PETA wants IIT-B to consider complete meat ban

IIT-Bombay

The debate over non-vegetarian food served at the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-B) is nowhere close to coming to an end, with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India now joining the controversy. Two days after IIT-B claimed that it hadn't banned meat at any of its cafeterias, PETA has sent a letter to the premier technology institute asking it to consider banning meat.

A letter addressed to the director of IIT-B from PETA reads, "Everyone can eat vegan food, and it doesn't hurt anyone to do so. By contrast, the production of meat, eggs, and dairy products causes the suffering of billions of animals each year, contributes to antibiotic resistance and world hunger, damages the environment, and compromises the health of those who consume animal-derived foods. Serving vegan-only meals would help students consider that their own health, the environment, non-human species, and looking out for others matter - all invaluable lessons."

Encouraging the institute to go completely vegan, the letter concluded, "The nation needs esteemed institutions like yours to make decisions beneficial to society based on science, even if it generates debates and discussion and even if it would temporarily 'offend' meat addicts. Of course, there has never been positive social change without causing at least some offense to vested interests, but the damage caused by meat, egg, and dairy production and consumption should matter far more. Protecting the health of the public, animals, and the environment is absolutely the right thing to do." IIT-B is expected to issue a statement to this new development later today evening.

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