Anyone who's still eating meat in the wake of the latest E. coli outbreak -- which has killed two people and sickened dozens more -- must have a death wish.

Nearly 546,000 pounds of potentially contaminated ground beef were distributed to at least eight states, including Maine.

This isn't the first time -- and it likely won't be the last -- that tainted meat has been shipped throughout the United States, endangering public safety.

Of course, even when meat isn't contaminated with E. coli, it's still not safe to eat.

It's high in saturated fat and cholesterol and has been conclusively linked to heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and certain types of cancer.

Meat-eaters are a whopping nine times more likely to be obese than vegans are.

And since harmful E. coli bacteria live in the intestines and feces of animals, we'd all be better off if we stopped raising animals for food.

See www.GoVeg.com for more information and a free vegetarian starter kit.

Heather Moore

Research Specialist

People for the Ethical Treatment

of Animals

Norfolk, Va.