- Chris MacDonald is a Toronto-based ethicist, professor, speaker and consultant.
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Author Archives: Chris MacDonald
Energy Drinks Again — This Time, With Alcohol
I recently blogged about controversy over energy drinks, and particularly over marketing them to young people. Well, energy drinks are back in the news. And this time, they’ve got added booze. See: Caffeine and Alcohol Drink Is Potent Mix for … Continue reading
Prince Charles on Impending Agricultural Doom
Prince Charles — heir to the throne of England — has made a hobby of expressing opinions on everything from architecture to nanotechnology. For the most part, he lacks the requisite expertise to expound upon these topics, and so he … Continue reading
Posted in activism, advertising, factory farms
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“Yes Please” and “No Thanks” to Animal Welfare Labels
Some people want to know more about how their food is produced. On the other hand, some people really really don’t want to know more about how their food is produced. By William Neuman, writing for the NYT: New Way … Continue reading
Posted in agriculture, animal welfare, labeling, meat, values
2 Comments
Water-Efficient Maize and Alternative Models for GM Seeds
Yesterday’s blog entry (“In Praise of Industrialized Food”) pointed out that we shouldn’t discount entirely the value and potential of mass-produced food simply because so much of the mass-produced food currently available leaves much to be desired, nutritionally. Today’s is … Continue reading
Posted in agriculture, biotechnology, ethics, farmers, genetic modification, GMO, science
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In Praise of Industrialized Food
Check out this piece, by Rachel Laudan, in the Utne Reader: In Praise of Fast Food. (It’s worth noting right up front that the title of the piece is misleading. It’s not a defense of fast food, in the McDonalds … Continue reading
Posted in agriculture, ethics, factory farms, fast food, health, industrial, junk food, labour, natural, science, values
2 Comments
Portable Food Factories
Can the word “factory” ever be used in a food-related context in a way that doesn’t sound like a criticism? Can an chemical company ever produce something that could be welcomed by fans of local, organic agriculture? How about a … Continue reading
Posted in agriculture, ecosystems, factory farms, industrial, labour, organic, values
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What’s the Point of Urban Farming?
Some people’s enthusiasm for urban farming is downright infectious. See, for example, this article: Will Allen and The Urban Farming Revolution, by Ethan Zuckerman. Will Allen is redefining farming. His farm is a set of greenhouses in a corner of … Continue reading
Posted in activism, agriculture, aquaculture, ecosystems, environment, farmers, kids, labour, values
2 Comments
A Better Factory Farm?
A few weeks ago, I asked When is a Factory Farm Not a Factory Farm? I suggested that the problem with some factory farms (including especially the ones that played a central role in the recent salmonella outbreak) is that, … Continue reading
Posted in agriculture, animal welfare, ethics, factory farms, farmers, FDA, health, industrial, regulation, safety
2 Comments
Energy Drinks
Caffeine is popular. Most North American adults consume some every day, usually delivered via a hot beverage (coffee, espresso, cappuccino, tea, etc.). It’s very likely the world’s most widely-consumed drug. But it’s also entirely unregulated. Combine that fact with the … Continue reading
The Tragedy of the (Endangered) Tuna
I love tuna. But do I love tuna enough to help stop it from going extinct? According to CBC News: Tuna reviewed for endangered status Canadian scientists are reviewing whether to list Atlantic bluefin tuna as an endangered fish, concerned … Continue reading
Posted in aquaculture, ethics, fisheries, international, regulation
6 Comments
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