Worldwatch Paper #171: Happier Meals: Rethinking the Global Meat Industry

September 2005
Danielle Nierenberg
ISBN: 1-878071-77-7
91 pages

$9.95

In Happier Meals: Rethinking the Global Meat Industry, Worldwatch researcher Danielle Nierenberg documents the harmful effects of factory farming in both industrialized and developing countries and explains the range of consequences for the environment, human health and communities. From transmission of disease and loss of livestock diversity to hazardous and unsanitary processing methods, this book shows clearly why factory farming is an unsafe, inhumane, and ecologically disruptive form of meat production.

On the brighter side, Happier Meals tells you how you can make a difference by supporting local, organic, or pasture-raised animal products; embracing alternative production methods; or including a few vegetarian meals a week to help ensure that meat is made better for people, the environment, and the animals themselves.

Sample Figure from Happier Meals.

Summary

The Jungle, Revisited

The Disassembly Line

Appetite for Destruction

Spreading Disease

Happier Meals

Endnotes

Index

Figure 1: World Meat Production, 1961–2004

Figure 2: World Meat Production by Source, 2004

Figure 3: World Meat Production per Person, 1961–2004

Figure 4: The Ins and Outs of Meat Production

Table 1: Selected Food Animal Breeds in Danger of Disappearing

Table 2: Selected Animal Diseases That Can Spread to Humans

Table 3: Selected Food-borne Pathogens

Sidebar 1: The Life of a Chicken

Sidebar 2: Factory Farms of the Sea

Sidebar 3: Eating Up the Forests

Country Study 1: Poland

Country Study 2: Mexico

Country Study 3: China

Country Study 4: India

Country Study 5: Brazil

Country Study 6: United States