Millions of Americans Commit Dietary Suicide

[Guest guest]

http://www.farmusa.org/wfad/wfad-nrhlth0.html

 

 

 

FOR RELEASE ON 9/10/00 CONTACT: Laurelee Blanchard, 808-575-7694

MILLIONS OF AMERICANS COMMIT DIETARY SUICIDE

 

According to the latest mortality data released by the National Center for

Health Statistics, 1.37 million, or 58%, of all U.S. deaths in 1998, were

attributed to diseases for which consumption of animal products represents

a substantial risk factor.

 

The total estimate was obtained by adding the number of deaths attributed

to each of eight categories of diseases for which consumption of animal

products has been identified as a substantial risk factor. The actual 1998

statistics were obtained from " Deaths: Final Data for 1998 " (Table 10),

published in July by the National Center for Health Statistics of the U.S.

Public Health Service http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvs48_11.pdf

 

The specific mortality figures are as follows: heart diseases (ischemic and

hypertensive) - 490,000; cerebrovascular diseases (all types) - 158,000;

other vascular diseases (atherosclerotic and hypertensive) - 58,000;

cancers (digestive, respiratory, genital, breast) - 424,000; diabetes

mellitus and selected nutritional diseases - 69,000; renal failure -

24,000; infectious, parasitic diseases (25% of all) - 13,000; total deaths

from identified diseases substantially linked to consumption of animal

products - 1,236,000; prorated fraction of unidentified causes of death -

131,000 (53% of 248,000).

 

Total deaths from causes substantially linked to consumption of animal

products - 1,367,000. Substantially linked deaths as fraction of all deaths

(2,337,000) - 58.5%.

 

Selection of causes of death associated with consumption of animal products

was highly conservative. For example, some heart diseases, liver diseases,

and cancer of urinary organs were not included, although a plant-based diet

appears to reduces the risk. Neither were asthma and other allergic

reactions that are frequently cured by eliminating dairy products. Neither

were automobile accidents involving drunk driving, in spite of an

association between consumption of alcohol and animal products.

 

For infectious and parasitic diseases, the rough estimate was based on the

number of deaths from E. coli, Salmonella enteritidis, and other

animal-borne pathogens, as well as from degradation of the immune system by

animal proteins. For unidentified diseases, the number of deaths included

in the total was prorated according to the ratio of meat-linked deaths to

all identified deaths.

 

This information is compiled and distributed as part of the 18th annual

observance of World Farm Animals Day dedicated to exposing the devastating

impacts of animal agriculture on public health, environmental quality, and

animal welfare.

 

END