Turkey is the one essential on nearly every Thanksgiving table setup, but in light of the ethical and environmental disaster surrounding the poultry, you should consider the consequences before you start roasting your bird.

More than 46 million turkeys are expected to be killed for Thanksgiving this year, according to the National Turkey Federation. Many of these turkeys are raised on factory farms, where thousands of birds are packed into a crowded production facility and are bred to grow larger and faster than wild turkeys. Yes, even your iconic Butterball likely comes from a factory farm, and the company has been caught up in a cruelty scandal in the past.

You can buy organic, free-range turkeys that are raised in the idyllic pastures we picture in our minds. But factory farms are the only way companies can cheaply and efficiently meet the United States’ high demand for turkey, making responsibly raised turkeys too expensive for the average American family.

Worse than the conditions of factory farms is how they harm the environment. With so many turkeys producing so much waste, wastewater is often discharged into the surrounding area. This wastewater can unfortunately contaminate local communities’ water sources, and nearby soil suffers due to poor manure management. This makes waste contamination the most significant environmental issue resulting from slaughterhouse operations, according to a study from the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization.

But you and your family don’t have to contribute to this disaster this year. There are plenty of non-turkey options to fill your table and your stomachs. I usually replace turkey with extra servings of stuffing and mashed potatoes, but if you miss that traditional turkey flavor, you can try one of dozens of vegetarian turkey recipes.

You can also do more than refuse to contribute to the problem. Upstate New York is home to the Farm Sanctuary, which houses factory farm survivors. You can donate time to the sanctuary or just take a tour and visit the 500 rescued animals they house — something that is sure to change your mind on supporting factory farms.

No matter how big of a step you want to take, this year you should start by pledging to pass on the turkey.

Allison Weis is a freshman newspaper and online journalism major. Her column appears biweekly. She can be reached at [email protected].

Published on November 20, 2017 at 8:51 pm