Category Archives: values

The Complex Politics of Food Ethics

Here’s a useful short piece by James McWilliams, writing for The Atlantic: Meat: What Big Agriculture and the Ethical Butcher Have in Common I’ve repeatedly argued that supporting alternatives to the industrial production of animal products serves the ultimate interest … Continue reading

Posted in agriculture, animal rights, animal welfare, ethics, meat, values | Leave a comment

Backyard Chicken Ethics

As far as food goes, you can’t get much more “local” than raising chickens in your own backyard. But many cities forbid the practice. Zoning laws generally prescribe where you can and cannot raise animals for food. But such laws … Continue reading

Posted in agriculture, kids, law, local, urban farming, values | 2 Comments

The Ethics of the Cost of Ethical Food

It’s bad if high prices get in the way of eating a) well or b) ethically, and there are plenty of myths about both. And today alone I’ve read two interesting pieces on the price of food. First, the NYT’s … Continue reading

Posted in consumerism, ethics, farmers markets, local, marketing, organic, prices, values | 3 Comments

Is Smaller More Ethical, or Less?

The food world’s fascination with small-scale production of bespoke edibles shows no sign of waning. See, for example, this piece by Emma Sturgess, for The Guardian: From small seeds grow big ideas There are David and Goliath battles in all … Continue reading

Posted in agriculture, ethics, factory farms, farmers, industrial, sustainability, values

Would You Like Your Synthetic Meat GM or Non-GM?

This news story is not exactly news. We already know that synthetic meat is under development in various labs around the world. But it does raise a fresh issue or two. By Harriet McLeo, for Reuters: South Carolina scientist works … Continue reading

Posted in animal welfare, biotechnology, ethics, genes, GMO, industrial, meat, natural, science, synthetic meat, values | 9 Comments

When Vegetarianism Was Patriotic

I snapped this picture at MOMA over the weekend: It’s a World War II propaganda poster for the British War Office / Ministry of Food. The caption says, “A vegetable dish made with dried eggs or household milk is as … Continue reading

Posted in ethics, public policy, values, vegetarianism

Fast Food Beef: What Matters?

According to emoneydaily.com, McDonald’s is raising prices to reflect increases in the cost of beef: McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) Chief Financial Officer Pete Bensen said, “As commodity and other cost pressures become more pronounced as we move throughout the year, we will … Continue reading

Posted in ethics, fast food, labeling, meat, prices, values | 4 Comments

The Farmed Salmon Feed Controversy & Consumer Responsibility

Here’s an interesting video & writeup about the controversy over the production of fishmeal for the feeding of farmed salmon. From The Ecologist: farmed salmon feed controversy. The video & accompanying text focus on Peru, and in particularly on the … Continue reading

Posted in choice, consumerism, ethics, fisheries, regulation, values | 2 Comments

Horse Meat (again)

Two days ago I blogged about Horse Meat Ethics. I discussed the fact that eating horse is considered taboo (in many places), and that slaughtering horses is illegal in the U.S., despite the fact that a) horse is widely eaten … Continue reading

Posted in activism, agriculture, animal rights, animal welfare, ethics, meat, values | 1 Comment

Wildlife Farming in Vietnam

This is an interesting bit about value conflict. In particular, it’s about the dangers of focusing on “natural” foods, when those “natural” foods are either endangered or en route to being so. Here’s the story, by Rachel Nuwer, for Science: … Continue reading

Posted in agriculture, ethics, health claims, marketing, meat, organic, public policy, values, wildlife