Be part of the solution

GOOD MEDICINE: WHAT YOU EAT MAY HALT THE NEXT PANDEMIC

Save the planet – reduce demand for animal products.

Could your next juicy cheeseburger be part of a global strategy to reduce the risk of future pandemics? Findings in a new report on food and pandemics, together with advances in food technology lead us to think it could be.

The Covid-19 origin story involves foreigners eating foods we wouldn’t eat in SA, from markets we don’t frequent. The foreign and exotic nature of this narrative leads us to believe there’s nothing we can do as individuals to reduce the risk of another pandemic.

The newly published Food and Pandemics Report by Berlin-based food awareness organisation ProVeg International is sure to change this view.

The report shows similar findings to those recently published by the World Wildlife Fund, the University of Cambridge and the United Nations Environment Programme and paints a different picture to the “foreigners, eating foods that we wouldn’t eat” narrative.

Take Swine Flu, which killed 151 700 to 575 400 people worldwide during a 2009 pandemic, or Avian Influenza, more commonly known as Bird Flu.

These pandemics started with a jump from pigs and chicken to humans.

Many South Africans eat pork and most eat chicken.

The report looks at the relationship between pandemics and our food and shows about 75% of all emerging infectious diseases in humans are zoonoses.

There is a growing consensus among nongovernmental organisations, academic institutions and the scientific community that the global food system needs to change if we are to prevent future pandemics.

Although that sounds like an enormous task, consumers can influence the food system through our purchasing decisions.

While ProVeg works on part two of the report, which will outline strategies to change the global food system, it seems clear that consumers can help by reducing demand for animal products by eating less meat, eggs and dairy.

The report also looks briefly at the link between eating animal products and lifestyle diseases like heart disease and type two diabetes, other food-borne diseases like salmonellosis and antimicrobial resistance.

The impact of animal agriculture on climate change and environmental degradation is also included.

We are a meat-loving country. Can we imagine a South Africa without the braai or

The ProVeg report might leave you thinking there are only two choices; be part of the solution and make some big sacrifices, or keep eating as you always have and not worry too much about future pandemics, health or the environment.

This is where we turn back to that juicy cheeseburger.

The rapidly growing movement of people who want to be a part of the solution by cutting back on animal products but who still want to eat meat, eggs and cheese has inspired the food industry to create products that realistically mimic the taste and texture of meat without using animal ingredients.

The market for replacement products is dominated by flexitarians – those people who are cutting back, but not fully ditching animal products, and vegans and vegetarians who still want the culinary experiences they grew up with.

The result is products that good alternatives can be found in retailers around the country.

– Citizen reporter

Can we even imagine a South Africa without the braai?