Two scientists recently proposed a wacky idea that’s made me question if they’ve ever stepped out of their office.

Western Michigan University's "Medical Ethics" professors, Parker Crutchfield and Blake Hereth, published this article:

In short, they want people to get bitten by ticks that make them allergic to red meat.

Why?

Well, according to them, consuming red meat is "morally impermissible."

They authors suggest that Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS)—a tick-borne allergy that makes you react to red meat—could actually be a “moral good.”

Here’s what they’re talking about.

What is Alpha-Gal Syndrome?

Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS) is triggered when certain ticks, like the Lone Star tick in the U.S., inject a sugar molecule called alpha-gal into your system.

That molecule is also found in beef, pork, lamb, and other mammalian foods.

The result?

Your body treats red meat like an allergen.

Symptoms can range from hives and digestive distress to full-blown anaphylaxis. For some, it’s life-altering.

Why This Argument Misses the Point

The paper argues that if eating meat is “immoral,” then spreading AGS might actually be ethically justified.

But here’s what they ignore:

1. Red meat is one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet. 

It provides heme iron, B vitamins, and bioavailable protein that plant-based diets struggle to replicate.

2. Regenerative cattle farming restores ecosystems.

Properly managed herds rebuild soil, recycle nutrients, and even capture carbon.

3. Forcing allergies is extremely weird and cruel

It robs people of choice, undermines health, and turns personal nutrition into a political weapon.

Academics and “science” don’t always have the answer unfortunately.

That’s why the responsibility comes back to us: to protect health with real food, to defend choice against control, and to separate genuine biology from political agendas.

Because the truth is simple—red meat isn’t the problem.

Weak science and misguided ideology are.

Until next time,

Kashif Khan

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