Myth Number Five
Plant-based food is expensive.
The truth behind this is not that plant-based food is expensive. The real story is that meat and dairy products merely seem inexpensive because of a little thing called government subsidies. Have you ever noticed that a cheeseburger at McDonalds is roughly the same price today as it was in 1995? The main reason for this is government subsidies.
The meat and dairy industries would likely fail if people had to pay the real price for their products and the corporations associated with them would struggle. Between 1995 and 2009, the meat and dairy industries received than $246 billion in subsidies to keep these prices artificially low so they could stay in business. Farmers who grow fruits, vegetables and tree nuts, on the other hand, receive no regular direct subsidies
Not only does the federal government provide the meat and dairy industries with a guaranteed, artificial profit but they also help them market their products. The federal government currently spends $557 million annually to promote meat and dairy. There is no doubt that you have seen or heard these catchy slogans…
Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner.
Pork. The Other White Meat.
Milk. It Does A Body Good.
The Incredible Edible Egg.
How about these newer adds that try to tell us and our kids that chocolate milk that has more sugar than soda is somehow healthy…
Chocolate Milk Has Muscle.
Raise Your Hand for Chocolate Milk.
You see these ads in between television shows, in magazines, billboards, school cafeteria posters, websites, everywhere. These marketing campaigns saturate our media and they strategically focus on children. Walk into any school cafeteria or watch any kid show and you will see them everywhere. The meat and dairy industries who benefit from them pay nothing.
Do you still think vegan food is expensive? Thank tax payers for that. And no, you are not welcome.
