March 18, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:           
Tiffany Keb, 495-3873
Representative, SACA

THE GREAT AMERICAN MEATOUT

Students urge UT community to “kick the meat habit”

Members of Students Against Cruelty to Animals will give away free vegan food to students March 20, on the South Mall from 11 am- 1pm, as part of the 18^th Annual Great American Meatout.

In over two thousand communities in all 50 states and several foreign countries groups are holding similar events to promote a healthy, compassionate, environmentally-sustainable diet.

Members of SACA have received food donations from local businesses and are preparing over 150 individual servings of veggie burgers, fajitas, sandwiches, cookies and fruit. SACA members are urging students and faculty to sign the Meatout pledge and go vegetarian for a day, week, month or lifetime.

“With all the restaurants and products available in Austin, it’s easier than ever to kick the meat habit and go veg,” said Will Potter, journalism senior. “People are realizing the consequences of eating meat, and the destructive effects it has on life, the environment and our health.”

SACA has held Meatout “feed-ins” for three years on the UT campus, and each year is bigger and more successful than the last. This reflects changes in dietary trends in the U.S.

*More than 30 million Americans have explored a meatless diet.
*Beef and veal consumption have dropped by 25 and 70 percent, respectively.
*Major manufacturers and retailers are marketing meatless meals (Burger King is launching a new vegan burger at all of their restaurants).

The Great American Meatout was started by FARM, a national public-interest nonprofit organization. Individual events are planned and conducted by local consumer and animal protection groups around the world.

For more info. visit www.meatout.org and www.UTanimalrights.com

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