- Chris MacDonald is a Toronto-based ethicist, professor, speaker and consultant.
-
Recent Posts
Archives
-
Join 105 other subscribers
Other Blogs I Write
Blogs Related to Food Ethics
Meta
Category Archives: ethics
Fairtrade Coffee Battle
The British papers are having it out over fairtrade coffee this week: Here’s the first volley, from Sean Poulter, writing for the Daily Mail: Unfair trade: Ethical food ‘is not lifting Third World farmers out of poverty’ Sales of its … Continue reading
Posted in certifiction, ethics, fairtrade, labeling
1 Comment
Food Eco Labels vs Legislation
When is choice good? Do labels do enough to help us make good choices? When is legislation required? Should legislation facilitate good decisions, or force them? See this story, by Harry Wallop, for the Daily Telegraph: Food eco labels not … Continue reading
Posted in certifiction, choice, environment, ethics, labeling, regulation, values
Comments Off on Food Eco Labels vs Legislation
Beer as Taxidermy
I guess if you’re going to push your luck in terms of social objections to your product, you might as well push hard. In particular, if you’re going to produce a beer (typically a low-alcohol beverage) with 55% alcohol, you … Continue reading
Posted in alcohol, animal rights, ethics, marketing
Comments Off on Beer as Taxidermy
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
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
Comments Off on Water-Efficient Maize and Alternative Models for GM Seeds
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
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
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
Peter Singer in Vegetarianism Debate
I’m not sure which factor does more to make this a lopsided debate: the fact that it was an audience of university students, the fact that it was a self-selected audience that probably showed up already sympathetic to one side, … Continue reading
Posted in animal rights, animal welfare, ethics, health, meat, nutrition, vegan, vegetarianism
Comments Off on Peter Singer in Vegetarianism Debate
Eat Your Veggies!
I love vegetables. In fact, I never met a vegetable I didn’t like (except ones that are poorly prepared), and veggies make up most of my diet. Alas, the same cannot be said for everyone. See this story, by Kim … Continue reading
The Food Ethics Blog 