COLUMN: Think Again – Removing beef from cafeteria menus is silly

If you like beef, don’t expect to order it at Polytechnique Montreal. Last September, this Quebec engineering school started removing beef options from its six food stalls that provide meals to approximately 10,000 students.

This decision had nothing to do with students’ lack of interest in beef products. In fact, three of the school’s bestselling food items contained beef. Rather, the school removed beef from its menus in a bid to reduce its carbon footprint.

Critics of beef production argue that beef produces 10 times the carbon emissions of chicken and 50 times more than beans. This stems from the fact that cattle digestion produces significant amounts of methane, which is a greenhouse gas.

Of course, eating a beef burger doesn’t produce any emissions, since cattle only produce methane while they are still alive. However, if everyone stops ordering beef from the menu, then there would be less incentive for ranchers to raise cattle, which means fewer cattle would exist and carbon emissions would therefore decline.

It’s a neat and tidy way of thinking until you realize that getting rid of beef eliminates an entire way of life. For example, there obviously won’t be much need for cattle ranchers if everyone stopped eating beef. In addition, removing beef from menus takes away a food option that many people enjoy.

Now, you might wonder why we should worry about what happens at an engineering school in Quebec. Doesn’t this decision to remove beef from its menus affect only students at Polytechnique Montreal? Initially, yes.

However, this push by environmentalists to reduce or even eliminate beef consumption won’t stop at just one school. There will be enormous pressure on other university cafeterias to follow suit. In addition, don’t be surprised when provincial governments order high school cafeterias to eliminate beef from their menus in the name of setting a good example for young people.

Never underestimate the temptation for politicians to interfere with the choices of ordinary people. It typically starts with strongly worded recommendations and is soon followed by mandatory regulations in the name of a worthwhile cause. Given the ongoing push by environmentalists to discourage beef consumption, it won’t be long before governments start trying to interfere with everyone’s dietary choices.

This is where we need to stand up and say no. Everyone should be free to eat whatever food they want. To borrow a phrase from the pro-choice movement, it’s my body and my choice. If I want to have a beef burger, then I should be able to do so. Conversely, if I want to order a veggie burger, then that should be up to me as well. The last thing we need is big brother government trying to shame me because of what I order for lunch.

Unfortunately, some journalists appear to have bought in to this anti-beef message. It’s interesting that every student quoted in The Canadian Press article about the removal of beef from Polytechnique Montreal expressed their wholehearted support for this change. I find it hard to believe that not a single student on campus disagrees with the beef ban.

Interestingly, one of the environmental “experts” quoted in the story even expressed their hope that milk would be the next item removed from menus. This is what happens when you capitulate to the demands by environmental activists. Instead of being satisfied with their success, they immediately shift their focus to the next thing that needs to be banned.

Not everything needs to be judged by its carbon footprint. People who like eating beef should be free to continue doing so.

Michael Zwaagstra is a teacher and deputy mayor of Steinbach. He can be reached at mzwaagstra@shaw.ca.