Should We Eat Turkey For Thanksgiving?

When I think 'Thanksgiving', the first thing that comes to mind is turkey. From early childhood we've all traced our hands creating that distinctive traditional symbol of thanksgiving- the hand-turkey. How could this seemingly harmless traditional bird be a menace to American society? Turkey meat originally in it self is a generally healthier meat as seen here in Worlds Healthiest Foods Organization. The problem isn't the bird, but the way the bird is raised. Factory farming is essentially poisoning the American population with overly-processed, hormone induced meat. Jonathan Foer's book Eating Animals is a testament to the  growing idea of factory farming being destructive and inhumane.

But why take such a stand against turkey? Why would you challenge something this traditional and integrated into American society? Jonathan Foer takes a strong stance against turkey when he states  "Given their vulnerability to disease, turkeys are perhaps the worst fit of any animal for the factory model. So they are given more antibiotics than any other farmed animals. Which encourages antibiotic resistance. Which makes these indispensable drugs less effective for humans. In a perfectly direct way, the turkeys on our tables are making it harder to cure human illness." These factory farmed Thanksgiving traditions seem like they could cause a great deal of harm and according to Foer over 45 million turkeys reach American dinner tables every Thanksgiving.  So, should we eat turkey for Thanksgiving?

I believe turkey is an embedded tradition in American society. However now that I know the facts about the turkey most Americans have been eating, my thoughts towards turkey has changed. I agree with Foer in the fact the vast majority of the population will continue to support and eat the Thanksgiving bird, even with the harmful facts exposed to the public knowledge. However it should not be the generals populations responsibility to simply end all support for factory farmed products. Foer simply states "Cruel and destructive food products should be illegal." Until regulations and alternative low-cost mass production methods can be made possible, factory farming will exist. Despite being seemingly evil, factory farming is a necessary industry providing cheaper food and jobs to the masses.

While these food products should be highly investigated and probably illegal, they will exist until  major industrial  and societal change can be made throughout America. Americans must become conscience of what they are eating. We should all question what we are putting into our mouths? What is it really made of? Where did it come from? We have to start becoming a health conscience nation. We must start supporting organic farming on a grand scale and consider all the alternatives to factory farmed products. As Americans, we must create a change in food culture, for the sake of our society's overall health.

As for me, I will continue to eat turkey for Thanksgiving for tradition. However, I will certainly question the turkey I'm being served for Thanksgiving. I will research and encourage organic turkey and make sure the way the turkey is raised matches my personal standards for a healthy meal, natural and free of hormones. So America, will you eat turkey this Thanksgiving? If you chose to partake in this tradition, all I ask is to question how the bird was raised and be thankful it is (hopefully) not factory farmed!