Category Archives: ethics

If you ate today, thank a farmer…and…?

Posted on June 6, 2011 by Chris MacDonald

Surely you’ve seen this bumper sticker: “If you ate today, thank a farmer.” That’s fine advice — farmers (of various kinds) play a key role in food production. But it’s also pretty narrow advice. It would be more accurate to … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, ethics, farmers | 4 Comments

Things that Matter: Drug Residue in Chinese Pork

Posted on March 28, 2011 by Chris MacDonald

You could tell a lot about your average foodie or food-safety advocate by asking them to list food-related issues by level of importance. Some people tend to focus on the latest feel-good trend (e.g., at least some versions of localism) … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, agriculture, animal welfare, ethics, factory farms, health, international, meat, safety | 4 Comments

Breast Milk Ice Cream?

Posted on February 26, 2011 by Chris MacDonald

From the BBC: Breast milk ice cream goes on sale in Covent Garden A restaurant in London’s Covent Garden is serving a new range of ice cream, made with breast milk. The dessert, called Baby Gaga, is churned with donations … Continue reading →

Posted in animal rights, animal welfare, ethics, milk, natural | 1 Comment

Monsanto Wins on Sugar Beets

Posted on February 25, 2011 by Chris MacDonald

By Karen Gullo, for Bloomberg: Monsanto Wins Reversal of Order to Destroy Sugar Beet Plants Monsanto Co. and the U.S. Agriculture Department won reversal of a judge’s order to destroy genetically modified sugar beet seedlings planted last year, a federal … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, biotechnology, ecosystems, ethics, genetic modification, GMO, law, USDA | Comments Off on Monsanto Wins on Sugar Beets

Ethical Ranking for Tuna

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Chris MacDonald

Tuna. It’s the type of fish most likely to be in the average pantry at any given moment. And it is perhaps the one fish that has most clearly been turned into something very like a true commodity. On your … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, aquaculture, ecosystems, endangered species, ethics, fisheries, sustainability | 1 Comment

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

Posted on January 30, 2011 by Chris MacDonald

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

Posted on January 27, 2011 by Chris MacDonald

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 | Comments Off on When Vegetarianism Was Patriotic

Fast Food Beef: What Matters?

Posted on January 25, 2011 by Chris MacDonald

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

Posted on January 13, 2011 by Chris MacDonald

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)

Posted on January 6, 2011 by Chris MacDonald

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