A common pattern between COVID-19 and many notable outbreaks is the origin having been a zoonotic infection. To prevent future pandemics and mitigate the spread of diseases, it is important to recognize the source of many infectious outbreaks: animal use and exploitation. Many individuals do not believe the exploitation of animals has any effect on human life, yet the global death toll from COVID-19, having now surpassed six million individuals, and the mortalities from past zoonotic outbreaks indicates otherwise. The increasing demand for animal protein continues to drive the emergence of zoonoses as animal agriculture systems have intensified their production and caused severe damages to global ecosystems. Animal products being widely viewed as a "necessity" has threatened the safety and health of agricultural workers. In addition to the zoonotic threats posed by animal consumption, it also increases the risk for developing chronic illnesses, which in turn makes an individual more susceptible to infections. Implementation of a plant-based diet would mitigate the spread of zoonoses, reverse the damages on global ecosystems, and overall improve global health.