BANNED IN BRITAIN: Pro-vegan ad campaign wants to compare the harms of red meat to cigarettes
The provocative advertising campaign wants to erect giant billboards outside hospitals of a patient being served a plate of sausages and cigarettes with a slogan saying: 'Still serving meat? How about a cigarette too?'.
JOHN ELY: A pro-vegan campaign group wants to compare the harms of red meat to cigarettes in pursuit of turning the NHS completely vegan.
PETA, famed for provocative advertising campaigns, wants to erect giant billboards outside hospitals of a patient being served a plate of sausages and cigarettes with a slogan saying: ‘Still serving meat? How about a cigarette too?’
A caption at the bottom states that eating processed meat causes cancer and urges the NHS to go vegan…
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) thinks meat should be banned from hospital menus completely.
PETA, which has the motto ‘animals are not ours to eat’ argues that, ethics aside, people who eat processed meat are likelier to suffer a plethora of health problems like death, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, dementia, chronic kidney disease, and strokes.
This, the charity claims, not only costs people their lives and wellbeing but also the taxpayer through the burden treating such issues places on the NHS.
PETA’s ad was set to feature on billboards outside hospitals up and down the UK in a national pressure campaign…
It slammed claims that its campaign was ‘political’, instead describing it as ‘thought-provoking’ advert to highlight that by serving patients bacon and sausages the NHS may as well be encouraging them to have a cigarette.
PETA corporate projects manager Dr Carys Bennett said: ‘The NHS is shooting itself in the foot by serving carcinogenic animal-derived foods laden with saturated fat that will further tax its already stretched system.
‘Replacing meat, eggs, and dairy with vibrant vegan foods like vegetables, pulses, and grains would protect animals, the planet, and the health of the British public and save the NHS money.’
But think-tanks accused the charity of being a ‘crackpot organisation and of scientific illiteracy over its claims…
PETA claimed their ad was rejected anonymously by a billboard supplier they tried working with through an intermediary advertising agency called Media Agency Group.
However, the charity said they aren’t giving up and are looking at bringing their NHS veganism campaign to life through online and print advertising, as well as mobile billboard vans.
While the ad may be on the chopping block for now, experts have warned about the dangers of over-indulging processed meats, like bacon, sausages, and deli hams for years.
They are high in salt and saturated fat, which can damage your cardiovascular health and contribute to obesity, with Brits’ bulging waistlines estimated to cost the NHS £6billion each year.
Additionally, preservatives used to as part of the meat curing process have been linked to diseases like bowel cancer.
The World Health Organization (WHO) ruled in 2015 that processed meat is carcinogenic. SOURCE…
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