Cheese: Bad for the Environment?
08/16/2011
(Cheese production. By Sopra Mais, Flickr)
It’s not news: We need to eat less meat. Producing meat ready for the plate takes large amounts of fuel, fertilizers, pesticides, and water. Eating meat can also put your health at risk and endanger animal welfare. That’s why what you eat matters, says the Environmental Working Group, which recently released a “Meat Eater’s Guide to Climate Change and Health.” But even vegetarians may be hard pressed by the group’s findings. As it turns out, public enemy number three, right after lamb and beef, is cheese.
EWG partnered with CleanMetrics, an environmental analysis firm, to examine 20 types of meat, fish, dairy, and vegetable proteins and evaluate their impacts on the earth. Together, they looked into fertilizers, pesticides, feed, transportation costs, and how much of the final product was ultimately thrown away, including many more factors. They found that different foods impact the environment in different ways, and to lessen our footprints on the earth, we need to change our eating habits.
Full Lifecycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Common Proteins and Vegetables
(Source: EWG)
Beef, which ranked second for harmful impact on the earth, emits almost four times as much carbon dioxide than chicken and 13 times more than vegetable proteins, such as lentils, beans, and tofu. What’s surprising is that chicken, salmon, and even pork made out better than cheese. Cheese wound up high on the list because it takes a lot milk to make a little cheese. Dairy cows release large amounts of methane, which is a worse greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, and let’s not forget the amount of feed and antibiotics that the cows need.
EWG recommends eating less cheese. But it just so happens that cheese is delicious. So, while you may not be able to go without, eat lower-fat cheeses, such as skim mozzarella, gouda, and cottage cheese, which have less effect on the environment and your health. As another consolation, the ranking is based on the ounce. While big burgers and steaks are typical meal options, it’s rare that someone sits down to eat a wheel of cheese. Most people use it sparingly anyway, though we can still choose local cheeses rather than those flown over from Europe to minimize costs.
Also read:
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Well, don't forget about the
Well, don't forget about the massive suffering happening on factory farms. Or that eating cheese sends calves to become veal, spending short lives unable to move. Or heck, all the growth hormones, and the antiobiotics pumped into these animals. Check out http://www.mercyforanimals.org/ for some enlightening videos.
I really love to eat cheese
I really love to eat cheese and I never see anything more complicated around on it as we gather and take an adventure purposes on The Walking Dead Season 2 Episode 6 MEGAVIDEO this help me improve me gratification on the series especially with AMC. So I decided that on november 20, 2011 I will return to watch ti online together with megavideo.
Love this lol, I wonder if
Love this lol, I wonder if all posts on this website are like this. Will skimm throu it.
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When you succumb to such
When you succumb to such silliness, you leave the work of serious environmentalist undone. This mathematical and economic nonsense. The point could just as easily be made that magazine publications are the primary cause of deforestation and watershed destruction.
This AGW nonsense is over. Let us get back to restoring fisheries, aviaries, and forest habitats.
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All the contents you mentioned in post is too good and can be very useful. Thanks
This is simply ridiculous.
This is simply ridiculous. These mythical claims will certainly be shown to be fictitious given the peer 2 peer review process of the internet. Just give it time. The claim about low fat cheese is especially asinine.
This idea is murderous and
This idea is murderous and genocidal to Type 2 diabetics who need proteins such as beef, chicken, lamb, and cheese to stay alive. But I guess that's A-OK since (when dead) they won't be emitting CO2.
You people are complete and total ignorant sickos.
Actually a plant-based diet
Actually a plant-based diet can cure type 2 diabetes. Meat consumption causes diabetes, so please get your facts straight before you con poor diabetics in to making their disease worse!!
I think the cheese is only
I think the cheese is only one of entertainment method, the bad to environment is no big compared with disposable chopsticks.
I think the cheese is only
I think the cheese is only one of entertainment method, the bad to environment is no big compared with disposable chopsticks.
"This idea is murderous and
"This idea is murderous and genocidal to Type 2 diabetics who need proteins such as beef, chicken, lamb, and cheese to stay alive. But I guess that's A-OK since (when dead) they won't be emitting CO2.
You people are complete and total ignorant sickos."
I agree with you. Bee Pollen Benefits
It amazing that most people
It amazing that most people do not know that eating beef, chicken, lamb, and cheese contribute to diabetics problems and that a plant based diet can get most people off there medication and living a healthier life. Chech out this DR link
http://www.drfuhrman.com/disease/default.aspx
If you put it this way, than
If you put it this way, than everything is poisonous, even raising cows and vegetables.
The excess amount of any
The excess amount of any thing harm our body and also effect our nature. The current trend foods or meat may be harm your body when you should not precaution beforing eating it.
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fortunately, i do not eat
fortunately, i do not eat much cheese.
living in china, i do not
living in china, i do not have much chance to eat cheese.
I don't think there is over
I don't think there is over consumption of cheese. And I don't think it's right to tell people to stop eating cheese, or beef. There's just too much going to waste. Us humans are inherently addicted to wasting stuff, including food. We over consume because a lot of the food we eat are not really consumed at all, but are just put to waste. And this is what causes the imbalance.
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I agree William. You can't
I agree William. You can't forbid people to eat what they like. Forbidden fruits are even more appealing. webhosting
http://www.worldpreservationf
http://www.worldpreservationfoundation.org/topic.php?cat=biodiversity
Most people on here need to be a little more informed before they make there comments at the current rate of consumption we will need 27 planets by 2050 so saying people should eat what they want is like saying its OK to exterminate our children and the planet, i have studied climate change for the last 5 years and food primary meat, fish and dairy are at the top of the list for most of the destruction taking place on the planet.
Al gore hows family own a cattle ranch said that the meat and dairy industry buy 3 years of advertizing in advance and have thousands of full time lobbyists in Washington so how will you find the thought unless you dig deep.
Cheese?? What??Noooo!
Cheese?? What??Noooo!
First time I see this
First time I see this information and statistics. "Full Lifecycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Common Proteins and Vegetables" I am big time cheese consumer w/o know all those negative effects. Thanks for the info..
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I agree with your ponit.
I agree with your ponit.
I love Cheese
I love Cheese !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I learned something new
I learned something new today. I have always heard about cow manure but I never thought that cheese would be something bad for the environment. Cheese does stink though doesn't it? christian youth group activities
But it just so happens that
But it just so happens that cheese is delicious
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