to feed everyone on the planet. However, food production and consumption are not as efficient as they need to be and 3 billion people are unable to access a healthy diet.

Around one-third of the food we produce is lost or wasted. Every year, individuals waste 74kg of food on average – more than the weight of the average human – and this is a worldwide phenomenon.  The UNEP Food Waste Index Report shows substantial household food waste in nearly every country that has measured it – regardless of income levels. So, preventing loss and waste is an important way to reduce hunger. It could also reduce human greenhouse gas emissions by 8-10 per cent.

We might also consider the food we are producing in the first place – and the way that land and crops are used. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), if grasslands were more efficiently used as a basis for livestock feed and people were to consume the grain meant for animal feed, then the food would be sufficient, even for the global population projected for 2050.

About 2 billion people in the world suffer from micronutrient deficiencies because they do not have enough food to eat (True/False)

False

When we consider food as a component of global health, it is not simply a matter of getting enough to eat. It is also about a diet that is healthy, balanced and plant-rich.

The reduction of agricultural biodiversity in global food systems represents a serious health concern. From a total of 250,000 known plant species, just 7,000 have been used for human food since the origin of agriculture. Of those, 12 crops and five animal species provide 75 per cent of the world’s energy intake. In the last 50 years alone, human diets have become 37 per cent more similar.

According to the EAT-Lancet Commission, an estimated 19-24 per cent of adult deaths could be prevented by adopting diets that are diverse, plant-rich and low in saturated fats, refined grains, highly processed foods and added sugars.

Some common livestock farming practices have made it more difficult to develop treatments for diseases, including coronaviruses (True/False)

True

The overuse of antibiotics in intensive livestock farming – not only to prevent disease but also to promote growth – is creating resistance in humans and animals. In fact, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), some types of bacteria that cause serious infections in humans have already developed resistance to most or all available treatments. About 700,000 people die of resistant infections every year; by 2050, this may cause more deaths than cancer, and cost more than the size of the existing global economy.

There is no difference between animal-sourced and plant-sourced proteins (True/False)

False

Protein is an important component of a healthy diet, but there are some important environmental factors to bear in mind when making consumption choices.

Animal-sourced proteins are resource-intensive and can have a negative impact on the environment. For example, livestock produces 15 per cent of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions and, according to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, may be the single largest driver of biodiversity loss.

Plant-sourced proteins are less resource-intensive. They require less land, less water and produce less greenhouse gas. Moving toward plant-rich diets could help avail the cropland necessary to feed the world’s growing population, play an important role in combatting chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer, and reduce lost income and healthcare costs.

Provided that it is packaged and sold in grocery stores, food is healthy and safe to eat (True/False)

False

WHO has noted that although systems of food production should be designed to meet recommendations for healthy diets, the reality is that the goals of agriculture and nutrition have often diverged. The health and safety of food may be compromised in various ways throughout the production process.

The use of pesticides for intensive farming is a serious detriment to both environmental and human health. In developing countries, 25 million people suffer from acute pesticide poisoning every year. Glyphosate, one of the most widely used herbicides worldwide, is associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other cancers.

Food processing and packaging also present risks. In 2015, WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer classified processed meat as carcinogenic, linking it to colorectal cancer. And in some countries, food is packaged in plastic bottles and metal food cans that contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals. These can produce adverse developmental, neurological and immune effects.

Source: https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/quiz-how-much-do-you-know-about-food-your-fork

 

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Report says major supermarkets in Kenya selling superbug laden meat

Report says major supermarkets in Kenya selling superbug laden meat

Report says major supermarkets in Kenya selling superbug laden meat

Kenyan consumers could be eating contaminated meat from the country’s major supermarkets. This is according to a study by World Animal Protection which is challenging stakeholders to improve animal welfare and ensure responsible use of antibiotics to reverse the trend.

The study by the animal welfare organisation, collected samples between April and May 2020 from the top six supermarkets in Nairobi, Nakuru, Uasin Gishu, Kisumu, Laikipia and Nyeri to determine presence of bacteria and their spectrum of antibiotic-resistant.

The laboratory analysis was done at the Centre for Microbiology Research at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI).

Out of the 187 pork samples, 98.4 percent had bacterial growth. In 206 chicken samples, 96.6 percent exhibited bacterial growth.

Key highlights from the report:

    • The most common contaminant was E. coli bacteria however known enteric pathogens such as Salmonella and Shigella were also isolated. While majority of the contaminants were not necessarily harmful, the presence of Salmonella and Shigella was concerning as there is likelihood of an animal origin from the farm level.
    • In the study, 38.5% of the 525 bacterial isolates examined recorded resistance to more than three antibiotics (Multi-drug resistant organisms or Superbugs). This resistance was also noted for high priority antibiotics on the WHO list such as Ciprofloxacin, Erythromycin, Vancomycin, Cefoxatime and Cefepime.
    • Interesting to note, the highest contamination was found in own brands managed by the supermarkets. It is against this backdrop that the World Animal Protection (Africa office) is urging industry players to improve animal welfare practices and ensure antibiotics are not abused. Supermarkets should start looking at policies around how they buy food supplies. They need to audit and ensure the producer is doing the right thing at the production level,
    • The report also noted that other studies have shown that poor animal welfare and stress factors have the potential of increasing the susceptibility of farm animals to diseases hence increasing the use of antimicrobials to control these infections while reducing the microbiological safety of animal products and threatening public health. for example, a study done in Kenya by the Global Antibiotic Resistance Partnership (GARP) reported that up to 70% of the imported antibiotics are given to chickens, pigs and cows.
    • The report showed there is a direct correlation between how animals are treated and the quality of the end product.  Morever, misuse of antibiotics in the food chain is impacts public health.

    Proposed solutions by World Animal Protection

    • The report noted that there is need to embrace and actively implement the One Health concept to understand the interconnectivity of animal health, human health and environmental health. For example, when people learn there is a problem with meat, they will tend to shift to eating mboga (vegetables), yet it is this mboga could also be contaminated from the environment and  used as food for humans and feed for some animals. It is therefore important to have a holistic and multisectoral approach in addressing antimicrobial resistance.
    • World Animal Protection believes that responsible use of antibiotics in farm animals is essential in tackling the growing Antimicrobial Resistance. This should be done by putting proper policies and measures aimed at reducing the use of antibiotics on animals by promoting higher welfare production systems in the livestock industry. Such systems should include good housing conditions, health care and the promotion of natural animal behaviour. They should also provide for improved management, biosecurity, hygiene, sanitation, optimal animal husbandry, nutrition, genetics and use of preventive methods such as vaccination, leading to improved animal health and welfare.
    • By eliminating the worst methods and practices of animal production such as the use of cages, crowded or barren conditions, poorly ventilated production units with wet beddings and inadequate feeding systems, animals shall be less stressed hence less likely to suffer illness, leading to less dependency on antibiotics. High welfare production standards are not only good for animals but also for people – their health, livelihoods and businesses.

    The call to action by World Animal Protection 

    World Animal Protection is calling on the following key stakeholders to take urgent action in addressing the superbug crisis:

    • Retailers / Supermarkets: There is a need to strengthen their food procurement policies in order to discourage animals raised in inhumane production systems from accessing their outlets. There is also need to ensure that their suppliers of livestock products commit to using antibiotics responsibly on their farms.
    • Livestock producers/farmers: To move to higher welfare production systems that caters for the fundamental freedoms of the animals and commit to responsible and prudent use of antibiotics in the production system.
    • Government: To strengthen policies and regulatory framework in livestock farming to allow for improved animal welfare and responsible antibiotic use of antibiotics. They should also enforce the available laws especially those that control the access and availability of antibiotics.
    • Consumers: To use their purchasing power to pressure retailers and supermarkets to source and retail products from high welfare production systems. They should also commit to better animal welfare by joining our campaigns to transform global food systems

    References / coverage of the report on mainstream media

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    A Global Analysis of Antimicrobial Resistance and its Drivers for the year 2021

    A Global Analysis of Antimicrobial Resistance and its Drivers for the year 2021

    A Global Analysis of Antimicrobial Resistance and its Drivers for the year 2021

    The State of the World’s Antibiotics 2021 report by Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy (CDDEP), on the state of antibiotics introduces country dashboards that capture progress on indicators that track AMR and show what remains to be done to decrease the need for antibiotics and their inappropriate use. Antimicrobial resistance is a clear and present danger to global health. The index and dashboards are designed to help government officials, policymakers, and healthcare stakeholders assess and track AMR status over time and in relation to other countries, and then prioritize actions.

    As the 2010–2020 decade ended, having witnessed a global effort to control antimicrobial resistance, the Covid-19 pandemic arrived as a reminder of the tremendous economic and social damage that infectious diseases can unleash. Among the casualties of Covid-19 is some of the progress made on antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Antimicrobials continue to be prescribed for viruses, and countries have reported increasingly high rates of resistance among drugs used to treat common infections. Resistance to first-line antimicrobials is now emerging among the pathogens that cause HIV, malaria, and typhoid fever, threatening global progress on health, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

    One major driver of resistance is the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in human healthcare. Globally, antimicrobial consumption is accelerating worldwide, particularly in LMICs, as the drugs become more accessible and affordable. The use of antibiotics that the World Health Organization deems critically important for human health increased 91% worldwide and 165% in LMICs between 2000 and 2015. Vaccines against many infectious agents are available, but low vaccination coverage, coupled with unsafe water and sanitation, leave many people vulnerable to infection and dependent on antibiotics for treatment. Investments to increase vaccine coverage, improve water and sanitation, and implement antimicrobial stewardship in health facilities could mitigate AMR worldwide.

    The other major factor driving resistance is the widespread use of antibiotics in agriculture and aquaculture. The fast-growing demand for animal protein has increased the use of antimicrobials in the animal health sector, where these drugs are used not only to treat and prevent infection but also to promote rapid growth. All countries need to develop and enforce laws and other policies to reduce the use of antibiotics in both terrestrial and aquatic food animals.

    Access to life-saving antibiotics in LMICs remains an issue. Although AMR poses an urgent global public health threat, more people in LMICs die from lack of access to antimicrobials than from resistant infections. Global efforts to mitigate AMR must also increase access to affordable and clinically appropriate antimicrobials. Antibiotic research and development lags behind clinical need: drugs in the pipeline are not sufficient to counter the increasing resistance to current antimicrobials and maintain a strong arsenal of effective antimicrobials.

    Key messages on changing patterns in antimicrobial resistance

    • Antimicrobial resistance continues to rise as countries increasingly report high rates of resistance among antimicrobials used to treat common infections. Weighted average resistance levels are generally higher in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
    • Resistance to first-line antimicrobial agents is rapidly emerging among the pathogens that cause HIV, malaria, and typhoid fever, threatening global progress in eliminating these infectious diseases.
    • The Drug Resistance Index (DRI), which measures the average effectiveness of the set of antibiotics used to treat a given bacterial infection, is an effective tool for assessing and communicating trends in national AMR burden.
    • Higher Drug Resistance Index values in LMICs may reflect a relatively lower level of antibiotic effectiveness due to limited access to newer, more effective antibiotics, revealing where resistance poses a more significant problem.

    Key messages on Drivers of Resistance: Antibiotics in Human Healthcare

    • The misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in the human health sector is a major driver of AMR.
    • Globally, the use of antimicrobials is accelerating worldwide, particularly in LMICs, as antimicrobials become readily accessible and affordable. The use of WHO Watch antibiotics increased 90.0% worldwide and 165% in LMICs between 2000 and 2015
    • Vaccines against many infectious agents are available, but low vaccination coverage, coupled with poor water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure, leave many people vulnerable to infection and dependent on antibiotics for treatment.
    • Investments to increase vaccine coverage, develop WASH infrastructure, and implement antimicrobial stewardship in health facilities could mitigate AMR worldwide.

    Key messages on Drivers of Resistance: Antibiotics in Agriculture

    • The enormous increase in the demand for animal protein has rapidly increased the use of antimicrobials in the animal health sector, where these drugs are used not only to treat and prevent infection but also to promote rapid growth.
    • China and India represented the largest hotspots of resistance, with new hotspots emerging in Brazil and Kenya.
    • All countries need to develop and implement legislation and other policies to reduce the use of antibiotics in both terrestrial and aquatic food animals.

    Reference

    Aditi Sriram, Erta Kalanxhi, Geetanjali Kapoor, Jessica Craig, Ruchita Balasubramanian, Sehr Brar, Nicola Criscuolo, Alisa Hamilton, Eili Klein, Katie Tseng, Thomas Van Boeckel, Ramanan Laxminarayan. 2021. State of the world’s antibiotics 2021: A global analysis of antimicrobial resistance and its drivers. Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy, Washington DC. Available at https://cddep.org/publications/the-state-of-the-worlds-antibiotic-in-2021/

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    Food system transformation in support of nature – Chatham research report

    Food system transformation in support of nature – Chatham research report

    Food system transformation in support of nature – Chatham research report

    The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Chatham House and Compassion in World Farming launched in partnership, a new Chatham House report, ‘Food System Impacts on Biodiversity Loss’ on February 2021. The report proposes three levers for food system transformation in support of nature:
    • to change dietary patterns to reduce food demand and encourage more plant-based diets.  Focusing only on, “growing ever more food” is detrimental to human health, biodiversity, and climate change. Focus to be in growing the right food in the right amounts and making the food system efficient by people consuming healthy diets which are sustainably produced and without waste.
    • to protect and set aside land for nature, whether through re-establishing native ecosystems on spared farmland or integrating pockets of natural habitat into farmland. Demand is not “fixed” and a simple function of the number of people i.e. we don’t need to grow ever more to “feed the world’s growing population” and to drive our consumption-based economies. We need to empower and enable people to eat healthily and sustainably.
    • to shift to more sustainable farming. Changing demand (and its incentives) is a key route to reduce the pressure on land and enable both land-for-nature and nature-friendly farming i.e. continuing to focus on promoting the production and consumption of calorie-rich diets will increase the rewards for both intensification and land conversion, at the expense of biodiversity.
    Recommendations 
    • Demand is a key lever that unlocks different options for farming practices and sparing land for nature (i.e. driving demand for economic growth drives intensification and makes it more difficult to both preserve natural land and farm sustainably)
    • Food is key for tackling biodiversity, climate and health
    • We need to link local action and international processes better (e.g. consumption-based accounting of impacts)

    The full report is available here: https://www.chathamhouse.org/2021/02/food-system-impacts-biodiversity-loss

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