PETA letter to schools ‘outrageous’

The recent letter from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to Tasmanian schools is a political stunt pushing their anti-farmer sentiments onto teachers and parents.

Meat is a valuable source of protein which is essential for proper muscle and brain development.

Most people understand the health benefits of a balanced diet, and the need to establish healthy eating habits from an early age.

PETA should stop stirring up trouble in school communities by spreading deceptive messages.

I urge teachers, parents and students to ignore this letter.

• Claire Fryer, Claire DiCarlo: The Education Minister could use an education in nutrition himself

• Kate Mascall in Comments: We have known for a long time that a plant based diet is optimal for human health. Mr Rockliff’s response shows pure ignorance on his part of the detrimental health impacts of consuming animal products, the negative impacts on the environment and of course the immoral exploitation of billions of animals worldwide each year. As a primary school teacher and a vegan, I found the daily food choices pushed in schools to be frustrating and disappointing. And on one hand we teach compassion and empathy and a love for the Earth and the species that inhabit it, while on the other, we keep quiet the daily violent slaughter and abuse of thousands of animals each day and the overwhelmingly negative impact our food choices have on the environment.

• Scott in Comments: Typical emotive, guilt-inducing unbalanced output from another holier-than-thou crew. Don’t want your kids to eat processed meat at school? Simple – pack their lunch and and avoid the canteen. Don’t support the “sausage-sizzle” fundraiser or join P&F and ensure a vegetarian/gluten-free/dairy-free/lactose-free/nitrate-free option is available (sorry I forgot, you are too busy doing important self-fulfilling things). Oh, but doing that might make your child feel different or not as included – guess what – they are part of a minority! They are not wrong, but they are different to the majority of their peers. Not your job to tell me to change my choices or beheviour so that you feel better about yours. What a week on TT. First the anti-vaxxers, now the “meat is murder” mob.

• Molliemouse in Comments: A meat eating politician promoting brain development? That is so funny. Minister Rockliff has some serious homework to do. Dear oh dear!