The cost of cows: Why we are all paying the price of the meat industry
When burgers are cheaper than salads, it seems simple why the western world is so reluctant to give up meat, even with an influx of new animal-free protein options – it comes down to dollars and cents. With the average price of a Big Mac in America at $5.15, meat-centered fast foods are considered the epitome of affordable eating. But in reality, that burger costs more than you think. In fact, without government subsidies, a pound of hamburger meat would be $30. And while consumers may not be spending that much upfront, we are all paying for factory farming externalities in other ways.
