Carnism

"Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows" by Melanie Joy is another book that focuses on both factory farms, the meat industry, and eating habits.  The author is convinced that knowledge, or simply transparency, would alter the behavior of many meat eaters -- and also egg and milk consumers.  She suggests a Surgeon General's warning on all meat.   The title is provocative.  We are taught to love dogs and eat pigs, and thus most Americans think, incorrectly, that dogs are smarter than pigs. Similarly, pigs roll in the mud not because they enjoy filth, but because, lacking sweat glands, that is the only way to dump excess heat.  One interesting observation is that factory farms are often in remote locations, and this contributes to our ignorance and indifference to animal welfare.