New Book by Three Leading Pioneers – Decamp, Singer And Mason – Provides Study Into Impact of People's Food Choices

As stated by the article below, the book "The Way We Eat: Why Our Food Choices Matter" (Rodale, 2006) is the second collaboration of the authors, following their controversial joint effort of 1980, "Animal Factories," an in-depth investigation of American factory farms.

Most will recognize the names. As such, it will be another ground breaking book.


Article:

New book looks at global impact of people's food choices.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=
16904509&BRD=1091&PAG=461&dept_id=425695&rfi=6

While scores of books consider the effects individuals' food choices can have on their bodies — how consuming certain foods might lower cholesterol, perhaps, or how those extra pounds may raise one's risk of heart disease and cancer — the latest book by Princeton University's Ira W. Decamp Professor of Bioethics in the University Center for Human Values, Peter Singer, and attorney Jim Mason takes a look at the impact of people's food choices on the world.
"The Way We Eat: Why Our Food Choices Matter" (Rodale, 2006) is the second collaboration of the authors, following their controversial joint effort of 1980, "Animal Factories," an in-depth investigation of American factory farms.
"We felt that, in a way, it was ahead of its time," Professor Singer said of "Animal Factories," explaining a desire to update the book and write a new one exploring "a whole range of ethical issues about food."
In approaching the ethical implications of American dietary decisions, Professor Singer and Mr. Mason profile three families with distinctly different approaches to food. The Hillard-Nierstheimer family of Mabelvale, Ark., eats what the authors call the "Standard American Diet," doing most of the family shopping at the Wal-Mart Supercenter or picking up fast food from one of the nearby franchises. The members of the Fairfield, Conn. Masarech-Motavalli family are dubbed "Conscientious Omnivores," buying mainly organic products and clearly concerned about the impact of their food choices, but sometimes overcome by practicalities. Then there is the Farb family of Olathe, Kan., entirely vegan and dining on almost completely organic fare.
Professor Singer said the "Standard American Diet" is really anything but. Citing a 50 percent increase in meat consumption since 1950, he said there is still conceivably a chance that Americans will return to the idea of meat as a special treat, which would ultimately help to restore and revive smaller family farms throughout the country.
Americans lag far behind Europeans, especially the British, in the weight they give to the environmental, social and animal-welfare impacts of their food choices, Professor Singer said, because the environmental movement tends to be somewhat broader-based in the United Kingdom. While there is a small — and growing — contingent of Americans who realize the effects their food choices can have on everything from promoting the global economy to saving the rainforests, the majority doesn't yet consider it an ethical issue, Professor Singer said.
A vegetarian himself since 1971 and a vegan except when traveling, Professor Singer said he doesn't expect Americans to quit eating meat — or, as some put it, go "cold turkey" — but he would like to see them take simple steps toward making more ethical food decisions.
"The Way We Eat" devotes six pages to Whole Foods Market as an example of an ethical and economical food retailer, and also lauds the Wild Oats and Trader Joe's grocery store chains. The increasing prevalence of these stores and farmers' markets make it increasingly conceivable for Americans to address ethical concerns without too many hurdles to overcome, Professor Singer said.
Whether it's purchasing fair trade products such as coffee and chocolate that support sustainable production in developing countries or picking up fresh vegetables at the farm stand on the way home, Professor Singer said these "simple and enjoyable" actions would ultimately have a positive impact on the world. At the same time, even a transition to one meatless day a week will reap numerous economic, environmental and social rewards, he said.
The authors note early on that their book is anything but another tome detailing the obesity epidemic. "If you enjoy unhealthy food so much that you are prepared to accept the risk of disease and premature death, then, like a decision to smoke or climb Himalayan peaks, that is primarily your own business," they wrote. "Our focus is on the impact of your food choices on others." On the other hand, Professor Singer said ethical eating will inevitably have an impact on the nation's expanding waistlines.
When people consume more than they need to or more than is healthy for them, he said, "there's a cost to that that everybody pays." Quoting figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the authors report the annual cost resulting from being overweight and obese is an additional $20 billion to $28 billion in private insurance bills and $25 billion to $38 billion in taxes.
Of course, there are costs to eating ethically as well, and Professor Singer readily concedes that organically and sustainably produced foods often cost more than meat from factory farms and produce from large-scale producers. With increasing demand and availability of a range of organic foods, though, Professor Singer said the price gap is shrinking. Additionally, he said, forgoing expensive organic meat for inexpensive plant sources of protein, such as organically grown legumes, can make a huge difference.
"With a bit of thought, there are ways of shopping quite economically that are still much better for the environment," he said.