Recently, the “Houston Chronicle” and “San Antonio Express-News” ran a commentary piece from columnist Chris Tomlinson attacking beef in favor of plant-based proteins. Like most vegan marketing, it does a fantastic job of cherry-picking data and using opinion instead of facts and legitimate science.
Tomlinson begins by pointing to informal taste tests he conducts with friends, comparing burgers made with real beef to plant-based imitations. The problem comes when he asserts that people should prefer imitation products because they “are worried about their health and the environment.”
These claims have come under increasing fire by the medical and environmental community as more legitimate research begins to contradict the advertising rhetoric touted by the manufacturers of plant-based imitations.
Many medical professionals have expressed concerns about the plant-based meat substitutes because they do not offer better nutrition but do contain dozens of highly processed, laboratory-invented ingredients. The healthfulness of those ingredients still leaves questions for many researchers.
On the environmental side, proponents of the new imitation meat products like to point to global numbers developed by the U.N. and others. I won’t argue the global numbers, but anyone who has traveled internationally should know that America and Americans are different.
We place a much higher priority on sustainability and environmental concerns across the board than a country like China, whether it be manufacturing, transportation, or raising livestock.
Today, we produce the same amount of beef as we did in 1977, using 36% fewer cattle. Thanks to significant investments in animal health, welfare, nutrition and genetics, American cattle producers have spent decades reducing our carbon footprint and bettering the sustainability of our industry.
Catle play a role in sequestering carbon. Year-round, grasslands grazed by cattle absorb the greenhouse gases released by cattle, cars and everything else. Research has shown that healthy, well-maintained pastures and soil absorb more greenhouse gases than lands that are not maintained.
Since we raise these types of concerns, it may sound like we are against plant-based meat alternatives and non-meat burgers. We’re not.
As Tomlinson points out, they’ve been around for decades, and we don’t care if it’s called a burger either.
We support the free market and consumer choice. If a consumer chooses a soy burger over a beef burger, that’s their option, but it shouldn’t be based on misleading statements, packaging or advertising.
My opinion: Tomlinson’s writing is a prime example of why the legislation is necessary. The facts are important, and Americans shouldn’t be led astray by fancy marketing campaigns or unfounded assertions about plant-based imitation meat being better, healthier or more environmentally friendly.
—Robert E. McKnight, Jr. is a lifelong rancher from Fort Davis, Texas. He currently serves as president of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, a 142-year-old association that serves cattle producers across Texas, Oklahoma and beyond.
