I am currently about two thirds of the way through the book The Ethics of What We Eat by Peter Singer and Jim Mason - and what a fascinating read it is, if you can get past the graphic descriptions of animal processing, that is. Fabulous incentive for going vegetarian, that's for sure! It's very well written, and explores such a diverse cross section of what we eat on a daily basis.
I have been through a chicken processing plant (abattoir) years ago when I was working for the lab, and it was just sickening. Not only the way it was all done, but the way the workers treated the chickens. It wasn't at all unusual to turn up to take a sample from the DAF system and watch them (deliberately) run over chickens with forklifts and then watch them flapping around in agony while they died, just for something to do. Makes me want to throw up just thinking about it! Amazing that a person can tune that out though and continue (after a couple of chicken-free years) to eat it again :-( Of course the book goes through many other systems, apart from the obvious and highly publicised battery hens. It has made the decision to only eat the biodynamic meat produced locally, pretty easy, LOL. And I want to investigate the origins of the organic eggs I buy now too, as I was surprised to learn that even some organic systems may not be all that the public thinks they are.
Having said all that, I have serious doubts about going completely vegetarian, at this point in time anyway? We are certainly going to eat vego meals three to four times a week (up from once a week now), and I think I am going to give away fish completely (nothing about fishing seems sustainable!). Maybe in a few years time we'll go full-on, when the kids' palates have developed more? I struggle to get them eat enough protein and iron now without excluding meat, especially as they hate tofu and mushrooms.
It also raises some excellent questions about transporting food all over the world, and looks at the amount of energy required to produce them. All in all, very very interesting!
2 comments:
Hi Julie, Cass from EB here! Yes, I totally agree about the sustainability of our food culture being all too conveniently obscured from our view. As a vegetarian who has visited two (very different) abattoirs, I know that the culture of abattoir workers is like many in those kinds of industries - I think there has to be a level of emotional removal so that they can tend to their day-to-day lives. Unfortunately I think callously killing chickens and watching them die goes beyond an acceptable, understandable action.
Have been wanting to read this book for a while (Singer is my hero!) but have not found the time yet. Reading it vicariously through you will have to do for now!
Cheers, Cass
Hey Cass :-) It really is a great book, I am now keen to go back and revisit some of Singer's older books! I really like the way it is written: presenting the facts in a thoughtful way without sensationalising the issues. You are more than welcome to borrow it - although of course it would be preaching to the converted in your case, lol :-)
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