Sir, - I feel I must refute the claim of Dr Vivion Tarrant of Teagasc (May 8th), to the effect that red meat is harmless. Some years ago, I had a propensity to gout, and no, my name isn't Jiggs and I wasn't knocking back the port. The culprit? Red meat, the intake of which my doctor advised me to cut down drastically.
Having harboured, for years, a niggling guilt over eating animals in the first place (very common amongst carnivores, if they be honest with themselves), I decided to take the bull by the horns, go the whole hog as it were, and cease my consumption of meat entirely. Initially. it wasn't easy - not only had I to find protein rich substitutes (although, thankfully, there are many excellent specialist products on the market nowadays), but also, I had to "come out" as far as incredulous acquaintances were concerned, and convince them that this wasn't another fad, or even a practical joke. Now, I must say, friends are helpful, supportive, and interested in the path I have chosen to take.
And the bottom line - my general health? I need far less sleep, have much more energy, and the consensus is that I have a more "laid back" attitude now than heretofore - my sister calls me "her new brother"! I put this down emphatically to no longer having hormones, antibiotics, and sweepings from abattoir floors coursing through my body. - Yours, etc.,
Castle Avenue,
Dublin 3.