On Monday, July 23rd, the USDA released its monthly Greening Headquarters Update to employees (an internal document.) In between updates on office sustainability initiatives, the newsletter encouraged readers to give Meatless Monday a try by sampling some of the options available in USDA cafeterias. That didn’t last particularly long.
The newsletter referred to United Nations data that cites animal agriculture as a major source of greenhouse gases and climate change. USDA spokeswoman Cortney Rowe now says the department does not endorse the “Meatless Monday” initiative, which is part of a global public health campaign.
The agency removed the posting hours after the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association denounced it in a news release. The USDA often promotes the beef industry by encouraging Americans to eat meat.
Wouldn’t it be nice if the USDA had the well-being of the citizenry in mind, rather than the profits of the meat industry? How transparent of them.