10 Butchers

If you grow up in the Bay Area, like me, you live for the intoxicating experience of Korean BBQ. But how often do we reflect on the effects of decadent meat eating in our culture?

“These cows are being fed unhealthy and toxic foods, and when they die, it passes on to us.”

I was at one of the hottest Korean restaurants in the Bay Area called 10 Butchers, waiting for my food. My mouth started drooling as I saw the beauty coming my direction. It was one of my favorite dishes, yangnyeom galbi, a Korean short-rib pork that is coated with a sweet and tangy sauce. The waiter had to first sear it, cut it, and then finally put it on my plate as my stomach grumbled. As I took the first bite, I felt ecstatic as the caramelized pork melted on my tongue. Once everyone got their dishes, my mom and sister the fermented soybean paste stew and my dad the chadolbaegi, everyone started to dig in, putting their chopsticks everywhere, and eating pounds and pounds of the juicy, tender meat. Growing up in the Bay Area means eating some of the best foreign cuisines the world can offer. 

Now that I’m getting older, however, I’m starting to think more about the story behind the food we eat. Don’t get me wrong, meat is full of protein and very good for our bodies; however, we never think about the animals that get slaughtered for us. Although meat and other foods made of animals can be very good and healthy to the human body, we also need to care about the animals that are sacrificing their life for us. In 50 years, my vision for my Bay Area community is eating less meat and taking good care of animals.

I myself am a meat eater. I live with a family that loves to eat meat. However, I never seemed to like it as much as they did, imagining the poor cows and pigs getting slaughtered. These cows are being fed unhealthy and toxic foods, and when they die, it passes on to us. The antibiotics and chemicals goes into our bodies, which can lead to sickness. Recently, Central Valley Meat Co. in Hanford California has been shut down again after an undercover investigation. They found that the cows were being being abused. The farmers would grab the cows by their tails if they were sick and not walking, and would even taze them.

Fortunately, a large amount of people have been helping out. One really good way is by making fake meat with plants, which is exactly what many companies are doing. Two really famous brands are “Impossible Foods” and “Beyond Beef”, both with headquarters in California, which are making a giant impact on the meat industry. 

In 50 years, we can make amazing changes. Being more conscious about the food we eat is not only a great way to end animal cruelty, but it is also good for us. That is why more and more people have been cutting meat from their diets, to save themselves and the animals from being slaughtered and abused. So the next time you’re going to eat meat, try thinking about the impact your bite is going to have on your community.