The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), an animal-rights front group claiming to be a medical charity, launched a media campaign this week featuring reckless charges about health risks supposedly connected with eating meat.
Today the Center for Consumer Freedom noted that “PCRM has asserted itself as a home for anti-meat, pro-vegan nutritionists who are committed to removing beef, dairy, poultry, and other animal products from the American diet for good.”
The established medical community has soundly rejected PCRM’s dietary advice in the past. The American Medical Association (AMA) has written that it “finds the recommendations of PCRM irresponsible and potentially dangerous to the health and welfare of Americans.” In a separate public censure, the AMA marveled at “how effectively a fringe organization of questionable repute continues to hoodwink the media with a series of questionable research that fails to enhance public health.”
PCRM has long-standing ties with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which has funneled it over $850,000. PCRM president Neal Barnard, a non-practicing psychiatrist, co-chairs the PETA Foundation with PETA co-founder Ingrid Newkirk.
“Most Americans are too smart to knowingly take dietary advice from PETA,” CCF noted. “But when animal-rights activists put on the sheep’s clothing of the medical profession, it becomes harder to know who’s credible. Force-feeding animal-rights propaganda to Americans doesn’t sound very ‘responsible.’“