Dear future President,

So you may know that meat like steak, beef, chicken, and lamb are very beneficial to the body. But did you know that it's actually causing cancer, food poisoning, and many diseases from lack of control of the meat? First of all the quantity of meat eaten a day causes some health problems. Second of all the hormones injected into the animals and the chemicals in the food that the animals eat also causes health problems. Third of all the chemicals added to the meat that cannot be cooked out of the food.

Well the first thing that is causing health problems is the quantity of meat eaten a day. You may think that meat is good to eat every day, but in large quantities with all of the preservatives it is going to cause health problems.“The figure is a little hard to swallow: 1,996 pounds or nearly one ton. This is an estimate of how much — by weight — the average American eats over the course of one year.” according to Allison Aubry on npr.org. So we eat approximately 1 ton of meat every year (if you're not a vegetarian or vegan). But due to the mass intake, it is unhealthy and will cause problems like heart disease. This is because of the high fat content according to health class last year. Do you really want heart disease?I know what you're thinking that many people don't eat much meat, but the survey included vegans, vegetarians, and basically everyone in the United States of America.

Second of all, the hormones/ chemicals injected into the animal/meat is a huge gigantic part of the problem. “Heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are chemicals formed when muscle meat, including beef, pork, fish, or poultry,” says cancer.gov. Well, it turns out that all of those chemicals cause incurable cancer says cancer.gov again. I think that cancer is a big issue because of the fact that cancer can and will kill you. So you may say that it's a myth and they have never gotten it in their whole life. But also you may just be lucky. but you don't know if it will happen in the future, because it is very likely that it has already affected you internally and you may end up having symptoms that you don't even notice all from eating bad meat.

Finally, meat is not really healthy when cooked or uncooked. I bet you're asking, “Well couldn't I cook out the chemicals and it will still be healthy?” The answer is no. “According to cancer.gov, HCAs are formed when amino acids (the building blocks of proteins), sugars, and creatine (a substance found in muscle) react at high temperatures. PAHs are formed when fat and juices from meat grilled directly over an open fire drip onto the fire, causing flames. These volumes contain PAHs that then adhere to the surface of the meat. PAHs can also be formed during other food preparation processes, such as smoking of meats.” So it turns out whenever you cook meat it will cause it to release a horrible chemical that will cause cancer. So even if you did cook it for a long amount of time it would release the chemical. But I know you're saying, “Then I'll eat it raw.” But the problem with that is food poisoning and salmonella can lead to death.

You may ask, “How can I help this problem?” Well you can raise awareness by making ads and TV commercials everywhere to make sure that at least someone will pick up the information and walk it down to neighbor Jimmy. Then Jimmy gives it to his Bible study then his Bible study brings it to the school and the school brings it to children of America and the children will tell their parents and pretty much everyone will know about it. So you do have all the resources you need and all the information but you have the choice whether to take the information or to throw it away.

Sincerely, Ryan

Philpott, By Tom. "USDA Inspector General: Meat Supply Routinely Tainted with Harmful Residues." Grist. Grist.org, 16 Apr. 2010. Web. 29 Sept. 2016.http://grist.org/article/2010-04-15-usda-inspector-meat-supply-routinely-tainted-with-harmful-residu/

"Chemicals in Meat Cooked at High Temperatures and Cancer Risk." National Cancer Institute. Cancer.gov, 19 Oct. 2015. Web. 29 Sept. 2016.https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/diet/cooked-meats-fact-sheet

"FSIS." Additives in Meat and Poultry Products. Fsis.usda.gov, 24 Mar. 2015. Web. 29 Sept. 2016.http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/food-labeling/additives-in-meat-and-poultry-products/additives-in-meat-and-poultry-products

"Meat Safety." Meat Safety. Meatsafety.org, n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2016.http://www.meatsafety.org/ht/d/sp/i/26606/pid/26606