Germans eat more than 1000 animals in 1 lifetime

by Mritunjay | October 21, 2009 at 03:55 am

1494 views | 71 Recommendations | 12 comments

While it may be still debatable whether Adolf Hitler was vegetarian or not, a study by German Vegetarianism Association in a latest study claimed that an average German eats more than 1,000 animals in his/her life. The British newspaper, Daily Express reported that as per the estimates of the German body, on average individual Germans consume four cows, four calves, four sheep, 46 pigs, 37 ducks and 46 turkeys as well as 12 geese and 945 chickens in their lifetime.

The organisation wants Germans to have one meatless day a week which would save 157 million animal lives a year, according to spokesman Sebastian Zosch.

The research estimated that more than one billion animals, which does not include fish or sea creatures, were eaten in Germany every year.

It also stressed the point that raising plant products for food has lower emission of “greenhouse” gases when compared to raising animals. It reported that between five and six million Germans are vegetarian in a population of 83 Million.

Peta and GoVeg.com also make claims about effects "factory farming" of animals have in countries like USA. They claim various effects for human and animal health as well as environment in general.

America's meat addiction is poisoning and depleting our potable water, arable land, and clean air. More than half of the water used in the United States today goes to animal agriculture, and since farmed animals produce 130 times more excrement than the human population, the run-off from their waste is fouling our waterways. Animal excrement emits gases, such as hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, that poison the air around farms, as well as methane and nitrous oxide, which are major contributors to global warming. Forests are being bulldozed to make more room for factory farms and feed crops to feed farmed animals, and this destruction causes soil erosion and contributes to species extinction and habitat loss. Raising animals for food also requires massive amounts of food and raw materials: Farmed animals consume 70 percent of the corn, wheat, and other grains that we grow, and one-third of all the raw materials and fossil fuels used in the U.S. go to raising animals for food. In short, our country's meat addiction is wrecking the earth.

Though a matter of personal discretion vegetarianism has seen support from various sectors and segments ranging from celebrities to rights groups.

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israeli.agent

at 06:54 on October 21st, 2009

Lucky Germans...!

.Agent.

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 07:03 on October 21st, 2009

Yes and this is not going to change. Germans love their schnitzels and wurst, along with a little beer and wine.

I doubt that North Americans eat less than Germans.

s.Daniel (not verified)

at 08:23 on October 21st, 2009

Where is the news?Great, some radical organisation publishes a headline and every media swallows it. High quality journalism! This article just warms up old and well known facts.Take a look at the stats of the United Nations about meat consumption earthtrends.wri.org/searchable_db/results.php?years=1961-1961,1962-1962,1963-1963,1964-1964,1965-1965,1966-1966,1967-1967,1968-1968,1969-1969,1970-1970,1971-1971,1972-1972,1973-1973,1974-1974,1975-1975,1976-1976,1977-1977,1978-1978,1979-1979,1980-1980,1981-1981,1982-1982,1983-1983,1984-1984,1985-1985,1986-1986,1987-1987,1988-1988,1989-1989,1990-1990,1991-1991,1992-1992,1993-1993,1994-1994,1995-1995,1996-1996,1997-1997,1998-1998,1999-1999,2000-2000,2001-2001,2002-2002&variable_ID=193&theme=8&cID=70,190&ccID= or an older blog post by peta about the same issue www.guardian.co.uk/environment/datablog/2009/sep/02/meat-consumption-per-capita-climate-change You may notice that Americans eat 1.5 times as much meat as Germans.

Amy Judd

at 08:26 on October 21st, 2009

So not surprising unfortunately

Hugh Askew

at 09:17 on October 21st, 2009

Using figures for approx weights of dressed carcasses, and assuming 70 years of consumption, that works out to real close to 8 ounces of meat per day.

Sounds very likely.

Some of us tho, eat a lot more beef than pork or poultry. Had a 12 oz. New York strip for dinner last nite. The wife cooks a mean steak.

No vegetarians were invited, sorry ;)

Mritunjay

at 10:25 on October 21st, 2009

The figs. may get an ounce or two up based on whether they added the veggie population also to compute averages too or not! :)

israeli.agent

at 10:44 on October 21st, 2009

"No vegetarians were invited, sorry...."

Oh, never do invite....! :-)

.Agent.

HartrionoBSastrowardoyo (not verified)

at 11:36 on October 21st, 2009

Is it any surprise that a pro-vegetarianism organization would come up with the conclusions they did and "...want Germans to have one meatless day a week which would save 157 million animal lives a year, according to spokesman Sebastian Zosch"? That's not reporting. That's a self-fulfilling press release. Want reporting? _Why_ do Germans eat the way they do and are there any plans to change it (e.g., any municipalities who have decided to give up cattle and take on gardens?) What do other agencies say? Any trends? A single source does not make a story.

Mritunjay

at 11:47 on October 21st, 2009

Well every coin has two sides and this is one of that. Now any and every "pro-non-veg." organization ias as much free to do a study and claim how much "animal-life" is lost due to vegeterianism.

This is a "story" as it simply states the facts pertaining to a report. I would have labeled it an "opinion" had I mixed up my "views" to it.

Thanks for reading and taking time to comment.

a211423

at 12:07 on October 21st, 2009

Processed meats like lunch meats, sausage, bacon, etc. have nitrates that are not healthy and loaded with fat and salt. If one chooses to eat meat, it's more healthy to chose chicken and fish and the leaner cuts of beef, and limit the quantities.

There is a good book about longevity called The Blue Zone. The author examines four cultures where people live longer. One of the unifying concepts of all four is either the elmination of meat or it is consumed in small quantities and not regularly.

Grace H

at 13:06 on October 21st, 2009

that bc brautwurst and naqwurst et all, and well meat in general, are delicious.

a211423

at 13:13 on October 21st, 2009

Roy

Why would anyone eat rancid fat, except in cultures where it might be part of their diet?

It's not in any American foods that I know of.

If our body creates nitrates as part of digestion there must be a reason for this, unless it is created in excess amounts due to some kind irregular function in the body. Our bodies create cholesterol also, and in some people in excess amounts where it must be controlled by medication because diet does not effect its production.

Doesnt zinc also interact with nitrates?