Every day, millions of Americans unknowingly support a system built on suffering. Behind neatly packaged cuts of meat at the grocery store lies a hidden world of overcrowded cages, forced growth, and overlooked cruelty. With 99% of animals raised for food living on industrial farms, the convenience of cheap meat comes at a much higher cost: one paid in animal welfare, public health, and moral consequence.
According to Pew Research, 59% of Americans who eat little to no organic foods. Most fast food chains, including McDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Hut, and Nando’s, also rely on suppliers with poor animal welfare practices according to World Animal Protection’s 2021 Pecking Order report. Yet many consumers remain unaware that the convenience of cheap meals is tied to inhumane practices and mass-scale factory farming.
According to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), 99% of animals raised for food in the U.S. live on massive industrial “factory farms.” In these facilities, animals are often confined to tiny cages and crowded spaces. They’re pumped full of antibiotics to survive unsanitary conditions and grow faster for slaughter. Practices such as selective breeding can lead to painful organ or bone issues.
A typical egg-laying hen, for example, spends her entire life in a space smaller than a sheet of paper. Broiler chickens – raised for meat – rarely see daylight and often suffer from genetic manipulation that leaves them unable to stand properly. These inhumane conditions persist because they are profitable.
So what can consumers do?
Some people find it difficult to fully eliminate animal products, especially with how common fast food chains are. But there are more moderate steps that still make an impact. For example, purchasing welfare-certified meat from local farms helps support humane practices. Reading labels also matters – although terms like “natural” and “cage-free” can be misleading. Cage-free” does not necessarily mean animals were treated well, and “natural” only refers to the absence of artificial ingredients artificial ingredients, not living conditions.
West Chicago Community High School junior Kody Leano admits he does not think much about where his food comes from.
“At the end of the day, I just eat the food,” Leano said. “It’s usually whichever option is the cheapest.”
His classmate, Nicholas Roskilly, feels similarly, but believes cost is the biggest obstacle.
“Financially, my family more aims toward the cheaper side of what we can buy… If we could get organic foods or something like that, that would be a healthier alternative,” Roskilly said. “But I have no idea if the stuff we’re getting has animal abuse tied to it.”
For many families, inflation and tight budgets mean that higher-welfare food products are out of reach. This is where public policy could play a role. Stronger regulations, better oversight, and clearer labeling could help consumers make more informed choices without paying a premium.
“I think a lot of companies try to ride as low as they can to keep prices down,” Roskilly said. “But in terms of thinking about the animals, I think it would be better if the FDA regulated things in a way that focused more on animal health.”
The truth is, people are often unaware of what goes into getting meat, milk, or eggs onto their plates. As animal rights volunteer Michael Toub told the Wildcat Chronicle at an awareness event during the autumn, “Once young people regard animals as someone, not something, it changes everything… It’s hard to unsee it once you know.”
Animal cruelty will not end overnight: but with awareness and small shifts in behavior, consumers can begin to drive change.
