The Business Bytes
By Vaisnoee Mohanty
Plastic pollution is no longer just an environmental concern—it has become a growing threat to both livestock and human health. In urban areas across developing nations, stray cattle are increasingly falling victim to plastic waste, with devastating consequences for the animals and dangerous ripple effects through the food chain.
Veterinarians are raising alarms over a condition called ruminal impaction, caused by the accumulation of indigestible plastic in the stomachs of ruminants. Slaughterhouse studies in countries like India, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Nigeria have revealed a grim reality: up to 80% of cattle in cities have plastic trapped in their digestive systems.
Stray cattle, often abandoned and left to forage for food, resort to scavenging through roadside garbage heaps filled with plastic bags, food wrappers, and other non-biodegradable waste. Unable to digest these materials, the plastic remains in their rumen — the first compartment of their stomach — forming solid masses that block nutrient absorption. Over time, this leads to severe malnutrition, chronic bloating, infections, internal damage, and ultimately, death due to starvation or toxicity.
“The biggest challenge is that plastic doesn’t break down. Once an animal eats it, it remains in their stomach for life, slowly suffocating them from the inside,” says Dr. Jyoti Bhushan, a final-year veterinary student at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bareilly.
But the problem doesn’t stop with cattle. There are serious implications for humans as well. Scientific studies have detected harmful substances such as bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates, and heavy metals in the milk and meat of cattle that consumed plastic. These toxic chemicals are linked to hormonal disruptions, fertility issues, developmental disorders, and even cancer in humans.
This is a clear case of plastic pollution infiltrating the food chain. Environmental researchers warn that if plastic continues to make its way into livestock feed, we are, in effect, poisoning ourselves.
Zooming out, the issue points to two underlying causes: poor waste management and unplanned urbanisation. The increasing number of plastic-related cattle deaths is symptomatic of larger systemic failures. In many cities, waste disposal systems are either inadequate or poorly enforced, resulting in mountains of uncollected plastic waste. Compounding this, restrictions on slaughtering cattle in countries like India have led to a surge in abandoned animals, many of which end up scavenging through city waste for survival.
Experts are calling for urgent, multi-pronged action. First, stricter waste management laws must be enforced. Municipal authorities need to ramp up plastic waste collection, recycling, and implementation of anti-littering regulations. Second, public awareness campaigns must be launched to educate citizens on the consequences of careless plastic disposal, especially its impact on animal welfare and food safety. Third, the establishment of safe, designated grazing zones for abandoned cattle can help prevent them from feeding in hazardous urban environments. Lastly, a systemic shift toward biodegradable alternatives and reduced plastic dependency is essential to tackle the root of the problem.
The sight of cows chewing on plastic-strewn streets is not just an eyesore — it’s a warning sign of a deeper, looming public health crisis. If swift action isn’t taken, we risk not only the lives of countless animals but also the contamination of our own food supply.
It’s time for policymakers, industries, and individuals to step up. The price of inaction is one we simply cannot afford.
(The author is an undergraduate student at the School of Communications, XIM University, Bhubaneswar.)
