I do not have anything against vegetarians as a whole. l could cite statistic after statistic stating reasons why vegetarianism can actually be harmful for humans.

I could cite studies stating that there are no scientifically proven benefits from eating vegetarian diets. But I have always figured vegetarians make a choice, and I should respect that choice even when I don’t understand it.

However, I do feel a need to respond when I see outrageous myths purported in the newspaper surrounding the meat industry and vegetarianism. Jonquil Wegmann stated myth after myth in her October 17 column. The majority of her article can be proven false by doing a little research on the meat industry.

Wegmann stated that meat production gulps almost 50 percent of all water consumed in the U.S. for any purpose. This is false.

According to the United States Geological Survey’s National Water Survey for 1987, total water use in the United States is 338 million gallons per day. Agricultural water use accounts for 41.8 percent of that water used and 97 percent of that is used for crop irrigation.

Only 3 percent is used for livestock consumption. The American Waterworks Association offers another comparison cited in November 1994. Processing a quarter- pound of hamburger requires one gallon of water, while processing a can of vegetables requires almost ten gallons of water.

Wegmann also stated that pesticide residues in livestock are harmful to human consumers. According to Dr. C. Everett Koop, former U.S. Surgeon General, the U.S. food supply is without question the safest in the world.

The food supply contains one-quarter of 1 percent of the allowable daily intake of pesticide residues. The annual residue summary data published by the United States Department of Agriculture continually shows beef does not contain violative pesticide residues.

There is no reason not to eat meat because of a fear of pesticides. Humans daily consume 1,500 milligrams of pesticides produced naturally by plants and only 0.09 milligrams of synthetic pesticide residues as stated in the September 1990 issue of Science magazine. Another myth promoted by Wegmann involves the use of animal growth promotion. Cattlemen implant steers with growth-promoting hormones approved for use by the USDA.

The compounds implanted occur naturally in the animal’s body, such as testosterone and estrogen. Because of the implants, the animals reach market weight earlier and have more lean meat and less fat. The Food Safety and Inspection Service’s routine testing program has found no evidence of illegal residue levels of any of the three synthetic hormones for which cattle are tested.

The Winter 1990 issue of Food News for Consumers found that a 16-ounce steak from a treated animal contains fewer hormones than those naturally present in a pat of butter.

Wegmann states that eating meat is not in harmony with nature and more people could survive if the world did not eat meat. Dr. L.M. Schake, professor of animal science at Texas Tech conducted a study that found the maximum sustainable population of humans would only be approximately 20 to 30 million people if hunting and gathering hadn’t been replaced with organized agriculture.

The ability of animals to convert forages into protein makes them a valuable part of any sustainable agriculture system.

Dr. J.M. Oltjen, professor at the University of California, conducted a study finding that humans receive 28 to 59 percent of the energy fed to beef cattle and 52 to 104 percent of protein.

I could go on refuting each of Wegmann’s points in her column, but I think the point has been made. I respect Wegmann’s right to live her life as a vegetarian and I expect the same right granted to me for eating meat.

I also expect that if she chooses to promote her vegetarian views, to use current statistics and research the topic accurately.

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Christa Jensen

Senior

Journalism