5 reasons why you should avoid pork
Anna Jones
29/03/23
Reading time: 8 minutes
Pork is one of the most popular types of meat among Germans. Almost 60% of total consumption is pork, which is the main ingredient in countless traditional dishes. This includes bacon, for example.
But our mission is to make the world a little greener by giving up meat and doing something good for animals, the environment and our bodies. That's why we've collected 5 reasons why you should avoid pork and use vegan alternatives .
1. Pigs are extremely intelligent
We are firmly convinced that all animals are allowed to live, regardless of whether they are young or old, or whether they are smart animals.
Did you know that pigs are super intelligent animals? According to an article from tierwelt.ch , pigs are one of the few animals that can recognize their reflection as themselves - meaning pigs would pass the 'mirror test'.
In addition, a study found that pigs can control the heating in their house themselves - they pay attention to their body condition and learn to press a button to turn the heating system on or off. Should such intelligent animals really spend their entire lives in a stable that is far too small and be fattened until they are slaughtered?
2. Pork comes predominantly from factory farming
According to the German Animal Welfare Office, around 97% of meat in Germany comes from factory farming . The animals often live in cramped, dirty conditions, are given antibiotics because of the many germs that are in the feed and in the stable, and are then slaughtered too young.
Because of the small living space, the pigs cannot live out their natural habits and activities: they can, for example, For example, do not dig, play, run around or roll in the mud. This leads to stress and frustration and they often end up hurting each other as a result.
It is also important to note that even the few pigs that are kept in organic conditions also eventually die too young and in fear. Organic meat is therefore not an ethical alternative.
3. Pork harms the environment
Like other meat products, pork also has a huge negative impact on the environment. According to the World Peace Service , 1 kg of pork requires an average of 5.98 liters of water.
It is often claimed that vegans and vegetarians harm the environment and rainforests with their often higher soy consumption. It's true that soy requires a lot of land to grow, but in fact soy products like tofu and soy milk hardly account for it.
Rather, meat production is responsible for the deforestation of rainforests and the cultivation of soy. Because soy is an important feed for pigs and most of it has to be imported. About 77% of the world's soy harvest is intended for animal feed. In comparison, tofu and plant milk make up 2.6 and 2.1 percent of the total harvest, respectively. There is also a lot of local soy used in the production of tofu.
According to the Federal Information Center for Agriculture, almost 3.9 million tons of animal feed soy were imported into Germany in 2020, mostly from the USA or Brazil. Considering this amount, we probably can't say that soy consumption by vegans and vegetarians is the real problem.
4. Bacon is particularly unhealthy
Since 2015, bacon and other processed pork products have been included in a food category described by the WHO as 'Group 1 - carcinogenic'. This is the same classification as asbestos and tobacco. Just 50 grams of bacon a day is said to increase the risk of colon cancer by 18%.
Processed meats such as bacon and sausage are classified this way because nitrites and nitrates are often used in the processing process. These are salts that ensure a longer shelf life, the red color and the typical taste of the products.
When nitrites and amino acids, which are abundant in meat products, are cooked at high heat, so-called nitrosamines are formed. This results in compounds that are classified as carcinogenic.
In addition , unprocessed red meat (muscle meat from beef, pork, sheep, horses or goats) was classified by researchers in group 2 A - "probably carcinogenic" . Excessive consumption is therefore not healthy and should be avoided.
5. Vegan alternatives are simply delicious
Giving up meat is super easy: the selection of vegan alternatives is growing and growing. We also recently launched vegan bacon cubes. The Bacon Bits from GREENFORCE are gluten-free, high in protein and taste excellent and authentic.
With the help of our delicious plant-based alternative to bacon cubes, you can quickly and easily veganize all of your favorite recipes with bacon: whether spaghetti carbonara, scrambled eggs with bacon bits or tarte flambée, nothing stands in the way of your favorite dishes - and the pigs will thank you too. 🐷
Anna studied German and Romance languages in England and has been vegan for 8 years. She is a big fan of fresh Köttbullar and enjoys researching news and facts in the area of veganism. If you have any comments or requests, please write to her here: online@greenforce.com
