5 Reasons to Skip Turkey this Thanksgiving
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FROM AnimalPlace.org
November 2019

If there is a turkey on your table, there is violence on your plate. 264 million turkeys are killed for their flesh every year in the United States.

Turkey barn

It’s almost impossible to think about Thanksgiving, without thinking about eating turkey. Many of us have fond memories of sitting around the table with loved ones, enjoying a shared food experience. But, if there is a turkey on your table, there is violence on your plate. 264 million turkeys are killed for their flesh every year in the United States.

This year, reconsider this harmful tradition and choose a kinder option. Below are 5 reasons to leave turkey off your table this Thanksgiving.

  1. Turkeys are bred to grow quickly and are so overfed that their bones are often too weak to carry their own weight. This can result in leg injuries. If a human child grew at the same rate, they would weigh 280 pounds in 2 years!
  2. Most turkeys raised for slaughter live in cramped and unsanitary sheds, with no outdoor access. This often causes birds to suffer from respiratory diseases.
  3. Female turkeys are artificially inseminated up to twice a week for a year. This is an invasive, painful process. Once their egg production declines, they are useless to the industry and are slaughtered.
  4. Though mother turkeys will lay about 100 eggs a year, they are never allowed to care for the chicks. As soon as the egg is laid, it is removed. The eggs are sent to a hatchery, where the chicks will hatch under an incubator.
  5. Turkeys are killed at 5-7 months old. If allowed to live their full lifespan, turkeys used in “food” production live 2-5 years. Because they are bred to grow quickly, so they can be killed young, turkeys who live past slaughter age, often die of heart failure or severe arthritis.

Try a turkey-free Thanksgiving! From the classic Tofurky, to Field Roast, there are incredible plant-based options to choose from. These alternatives provide a familiar holiday feeling, without supporting the cruelty of turkey farming. Time to start a new tradition!

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