Vegetarianism isn't the only way
Dan Williams, Concord
Her claim that eating meat and fish puts you at greater risk of contracting bacterial infection doesn't hold much weight after recent outbreaks of e. coli, salmonella and eosinophilic meningitis related to spinach, tomatoes and raw vegetable juice. It's not about what you eat - it's the cleanliness and freshness of what you eat that matters.

Morgan argues that eating commercially produced meat is unhealthy, and I am inclined to agree. But her letter fails to mention that there are other options.

There's buying local, for instance. Purchasing locally produced meat - like local produce - helps the local economy, is much healthier and benefits the environment. Think of the fossil fuels that are burned each year carting tofu across the country, for example. That's something that vegetarians seem reluctant to consider when they put forth their lifestyle as superior.

You can also procure your own protein. Game meats are higher in protein and good cholesterol and lower in fat than commercially raised beef, pork or chicken. Freshly caught fish is high in valuable Omega 3s. Mercury may be a concern with fish if you're a pregnant or nursing mother or child - but there are many species of fish that are safe to consume if you fall into one of these demographics.

I engage in the previously stated activities because I enjoy them and because by doing them I'm helping to protect the environment. But I would never be as bold as Morgan and the other anti-meat writers have been in telling you what you should or should not eat.

DAN WILLIAMS

Concord