Factory farming is a threat to human health

MAY I commend Geoff Ford, of Ford's Focus, on his decision to adopt a meat-free diet.

Although global meat production is projected to more than double from 229-million tonnes in 1999 to 465-million tonnes in 2050, 854-million people are starving right now, because of the growing global reliance on animal protein.

In Britain, however, the amount of meat being eaten is fast diminishing, according to the latest Government agricultural figures. If current trends continue, the UK will be fully vegetarian by the end of this century.

This can only be good news for animal welfare, human health and the environment, but if more people acted now it could be achieved much more quickly, as there is another pressing reason why there is no time to lose.

There have been several warnings of how animal viruses can mutate to affect humans and all have been virtually ignored.

Reports link factory farming with the current pandemic of swine flu putting humans at risk, with consequences as yet unknown.

The link between swine flu incubating in a factory farm going on to claim human victims should be a wake-up call, so why the conspiracy of silence?

It seems that powerful vested interests must be protected at all costs, because it appears there is no doubt that factory farming is increasingly threatening human and animal health, by providing the ideal hot-house conditions for pathogenic bacteria and viruses to develop.

We ignore this at our peril, because if we fail to address this health risk, we will find ourselves inevitably facing more deadly consequences. Is that what we want for ourselves and our children?

Pat Wickham, North Street, Caistor.

The Telegraph says

Raising animals in a healthy environment must be the best way, however, it would take international government action for this to happen.