Sadly, the haunting stories these brave whistleblowers recall only scratch the surface of the horrors taking place out of sight, and largely out of mind, from the American public. Every day in the filthy aisles of factory farms and on the kill-floors of slaughterhouses, animals and workers alike suffer in silence.

It is easy to assure ourselves that we would never commit or tolerate such acts of cruelty if they occurred in our presence. Though, every time we eat we are essentially choosing whether or not we will hire factory farm and slaughterhouse workers to confine, mutilate, and kill animals in our name.

Choosing to adopt a vegetarian diet is simply a matter of living according to the values so many of us hold dear, such as being fair and kind to others. Few people would, in good conscience, cram eight egg-laying hens into a file drawer-sized cage, rip the testicles out of a screaming baby piglet, or throw live chickens into scalding water. How then, as compassionate individuals, can we justify paying others to carry out these atrocities on our behalf?

Each year, simply by making humane food choices, the average vegetarian spares approximately 95 animals the unspeakable suffering described by these industry insiders. Every time we eat, we are making a powerful choice that has profound consequences on the lives of animals. Please, choose compassion.

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