ABSTRACT
This chapter demonstrates that the public health consequences of livestock agribusiness span environmental and social justice concerns. As meat consumption increased in the United States, it became identified with the American way of life, resulting in a dietary modernization for the wealthy of developing countries. The environmental health problems created by livestock production are unequally distributed due to, and perpetuated by, social stratification. Further, increased meat production perpetuates corporate livestock production as it provides artificially cheap meat for the consumer, and the consumer demand in turn fuels the industrial animal production (IAP) system. A growing body of literature shows that a truly sustainable food system may need to eliminate the production of meat altogether. Indeed, a recent United Nations Environmental Programme report has concluded that the current patterns of production and consumption of meat are simply unsustainable and advises a shift from animal based diets to plant based diets.
