Category Archives: values

Ethics of Small Choices

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Chris MacDonald

Yesterday, on my Business Ethics Blog, I published a short blog entry about an ethical dilemma faced by a coffee shop. The dilemma — and disagreement between co-owners — was whether to offer the standard range of sweeteners and whiteners … Continue reading →

Posted in choice, ethics, health, marketing, natural, nutrition, restaurants, values | 5 Comments

Could GMO Technology Make Tomatoes More Authentic?

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Chris MacDonald

The LA Times ran an interesting piece a couple of days ago about Why supermarket tomatoes tend to taste bland. It turns out, according to new scientific research, that the hybridization carried out by tomato breeders over the last several … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, biotechnology, genes, genetic modification, GMO, natural, values | Comments Off on Could GMO Technology Make Tomatoes More Authentic?

Who Wants Test-Tube Meat?

Posted on March 10, 2012 by Chris MacDonald

Sonja Puzic, for CTVNews.ca, asks: Would you eat meat grown in a test tube? When a Dutch scientist declared last month that he could have the world’s first lab-grown hamburger on the grill by October, the Internet was abuzz with … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, animal welfare, biotechnology, genetic modification, GMO, industrial, meat, science, synthetic meat, values | Comments Off on Who Wants Test-Tube Meat?

The Complex Politics of Food Ethics

Posted on February 11, 2012 by Chris MacDonald

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 | Comments Off on The Complex Politics of Food Ethics

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

Is Smaller More Ethical, or Less?

Posted on June 19, 2011 by Chris MacDonald

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 | Comments Off on Is Smaller More Ethical, or Less?

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