The Issue of Food Ethics - Essay Example

Food Ethics The issue of food ethics is a relevant debate that characterizes contemporary society. Scholars have made several contributions towards the controversy surrounding food and diet. In the opinion of Wendell Berry, food ethics is the core agenda that need to be addressed if people are to achieve longevity with good health. Critical overview of Wendell’s ideas make more sense as the emerging ignorance about source of food exposes the global population to severe nutritional deficiency health risks. Evidence of poor health and incompatible healthcare that fails to address the influence of diet in physical health is clear. Most people associate agriculture with retrogressive economic engagement while they consume food that primarily comes from the same. This is a clear indication of the increasing risk of blind consumption of food with significant disconnect between the source and the end user. Increasing urbanization is characterized by increased consumption of industrial food with limited nutritional check (Wendell 145). In essence, the rate of fast food consumption already raises concern among the American families with significant obesity cases increment. People have literally distanced themselves from agricultural activity and define food from what is really to eat or semi-cooked from the supermarket or grocery stores. Wendell raises concern on what people fail to note when they pay for otherwise low quality and nutrition deficient food. This can be attributed to changing socio-economic and political structure of the society. People have little time to think over the source of what they consume in the name of food. Besides, the prices paid are not questioned neither are the nutritional content. The industrial concentration on mass production and widespread emphasis on food stores for conveniences supports Wendell’s concern on the future of humanity. The emerging lifestyle health risks are directly a product of poor diet. Consumers have distanced themselves from the actual production and offered commercial entities to take control and reap profits. Wendell explores the indirect increase in healthcare costs as a result of food related health risks. Proposals on engaging in even small scale gardening for food are highly recommended as the industrial viewpoint is highly unethical. There are various aspects of ethical concept that Wendell emphasize as far food consumption is concerned. His question on whether people consider the type of labor involved, chemical content among other production processes constitute the relevance of his argument. Gray has the support of Wendell in regard to the ideas expressed. People’s notion of quality as a function of price and location within the store is counterproductive in the long run. Individual involvement in any form of agriculture opens the eye on how food should be grown, constituent nutrients and the physical labor involved. According to Gray, the poor working conditions, long working hours and low wage rates translated to unethical production practices which consumers need to question (Wendell 146). Historical slavery in America is closely looked at when it comes to mass production of industrial food. It is unfair to consume without considering the welfare of the labor force and this translates to aggregate unethical approach. From the period of Agrarian revolution, Agriculture was associated with rural dwellers and as such considered an inferior career and this trend has seen urban residents blindly depend on what is available. Critical assessment of the prevailing socio-economic environment shows that Agrarian period emphasized mechanization for mass production. However, this has led to industrial approach which increasingly replaces man with machines. The problem is loss of jobs and indirect increase in social ills through surging unemployment. People fail to understand that technology has some direct effect in health. The debate on biotechnology is an unethical practice which has been criticized by various sections of the society. It is therefore in the interest of the consumers to practice some agriculture or obtain fresh food from identifiable source. Proximity to the farmer gives one an experience of the condition under which the food is produced. Industrial production of food is overtaken by manipulation in which excessive fats and food color targets the visual impression of the customer to buy the food. Profit motivation remains the firms’ key objective at the expense of the consumer. This negligence sums up to be unethical but can be partially be blamed on population ignorance and limited commitment. Gray focusses on censoring the labor conditions involved in production of the final food and the consistency with prices charged over the counter. The pleasure of eating should extend to production site rather than judging quality on the basis of what is presented on the table. What people fail to understand is that industrial processed food is quantity focused rather than nutritionally acceptable (Wendell 146). The underlying reality is that consumers assume the role of food acquisition to the groceries and food industry takes advantage of this to manipulate the less concerned customers. Shiva is asserting the fact that mere presence of food does not amount to food security. In other words, malnourishment is characterized by consuming processed food with limited nutritional composition. Shiva gives an example of Indian women and children suffering from acute malnourishment despite positive economic growth. The concept of hunger by design is reiterated by Shiva and the role of multinationals in developing economies widely criticized. Acquisition of land for mass food production is another issue that must be considered alongside the pleasure of eating. Failure of people to produce owns food is to blame on the industrial commercial unethical practices in which private investors force people out of their lands. As LaDuke puts, people should open their eyes and see the economic consequences of overdependence on industrial food. From the economic front, there seems to be increasing challenge on human displacement from the large tracts of land to create room for farming. The proposals of Wendell towards remedying the problem ranges from personal initiative to consumer awareness on the nutritional value of what they buy (Wendell 148). Small scale gardening is also critical in boosting the quality of food and deriving maximum natural mineral elements in the final food. In essence, having knowledge on everything they pertains food is cost saving from healthcare perspective and addresses the welfare of the social society. Wendell emphasizes the unexploited hobby and unforgettable experience that is associated with farming. If one cannot farm, the idea of having even rudimentary knowledge of what good food constitutes is important. In that regard, seeking a close relationship with a farmer can help in averting deliberate unethical practices that would have long term harm. The argument of Wendell fails to consider the socio-economic pressure and overriding popularity of globalization which has facilitated adoption of biotechnology. Despite possibility of owning a small garden at the backyard, the more demand employment conditions in the contemporary society takes more time. Besides, the expanding global population that outstretches the declining land productivity and food supply justify application of biotechnology. The most appropriate tool at the disposal of consumers is awareness and increased campaign for government supervision on the nutritional quality of food in market. The pleasure of eating is only achievable if ethical concerns are addressed through public-private partnership. Work cited Wendell Berry. What are people for? North Point Press, San Francisco 1990 Read More