Food

1
Food Ethics

• (Source Michael Korthals, 2001, Taking
  Consumers
• Seriously . . ., Journal of Agricultural
  Environmental Ethics, 14201-215.)

2
Consumers increasingly demanding that food

• is produced in certain ethical ways
• ethics deals with values
• - what is perceived to be good or right
• consumer concerns relate to not only
• - safety and health (risks and benefits)
• ex.) Use of antibiotics in animal production

3
continued

• - but ethical standards, such as
• - animal welfare
• - environmental concerns
• - labor practices
• - fair trade

4
The Citizen Consumer

• Previous distinction between citizen and
  consumer.
• - As citizen deal with public issues (i.e. affect
  others).
• - As consumers deal with private consumption.
• However, increasingly people dont separate the
  two.

5
Emergence of ethical shopping

• Attach moral significance to way products are
  produced and used.
• Express ethical concerns/values in market as well
  as politically.

6
Essential Ethical Principles

• Autonomy respecting the autonomous choices of
  other individuals, including a right to privacy.
  ex.) Intrusion of market research
• Justice distribution of benefits, risks, costs
  that are fair, equitable and appropriate in terms
  of what is due a person.
• Nonmaleficence not inflicting evil or harm
  intentionally on others, concealing information
  on risk as an ethical violation (asymmetric
  information).
• Beneficence contribute to the welfare of others
  by preventing evil or harm or promoting good.

7
However, such principles

• Are not sufficient alone to provide ethical
  solutions (positions).
• Need also a value orientation.

8
Old Conception of Consumers

• Consumer sovereignty right of consumer to get
  information on products and make her/his own
  choice.
• ex.) - Labeling of gm products (Europe)
• - Labeling of gm free products (U.S.
  Organic Reg).
• Emphasis on rights of the individual.

9
Addressing New Ethical Food Concerns Involves

• Bringing together scientific understanding with
  ethical principles.
• Three principles
• - general welfare
• - peoples rights
  - justice.

10
The Precautionary Principle

• If consequences are uncertain should error on
  side of caution (but almost everything is risky).
• Stressed by the Europeans.
• Similar to a safety first approach.

11
These decisions requires a public debate

• Strong politics (decision making or
  legislation).
• Weak politics (opinion formation) (discursive
  politics).

12
Risks and Trust

• Modern, democratic societies will not entrust
  their health, environment, or food entirely to
  experts and business.
• Agribusiness, farmers, etc. must engage in a
  dialogue with public, consumers (ngos). ex.)
  Monsanto
• Cant overlook normative meaning of food to
  people by focusing just on trust in food system
  and risk to human health.

13
Gap between public (consumers) and food system is
widening

• Central question of how to feed oneself in a
  technological society.
• Some consumers increasingly care not only about
  what they consume, but how it was produced.
• Multi-functionality of agriculture (environment,
  landscape, rural community).
• Food is intrinsically linked with ones identity.

14
Trust becomes more important in technological
society

• Trust in experts/systems.
• An action seen as a violation of trust can have
  grave consequences.
• Confidence in reliability of a product or system.
• Increasingly requires confidence that concerns
  are being met.

15
A bilateral form of communication is required

• Not only producers informing consumers.
• But also where consumers demand experts and
  producers be informed about their ethical
  concerns.
• Devices to build trust can be used strategically.
• Market for undifferentiated commodities is
  declining, whereas differentiated, even identity
  preserved, ones is increasing.

16
Need broader perspective of food as

• Ethical view sees food as more than just another
  commodity or consumer product.
• An integral part of lifestyle and values
• Food choices can reflect our self-image
• And image of kind of world and community want to
  live in.

17
The Floating Consumers

• Consumers are not necessarily consistent.
• Choose organic produce at one time and eat fast
  food another.
• Changing social and psychological context of
  consumer choices.

18
Need food advisory councils similar to ethical
committees in hospitals

• Would represent public/civil society.
• Would focus on evaluation of ethical concerns
  regarding food.
• Councils located in stage of food chain where
  problems occur.

19
In post-modern world

• Governments no longer the only policy agent.
• Role of sub-politics (social and technological
  processes, ngos, etc.).
• Supra-political (international org.).
• ex.) WTO
• Role between market (private) and politics
  (public) is blurred.