The National Turkey Federation, NTF has estimated that approximately 46 million turkeys are eaten at every Thanksgiving. The holiday is followed by 22 million turkeys at Christmas and 19 million at Easter. According to a report by NTF, 95 per cent of Americans who were surveyed eat turkey at Thanksgiving.
The COVID-19 pandemic could shave down actual turkey killings this year because families will have smaller gatherings. The New York Times reports that “All indications are that the holiday gatherings that used to bring together dozens of people to share one or two turkeys will be scuttled in favor of smaller celebrations.” Or, perhaps 46 million were killed, with a larger than normal portion being less than traditional turkey size.
And, perhaps smaller Thanksgiving celebrations will kick turkeys out of the kitchen altogether. Food & Wine suggests a long list of alternatives. These range from ham to cannelloni to capon. The magazine has 24 alternatives.
Some people would rather that there be no turkey at Thanksgiving dinner at all. PETA makes the argument that the life of a turkey is grim enough before it is killed. While wild turkeys mostly lead pleasant lives… “the story is very different for turkeys on factory farms: They’ll be killed when they’re only 3 to 5 months old and, during their short lives, will be denied even the simplest pleasures, such as running, building nests, and raising their young.” Their deaths add injury (permanent) to insult.
Credit : Republic World
Picture Credit : Google
