06/10/11 Tofu Sandwiches Better for the Police
Reaction to police officers getting food poisoning because of ham sandwiches
- A proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs to introduce Green Monday in the police
If the police officers had had tofu or plant-based salami sandwiches during the Pope Benedict XVI's mass, they would have avoided food poisoning or, at worst, had much less health-related difficulties. Namely, the foods of plant origin are less perishable and, most importantly, plant food poisoning is mostly harmless in relation to food poisoning of animal origin which can be fatal.
In addition, healthy sandwiches full of delicious vegetable protein could contribute to better health, vitality and strength of our police officers. "Police sandwiches with tofu" would be at all times safer and healthier meals.
Numerous studies have confirmed that the usual meat diet of Western cultures is associated with the currently most common diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, circulatory problems, rheumatism, arthritis, neurodermatitis and certain types of cancer.
According to the Ministry of Health and the Croatian Institute for Public Health, the leading causes of deaths in Croatia are cardiovascular diseases and cancer, both of which are largely related to diet. The traditional widespread use of red meat and meat products in the diet of Croatians is particularly unhealthy because researches associate it with the increased risk of colon cancer.
Numerous studies have shown an connection between obesity and increased chance of developing breast, colon, liver, pancreas and bladder cancer. Croatians are especially negligent towards their health because, according to the World Health Organization, 90% of Croatian population consumes less fruit and vegetables than the recommended amount, and Croatia is the 9th country in the world in frames of obese population with 61.4% of obese residents.
It is therefore crucial for all groups of citizens, especially the police, to eat a healthy, nutritionally balanced diet, which will provide them with health and a good physical condition. Foods of plant origin contain valuable nutritional ingredients and enable the performance of the most demanding tasks with ease and contribute to improving health and maintaining a balanced weight. Tofu and vegan salami sandwiches would undoubtedly be much healthier for the police and a safer choice than ham.
Animal Friends will send a proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs to introduce the iniciative Green Monday to police officers. Green Monday is a campaign by Animal Friends and the City of Zagreb which helps people improve their health and the health of the environment by switching to a plant-based diet at least one day a week. The campaign was introduced in many countries among their citizens as well as the employees and customers of public institutions.
More information about the Green Monday campaign and the plant-based diet can be found at www.zeleni-ponedjeljak.com and www.animal-friends-croatia.org.