Category Archives: local

Backyard Chicken Ethics

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Chris MacDonald

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

Posted on September 25, 2011 by Chris MacDonald

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

Children, Food, and Indoctrination

Posted on December 14, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

A few weeks back, this video of a precocious kid talking about the ethics of food made the rounds. I wasn’t sure what to say about it. I guess it’s finally time. I don’t like to pick on kids, but … Continue reading →

Posted in advertising, agriculture, children, consumerism, ethics, factory farms, farmers, genetic modification, health claims, industrial, kids, local, marketing, meat, organic, values | 4 Comments

Are Self-Righteous Foodies Self-Defeating?

Posted on November 13, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

Here’s a lovely, thoughtful piece from NYT food blogger Peter Meehan: Grass Fed | A Few Beefs The piece consists of 3 anecdotes. In each, Meehan — himself a serious foodie — is either subjected to, or sees someone else … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, ethics, local, meat, values | Comments Off on Are Self-Righteous Foodies Self-Defeating?

Food Labelling and Discrimination

Posted on August 5, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

Food labelling is generally thought of as kind of an obviously good thing. Labelling provides information. And information, as they say, is power. And (spelling out the unstated premises, here) it is good to give consumers power. But power (as … Continue reading →

Posted in farmers, fisheries, labeling, local | 2 Comments

Authenticity Hoax Interview

Posted on July 21, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

Over at my Business Ethics Blog, I’ve just posted an interview with Andrew Potter, about his new book, The Authenticity Hoax. Readers of this blog might be interested in our exchange on the topic of food, which included this nice … Continue reading →

Posted in environment, industrial, local, values | Comments Off on Authenticity Hoax Interview

When “Local” Foodies Go Loco

Posted on July 13, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

Check out this blog posting by my friend Andrew Potter, Dawn Of The Loco-Wars. Andrew admits to his, well, let’s say skepticism, about the local food movement. Then he makes this qualified concession: But if there’s one “benefit” I’ve been … Continue reading →

Posted in local | 2 Comments

Welcome to my new ‘Food Ethics’ blog

Posted on June 12, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

This is a new blog about ethical issues that arise in growing, shipping, processing, selling, regulating, and eating food. Food is a hot issue these days — that is, people are talking (and writing) a lot about what kinds of … Continue reading →

Posted in animal welfare, ecosystems, genetic modification, local, organic, regulation, safety, subsidies | Comments Off on Welcome to my new ‘Food Ethics’ blog