Bioethicists now reportedly want ticks to spread in order to make people allergic to meat. Yes, this is real.
A peer-reviewed paper titled Beneficial Bloodsucking was recently published in the journal Bioethics by two bioethicists, Parker Crutchfield and Blake Hereth of Western Michigan University.
In the paper, they argue that alpha-gal syndrome (AGS)—a meat allergy caused by certain tick bites—could force people to stop eating meat.
They frame AGS as a “moral bioenhancer,” a biological condition that promotes virtue by reducing meat consumption. Crazy right?!
AGS is an allergic reaction to a sugar molecule called alpha-gal, found in most mammal meat (like beef, pork, and lamb), as well as some animal-derived products.
It’s usually triggered after a bite from certain ticks, most notably the lone star tick in the U.S., which introduces alpha-gal into the bloodstream.
Once sensitized, your immune system can react hours after eating red meat, causing symptoms ranging from hives and digestive distress, to life-threatening anaphylaxis. Truly shocking right?!
Of course, the paper fails to acknowledge that red meat is incredibly nutritious and that its production can be hugely beneficial to the environment via regenerative agriculture and through the sequestration of carbon.
Breaking: Scientists Now Working With Ticks to Stop People From Eating Meat
This is not a dystopian movie plot. Researchers are openly suggesting that ticks—and the allergies they cause—could be leveraged to control human diets. Instead of encouraging people to eat nutrient-dense foods like beef, pork, and lamb, the idea is to let parasites do the work. The thought of scientists celebrating an epidemic of meat allergies is chilling, especially considering how vital meat has been for human survival.
What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
The authors behind this proposal claim eating meat is “morally impermissible.” Rather than acknowledging bio-individual needs, cultural traditions, or the scientific evidence showing meat’s benefits, they frame it as an ethical failing. Tying morality to forced illness is dangerous territory. When researchers begin talking about diseases as tools for shaping human behavior, the line between science and ideology gets blurred.
A Peer-Reviewed Paper Called Beneficial Bloodsucking
Yes, that’s the actual title. Published in Bioethics, it highlights just how far academic circles are willing to go to reframe health crises as opportunities. The idea that ticks, which spread debilitating conditions like Lyme disease, could be rebranded as “beneficial” is disturbing. To most of us, “bloodsucking” does not sound like a virtue.
A “Moral Bioenhancer”
The authors go further, labeling alpha-gal syndrome a “moral bioenhancer.” This term suggests that being forced into a meat-free life by ticks somehow makes people more ethical. Rather than respecting dietary freedom and human health, they push a bizarre narrative that celebrates suffering in the name of ideology.
AGS Triggered by Tick Bites
Alpha-gal syndrome is no abstract idea. It’s a real condition triggered by tick bites, most commonly from the lone star tick in the United States. The allergic reaction is delayed and unpredictable, which makes it especially dangerous. Some sufferers cannot tolerate any red meat, and severe cases risk life-threatening anaphylaxis. For these individuals, it’s not just about giving up burgers—it’s about living in fear of their next reaction.
Explosive Increase of Ticks
To make matters worse, tick populations have exploded in recent decades. Warmer temperatures, suburban sprawl, and land management practices have created the perfect breeding ground. Reports of tick-borne illnesses are skyrocketing, and alpha-gal syndrome cases are rising alongside them. This is not a quirky dietary shift. It’s a growing public health crisis.
No Acknowledgment of Meat’s Benefits
Unsurprisingly, the paper fails to mention that red meat is one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet. It overlooks regenerative agriculture, which shows how properly managed livestock can restore soil health and pull carbon from the atmosphere. Instead, the argument reduces meat to a moral failing, ignoring both science and sustainability.
Red Meat: Nature’s Multivitamin
Beef, lamb, and pork provide bioavailable iron, zinc, B12, creatine, and high-quality protein that plant foods simply cannot match in density or absorption. These nutrients support brain health, energy production, immune resilience, and muscle repair. Far from being a “moral failing,” eating meat is one of the most effective ways to nourish the body.
Cows Can Save the Planet
Regenerative ranching shows us another side of the story. Grazing cattle can restore degraded land, increase biodiversity, and sequester significant amounts of carbon in soil. Studies reveal that well-managed herds are not environmental villains but critical partners in reversing desertification and rebuilding ecosystems. Instead of demonizing cows, perhaps we should be looking at them as allies in healing both people and the planet.
Closing Thoughts
The idea of celebrating ticks as tools for moral enhancement shows how disconnected some corners of academia have become from reality. Meat allergies are devastating for those who suffer from them, not moral “bioenhancements.” Meat is one of humanity’s most nutrient-dense foods, and regenerative livestock systems can actually protect our environment. Demonizing meat while glorifying disease is not just misguided, it’s dangerous. Instead of relying on ticks to reshape diets, maybe it’s time to respect both human health and the land by putting real food—like beef—back at the center of the plate.
References
- Crutchfield, Parker, and Blake Hereth. "Beneficial Bloodsucking." Bioethics, vol. 39, no. 1, 2025, pp. 7–15.
- Platts-Mills, Thomas A. E., et al. "The Alpha-Gal Syndrome: The Impact of Tick Bites on Human Health." Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, vol. 147, no. 5, 2021, pp. 1550–1558.
- Raghavan, R. K., et al. "Explosive Rise in Tick-Borne Diseases in the United States." Emerging Infectious Diseases, vol. 26, no. 7, 2020, pp. 1417–1424.
- Lerner, Aaron, and Torsten Matthias. "Nutritional Benefits of Red Meat in Human Health." Nutrients, vol. 13, no. 9, 2021, pp. 3241.
- Teague, W. R., et al. "The Role of Ruminants in Reducing Agriculture’s Carbon Footprint in North America." Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, vol. 71, no. 2, 2016, pp. 156–164.
- Savory, Allan, and Jody Butterfield. Holistic Management: A Commonsense Revolution to Restore Our Environment. Island Press, 2016.