Ad’s Warning Meant to Give Reading Residents Food for Thought (and Save Their Lives)

Reading, Pa. — In the wake of a Reading meatpacking plant’s massive recall of ground beef last month that spanned 12 states, PETA hoped to place its blunt (Editor’s note: “Blunt” meaning crude and tasteless – the usual design criteria for PETA’s ad campaigns) new anti-meat billboard in Reading, but the city’s billboard companies had other ideas. City billboard companies refused to allow space for the billboard, which aimed to inspire Reading residents to chuck their burgers, steaks, and pork cutlets in favor of humane—and safe—vegetarian fare.

The billboard reads, "Eat Meat and Die," and lists some of the many risks that meat-eaters face, including bacterial infections such as E. coli, listeria, and campylobacter. Urging viewers to "Go vegetarian!" and steering them to PETA’s GoVeg.com Web site, the billboard would have come on the heels of recent news reports that Quaker Maid Meats Inc. recalled about 94,400 pounds of frozen ground beef patties that may be contaminated with E. coli. (Editor’s note: “may be” is the operative term here. Uncertain about the ground beef and being concerned for the public’s health as well as their own corporate well-being, the company staged the recall. It was the right thing to do.)

What’s PETA’s beef with meat? Besides causing immeasurable suffering for the billions of animals who are cruelly raised and killed for their flesh, meat is also deadly to consumers. Seventy percent of foodborne illnesses are directly linked to meat consumption, (Editor’s note: So PETA is agreeing that 30% of all food borne illnesses are caused by the consumption of potentially DEADLY fruits and vegetables that can spread listeria, e.coli and C. bot? Actually, it’s closer to 50%, according to CDC.) but the threat of E. coli, listeria, campylobacter, and other bacterial infections is only the beginning. Consumption of meat and other animal products has also been conclusively linked to America’s top killers, including heart disease, strokes, diabetes, and obesity.

Animals pay the price too. Chickens are drugged and bred to grow so quickly that they often can barely stand. Cows are dehorned and branded, and male cows are castrated—all without painkillers. According to U.S. Department of Agriculture meat inspectors, cows and pigs in slaughterhouses are often dismembered while they are still conscious, and chickens often drown in the scalding-hot water that is used for feather removal. (Editor’s note: What’s this “often” B.S.? How often is “often” or is it just another nebulous term these truth terrorist like to throw around? Can I say PETA "often" is caught playing with the truth?)

"Eating meat supports cruelty to animals and puts your health in jeopardy," says PETA Director of Vegan Campaigns Bruce Friedrich. "If you want to get sick and fat and eventually drop dead of a heart attack, just keep cramming burgers, pork chops, and beef stew down your throat." (Editor’s note: Listening to Li’l Brucie’s drivel will put your mental health in jeopardy.)
For more information and to view the billboard, please visit GoVeg.com.