He said he couldn't be party to the industrial treatment of animals involved in dairy production. In addition to his writing, he also founded EarthSave, a health organization promoting the link between food and the environment. Choices made at the grocery store affect the body and the planet, Robbins said. Consuming animal products can lead to deforestation and disease. As more land is needed to raise enough livestock to meet demands, forests are being cut down.
Studies also link heart disease to high fat and cholesterol, which meat contains.
Others disagree with details of his theories. Many facts Robbins presents in his acclaimed book are exaggerated, coming from unfounded sources, Phillips said. Through research of his own, Phillips discovered much of Robbins' reporting came from unpublished documents and unreliable sources. Matt Lasley, who heads the Minneapolis chapter of EarthSave, defended Robbins by saying the dispute centers on the cattle-raising practices in the different states where each researcher got his information. There's been a lot of controversy over his statistics.