The Way We Eat: Why Our Food Choices Matter 
asked by guitarplayer on November 17, 2006 6:55 AM
Peter Singer, the groundbreaking ethicist who may be the most controversial philosopher alive (The New Yorker), now sets his critical sights on the food we buy and eat: where it comes from, how its produced, and whether it was raised humanely. Teaming up once again with attorney Jim Mason, his coauthor on the acclaimed Animal Factories, Singer explores the impact our food choices have on humans, animals, and the environment. In Food Matters, Singer and Mason examine the eating habits of three American families with very different diets. They track down the sources of each familys food to probe the ethical issues involved in its production and marketing. What kinds of meat are most humane to eat? Is organic always better? Wild fish or farmed? Recognizing that not all of us will become vegetarians, Singer and Mason offer ways to make the best food choices. As they point out: You can be ethical without being fanatical.
Reviews
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Few facets of human existence affect our health and the environment as much as what we eat, and surely none has a greater impact on animals. Thus, the time seems perpetually ripe for good books on human food choices. The authors of this one, both vegetarians and probably vegans, succeed in presenting a well-reasoned and reader-friendly discussion of their subject.
The book is built around the food habits of three American families, one who subscribe to the traditional "meat and potatoes" diet, another who are conscientious semi-vegetarians, and the third who are vegans. Each serves as a base from which to examine food production and its consequences. We travel from factory farms to farmers' markets, from kitchens to ocean trawlers to dumpsters. We hear from people who work in all of these environments. And the authors provide analyses without sermonizing.
Several trends emerge. Large meat corporations talk of educating the public about modern meat production, but fail to return phone calls and flatly deny access to their meat processing facilities. We learn of "the law of gravity of big business"--with big corporations buying up organic brands then cutting corners to maximize profits. We meet farmers who move their animals from intensive indoor confinement to outdoor pasture situations. One such, a pig farmer, describes how many hassles he now avoids by letting his pigs run outside on pasture: no more tail-amputation, no antibiotics, no special weaning feed (his piglets wean naturally at 8 weeks instead of artificially at 2 weeks), and "scouring" (diarrhea) is replaced by "pasture poop" that doesn't stink (I can attest to this, as a regular visitor to a sanctuary with free-roaming pigs). And far from being an economic liability, the ensuing demand for his product has outgrown his supply.
For those who eat fish, there is news to prick the conscience--an excellent summation of recent findings demonstrating pain and cognition in fishes. To that end, I was surprised the authors chose not to include fish flesh as a form of "meat." For those who eat eggs, we learn of deluxe free-range eggs (sold at five times that of conventional battery eggs) being shipped from New Zealand to California with such efficiency that--owing to time zones--an American may be eating an omelet before the hen laid the egg. Little wonder, then, that the ingredients in some dinners have been shipped further than the distance around the Earth's circumference (24,000 miles).
That said, here's to "freegans" who remove themselves from the troubled food supply chain by living entirely off discarded food mined from supermarket dumpsters.
Wherever you are in that chain, you should read this book, and take stock of your food choices.
The book is built around the food habits of three American families, one who subscribe to the traditional "meat and potatoes" diet, another who are conscientious semi-vegetarians, and the third who are vegans. Each serves as a base from which to examine food production and its consequences. We travel from factory farms to farmers' markets, from kitchens to ocean trawlers to dumpsters. We hear from people who work in all of these environments. And the authors provide analyses without sermonizing.
Several trends emerge. Large meat corporations talk of educating the public about modern meat production, but fail to return phone calls and flatly deny access to their meat processing facilities. We learn of "the law of gravity of big business"--with big corporations buying up organic brands then cutting corners to maximize profits. We meet farmers who move their animals from intensive indoor confinement to outdoor pasture situations. One such, a pig farmer, describes how many hassles he now avoids by letting his pigs run outside on pasture: no more tail-amputation, no antibiotics, no special weaning feed (his piglets wean naturally at 8 weeks instead of artificially at 2 weeks), and "scouring" (diarrhea) is replaced by "pasture poop" that doesn't stink (I can attest to this, as a regular visitor to a sanctuary with free-roaming pigs). And far from being an economic liability, the ensuing demand for his product has outgrown his supply.
For those who eat fish, there is news to prick the conscience--an excellent summation of recent findings demonstrating pain and cognition in fishes. To that end, I was surprised the authors chose not to include fish flesh as a form of "meat." For those who eat eggs, we learn of deluxe free-range eggs (sold at five times that of conventional battery eggs) being shipped from New Zealand to California with such efficiency that--owing to time zones--an American may be eating an omelet before the hen laid the egg. Little wonder, then, that the ingredients in some dinners have been shipped further than the distance around the Earth's circumference (24,000 miles).
That said, here's to "freegans" who remove themselves from the troubled food supply chain by living entirely off discarded food mined from supermarket dumpsters.
Wherever you are in that chain, you should read this book, and take stock of your food choices.
reviewed by rafit on November 25, 2006 12:52 PM
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I found this book to be enlightening, and it contains a thorough analysis of the ethics of our modern industrial food production methods. By understanding how our food is produced and the harm these intensive, commercial methods cause to both the animals and the environment, one can make informed choices about one's diet. This book is a great tool for helping us get to that point.
However, I personally thought this book comes off as a little too preachy and pro-vegan especially toward the end. Overall, worth reading... but definitely a slanted point of veiw. It has enforced my beliefs about only eating ethical meats - humane, sustainable and preferably organic. It has not convinced me to go vegan or even vegetarian... so perhaps it fails in its core argument.
The information contained within is, however, worth the time to read it. I commend the authors for doing the investigative work and putting the thought into this subject. It is an important subject for citizens of industrialized nations (especially we Americans) to learn more about.
However, I personally thought this book comes off as a little too preachy and pro-vegan especially toward the end. Overall, worth reading... but definitely a slanted point of veiw. It has enforced my beliefs about only eating ethical meats - humane, sustainable and preferably organic. It has not convinced me to go vegan or even vegetarian... so perhaps it fails in its core argument.
The information contained within is, however, worth the time to read it. I commend the authors for doing the investigative work and putting the thought into this subject. It is an important subject for citizens of industrialized nations (especially we Americans) to learn more about.
reviewed by heavymetal on November 25, 2006 7:10 PM
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It's clearly important to know what kind of food we eat. If you keep eating fast food, the author explains you will gain weight easily and it will be dangerous for your health.
Our food choices matter, because not all food are good for your body. The author did interesting investigations and some of them were right. A fun read and yet very useful to know.
Our food choices matter, because not all food are good for your body. The author did interesting investigations and some of them were right. A fun read and yet very useful to know.
reviewed by runaway on November 26, 2006 1:18 PM