A Study of Facts and Statistics About Animal Testing in the Field of Food Safety

Food production is critical for the survival of humans. It ensures we get food and the food we eat does not harm us. While it sounds blissful, it is essential to note that before food substances get to us for consumption, a series of animal testing have occurred. In this procedure, the substances are injected into the laboratory specimens, applied on their skin, or forced down their throat. The laboratory specimens are observed for a certain period before the lab scientists conclude.

This article provides an overview of facts about animal testing for food safety. It is used not just to assess the viability and safety of food. It is used to try out new vaccines and experiment with new drugs, among other laboratory procedures. Is it worth confining living and breathing creatures to a gruesome series of pains? 

Facts and Statistics Regarding Animal Testing in Food Safety

The Facts and Statistics of animal testing for food production are pretty alarming. The biological differences between humans and these creatures are so distinct that, most times, what might not be harmful to these creatures harms humans. The facts and statistics are according to the National Institutes of Health. Each year, well over 110 million species, including rats, rabbits, monkeys, dogs, and fish, die in the name of animal experiments to give humans a better chance. With the number of trials, It is unproductive and a waste of innocent lives if 95 percent of all tried experiments on these creatures are unsuccessful in humans, especially in curing diseases. 

The real question now is, if these studies on livestock failed in curing diseases, what are the chances that it is effective in preventing infections from our food? Is this procedure even efficient in ensuring food safety? If there is a need to carry out more research to draw a convincing conclusion on experiments using mammals, that should not be an issue. Different online websites provide a free example that can be used to write a compelling argumentative essay on animal testing that will support your point. If you experience any difficulties with the research or when writing the paper, several samples on animal testing online can guide you to an appropriate essay. Whether it is on evaluating its effectiveness in food testing or clinical trials, find the best example to describe your opinion.

According to animal testing statistics, more than 93% of experimental drugs failed in their first human clinical trials after proving successful in pets. This fact is alarming because these creatures face strenuous procedures. In 2009, a survey found that only about 20% of laboratory specimens are given post-operative pain relief. Most of these creatures lose their lives during the operations. Others are injected with artificially created diseases that are not similar to those in humans, but will be sure to cause the same pain. These statistics beg the question, how many animals survive animal testing? Most times, none because that is the only reason more than 110 million die worldwide each year. 

Ethical Issues With Animal Testing

The ethical issues with animal testing for food production are numerous, but the major problem is that experiments are unreliable in predicting human outcomes. A virus that needs humans’ DNA to activate itself remains in its crystallized state if given to another creature with a different genome. However, this food is signed off as safe and becomes highly harmful to humans because of their biological, physiological, and anatomical composition differences. There are other ethical issues with animal experimentation on food products. They include the unnecessary suffering inflicted on these creatures and the fact that most of the benefits that require this procedure can be produced in other less destructive ways and even bring forth better results.

Exploring Alternatives to Animal Testing

This procedure has proven to be relatively unproductive and inefficient. For this reason, several alternatives to animal testing are being explored. If proven successful, they replace animal testing in food and even provide humans with safe food consumption. One option for this procedure includes using human materials to carry out experiments. Using human materials like tissues seems more sensible and goal driven than tests on mammals. However, several barriers and constraints exist to their feasibility and acceptance. 

So long as the constraints can be overcome with regulations to ensure appropriate safety and ethical conduct. Food safety will be based directly on human-based safety evolution rather than animal-based, providing reliable and adequate safety data.

A Final Word

Animal testing effects do not ensure adequate food safety. The trials may either work in these creatures and fail in humans, or the diseases are dormant in pets and highly active in the human body. Such a type of experiment uses laboratory rodents like rats and rabbits, pigs, and cows at times to test for the viability of certain substances to human health. With the facts and statistics, it is proven that it is unethical to continue food animal testing. It is best for both the lives of the creatures and humans if other productive and less destructive methods with 100% reliability have been used for evaluating food safety, clinical trials, and every other area that utilizes this procedure.