Earth Emerson Veggie Food Fest provides animal-free food and a message
Darcy Hofmann
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The familiar aroma of cheese and sauce on a warm doughy crust enticed those waiting in line outside of the Bill Bordy auditorium. The pizza, although it smelled and appeared cheesy, contained no animal products but a soy imitation. Along with cheese-less macaroni and cheese and tofu burritos, Earth Emerson's Veggie Food Fest on Tuesday did not only provide a buffet of free vegetarian and vegan food but a message about the benefits of not eating meat.
With meatless food, Michelle Goldsmith, biologist and Emerson's scientist-in-residence, said the benefit of becoming vegetarian (a meatless diet) or a vegan (a diet with no animal products) is not only helping animals who would not be slaughtered, but also benefits the environment and general health of people who change their meat-eating habits.
The waste from corporate hog farms cause more emissions of greenhouse gases which lead to global warming, Goldsmith said. She also warned about the antibiotics that animals are fed.
"The major source of antibiotics in humans [comes from consuming animal products]," Goldsmith said.
She went on to say that this can lead to strains of viruses that antibiotics will not be able to cure because the body is immune to certain antibiotics. Goldsmith said the way to correct this problem is labeling the products that have been genetically modified so consumers are aware of what they are digesting. "If you don't know, the FDA [Food and Drug Administration] won't tell you," she said.
Sophomore cinematography major Jackie Moonves, said it is easy to make a change.
"I know a lot people say that they could never stop eating meat but it's a lot easier than you think," she said.
Rachel Desilets, a junior TV/video and WLP major, a vegetarian for six years and vegan for three and a half years, said becoming a vegetarian is as easy as going grocery shopping. "Just go to Whole Foods and buy some Annie's Kitchen - it's frozen food. That's an easy way to get into it," Desilets said.
Lauren Robbins, a senior WLP major, said the event was the best yet because people left aware of the benefits of not eating meat.
"We had one year where a lot of kids came but there was no learning," Robbins said. "A lot of people stayed for the whole event. That was really amazing."