Reduced meat consumption urged

SUCH A WASTE: An Environmental and Animal Society of Taiwan official said an adult pig that weighs 100kg would produce about 5kg of excrement every day

By Wu Hsin-tian and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writer





Environmental groups yesterday said that the nation is exceeding the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s suggested daily intake of meat and that it is directly impacting the environment.

The ministry urged people to reduce their intake of meat as the nation gears up to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, which typically sees high sales of meat products for barbecuing, the most popular way to celebrate the holiday.

The groups said the amount of wastewater from the nation’s swine industry annually is enough to fill a space two-thirds of the size of Taipei 101.

Environmental activists yesterday hold a news conference in Taipei to call on the public not to consume excessive amounts of meat products during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Photo: CNA

Environmental and Animal Society of Taiwan director Chen Yu-min (陳玉敏) said the ministry suggests about two servings, or 70g, of meat for an adult per day.

With a national population of 23 million and a suggested daily meat intake of 70g, meat production per year should be about 587,000 tonnes, Chen said.

However, according to the Council of Agriculture, 380 million animals were slaughtered in 2013, producing 1.48 million tonnes of meat, he added.

Chen said that the statistics did not include imported meat, adding that over-consumption of meat directly impacts the environment.

An adult pig weighing 100kg produces about 5kg of excrement every day, Chen said, adding that 5.81 million swine — the total number recorded in the nation in 2013 — would produce 10.6 million tonnes of excrement per year.

Large-scale farming of animals has normalized preventive use of animal medication, but has also led to nearly 10 percent of animal farms, from 2011 to 2013, failing to meet Food and Drug Administration standards, Chen said.

Chen urged the public to reduce meat consumption and to opt for eco-friendly products, adding that this would encourage farmers to produce higher-quality food and might also lead to a decrease in waste produced by the farming industry.