This makes it sound like plant based diets are much crueler than they make out to be - but that harm is surely still an order of magnitude reduced compared to farming animals?

One is collateral damage (mice sucked up etc.) but the other is _premised_ on death.

> but that harm is surely still an order of magnitude reduced compared to farming animals?

Probably true if you compare it to conventional cattle farming, as they're largely fed corn from fields.

I suspect pasture raised, grass fed animals have a vastly lower deaths-per-bite count than a veggie burger, though. I don't know that I subscribe to the "accidental deaths matter less" argument, either.

A wild animal that inadvertently dies is not the same as a caged animal that is killed.

But yes, even plant foods incur animal suffering. Vegans know. Much, much less though.

> Pasture-raised grass-fed beef might come out way better in comparison.

If you consider a bugs life equal to a cows life: yes. Most people dont. I kill bugs when I drive my car, if I'd kill cows at the same rate as bug when driving, I'd stop driving.

I see this kind of whataboutism almost every time people discuss the ethics of meat consumption and the surrounding industries. If growing plants commercially kills animals in the process then that's something else to examine but it doesn't change the fact that meat based industries are usually incredibly cruel.