Taking Action: Ethical Food Consumption

Ethical Food Consumption

How the foods you eat affect the environment and its inhabitants

Brionna MendozaHonors 102: Global Challenges

What is Ethical Food Consumption?The phrase “ethical food consumption”

refers to the responsible consumption of food products

Focus on:

Sustainable practices in areas like transportation and growing practices

Ethical treatment of workers and animals

What Problems Are Targeted?

Environmental Factors

Pollution stemming from factory farms and far-flung transportation of food products

Fair treatment of animals

Factory farms→ unhealthy setting

Fair treatment of workers

safe working conditions

immigrant workers

Why Do These Problems Exist?In the United States, there is an obvious disconnect between consumers and the origins of their food

Popularity of the supermarket:

Ease and convenience of packaged veggies and pre-cut meats

Supermarkets thrive by presenting the illusion of a constant abundance of all types of produce and meats

No one wants to shop in less-than-full produce section that doesn’t stock picture-perfect fruits and veggies!

Consequences:

Massive food waste and unsustainable practices to maintain profits

A Closer Look at...Factory FarmsMajor source of pollution

concentrated nature of operations→ hundreds of animals in a small area→ vast amounts of waste that cannot be disposed in a healthy, complete way

The 1.4 million California dairy cows produce as much waste as 28-56 million people per day

solid waste can pollute environment

methane released from the cows exacerbate global warming

Despite clear hazards, factory farming operations constantly expanding to meet the ever-increasing demand for meat products

Image source: http://www.onegreenplanet.org/environment/shocking-facts-on-how-factory-farms-cause-water-pollution/

A Closer Look at...Transportation of FoodUse of planes, trains, trucks, rail to

transport food intranationally and internationally adds tons of pollution to the environment and wastes energy

Average American-prepped meal contains ingredients that source from at least 5 different countries

Food miles: the distance food travels from where it grows to where is is ultimately purchased and consumed”

Case of California: Produces a significant amount of nation’s food, yet in 2005, imported approx. 3 million tons of products

Case of California: Produces a significant amount of nation’s food, yet in 2005, imported approx. 3 million tons of products, including fruits, veggies, cereals, nuts, and wine

But WHY? The agricultural groups in the state produce most of these products

Keep supermarkets stocked

Foods are seasonal, but supermarkets have made it possible to supply products year-round

Many don’t purchase from local growers

Air pollution from imported goods= 45X higher than locally-grown foods

A Closer Look at...Ethical Treatment of AnimalsBack to factory farms…

Animals raised to be slaughtered(and earn a profit), so factory farming operations prioritize quantity over quality

squeezed into pens

injected with growth hormones

no room for natural behavior Image Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/17/factory-farming-facts_n_4063892.html

A Closer Look at...Ethical Treatment of Workers Focus on workers in ag sector

Because many are illegal immigrants, especially vulnerable because given few protections

Dairy industry:

workers often exposed to pathogens, animal fecal matter, strenuous work without adequate breaks

Watsonville strawberry fields:

Health issues from back-breaking work and exposure to pesticides in the fields

Source: http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/the-human-cost-of-industrial-animal-agriculture/

Source: http://www.theatlantic.com/past/issues/95nov/strawber.htm

What Can Be Done?The good news: consumer shopping

habits really do have influence over a company’s practices!

Furthermore, many want to actively choose ethical producers to patronize

The bad news: we tend to prioritize our own convenience, habits, and economic interests

Through increasing public awareness, however, we can encourage the formation of new, socially-aware consumer habits!

The Food Empowerment Project is a great resource for more information about these issues AND advice on how to get involved

http://www.foodispower.org/

GET INVOLVED!Shop local farmers’ markets

ABUNDANT here in the Central Valley!

decrease environmental pollution (transportation) AND infuses money into local economy

Reduce your consumption of meat

Petition government to investigate/publish reports on how to best access local agricultural products

investigate companies suspected of unethical practices

boycott said companies to force compliance with labor laws/environmental laws

At the federal level, could reduce amount of local food exported/other foods imported from abroad

References Arrieta, R.M. “Hidden Horros: California Dairy Workers Face Danger and Abuse.” Dollars & Sense: Real World Economics, September/October 2004.http://www.dollarsandsense.org/archives/2004/0904arrieta.html [accessed October 19, 2015].

The Food Empowerment Project. “Pollution (Water, Air, Chemicals).”http://www.foodispower.org/pollution-water-air-chemicals/ [accessed October 19, 2015].

National Resources Defense Council. “Health Facts: Food Miles.” 2007. https://food-hub.org/files/resources/Food%20Miles.pdf [accessed October 19, 2015].

Saxton, Dvera I. “Strawberry Fields as Extreme Environments: The Ecobiopolitics of Farmworker Health.” Medical Anthropology: Cross-Cultural Studies in Health and Illness, October 13, 2014. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01459740.2014.959167 [accessed October 19, 2015].

Vermeir, Iris and Wim Verbeke. “Sustainable Food Consumption: Exploring the Consumer ‘Attitude-Behavioral Intention’ Gap.” Jouranl of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics, March 2009. http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Wim_Verbeke2/publication/226354722_Sustainable _Food_Consumption_Exploring_the_Consumer_Attitude__Behavioral_Intention_Gap/li nks/02e7e52777df661605000000.pdf [accessed October 20, 2015].