St. Francis Comp Paper #2

7/29/2019 St. Francis Comp Paper #2

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Michael Bienz

Professor Bowers

Rhetoric/Composition 101

19 March 2012

Is It Possible to be a Conscientious Omnivore?

What you eat may seem as simple as venturing to the refrigerator to make a sandwich or

traveling to the pantry to obtain a snack. Unfortunately, food is not that simple. The food industry and

its many facets, which include everything from production to law and politics, have made it difficult for

the average consumer to be a conscientious omnivore; with food companies refusing to raise and kill

animals ethically, fighting clear labeling on foods, and working successfully to silence anyone who speaks

negatively about the industry, consumers are not entirely at fault for their lack of ethical eating.

Consumers are not unethical; rather, they are uninformed. Two sources, the documentary Food Inc. and

Singer and Masons The Ethics of Eating Meat, work to combat this problem by bringing to light the

problems in the food industry with the hope that readers will decide to be either conscientious

omnivores or vegetarians. After examining these two sources thoroughly to understand the problems

with both food production and the government, I have decided that, with a willingness to put effort into

purchasing food, each consumer can become a conscientious omnivore if he chooses.

Before we discuss how one can be a conscientious omnivore, we must first explore the

problems which keep consumers from this ethical dietary philosophy. The first problem in the food

industry is the production of meat. The Ethics of Eating Meat by Singer and Mason reveals the

corruption in the food industry and how the current practice of raising and slaughtering animals is not

only unethical but also inhumane. Factory farming in particular is extremely corrupt. Singer and Mason

write, It inflicts prolonged suffering on sowschickens *are+ bred to grow to fast and transported and

killed in appalling conditions (771). The authors explain further that the current practices cross the line


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and are abusive (771). To keep from contributing to these horrible practices, consumers must become

conscientious omnivores. It is possible, but it does require effort. To live out this philosophy, consumers

need to know where the meat they eat comes from. They need to know who raises and slaughters the

animals that become their meat and how they do it. If large chain grocery stores can not answer these

questions, local meat markets and butcher shops can. Eating meat that comes from animals that were

raised and slaughtered ethically is one step to becoming a conscientious omnivore.

A second problem keeping consumers from being conscientious omnivores is their attitudes

towards animals. When humans engage in speciesism , believing that animals are lower than humans,

comparing them more to machines than living, breathing organisms with hearts, minds, and feelings, it

is difficult for humans to eat ethically. In The Ethics of Eating Meat, even the Pope calls on humans to

treat animals well. The Pope said human dominion over animals does not justify factory farming (772).

The inability of animals to communicate verbally does not justify their unethical treatment. Babies, too,

can not communicate, but they are treated with respect. Only when consumers place animals on the

same level as themselves and demand that animals be treated well can they be conscientious

omnivores. The production of meat is not the only obstacle keeping consumers from virtuous eating

habits.

While The Ethics of Eating Meat blames the producers of meat for consumers unethical

eating habits, Food Inc. explains that large food corporations and the legal system, too, are at fault. The

film states that a mere four or five companies have taken over the meat market, controlling around 80%

of what is in grocery stores (Food Inc). This makes it difficult for consumers to eat meat that is prepared

ethically. Furthermore, through food libel laws, the food corporations receive legal support in their

efforts to silence any citizen who speaks negatively about their products. Seeing as how the legal system

is aiding large corporations in their take over of the food industry, it seems the best solution for those

who want to be conscientious omnivores is for those individuals to buy meat they know is grown locally.


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Food Inc. also explains the impacts of corporate factory farming on the environment in general

and particularly plant life. The film states that run off containing animal waste contaminates the water

supply, which is in turn used to water plants. Once these plants are watered with water contaminated

with e-coli and other harmful bacteria, the food supply becomes unsafe. Not only can animal run off

contaminate the food supply, but raising animals takes up space that could be used to plant a great deal

of corn or soy beans, which would feed more people than an animal would, and it also takes a great deal

of food to raise animals that are only going to be slaughtered soon. The Ethics of Eating Meat states

an acre of land used for crops will feed ten times as many people as an acre of land used for grass-fed

beef (785). In essence, factory farming is an inefficient use of land because land used for factory

farming could be used to grow plants and feed more people. To combat large scale factory farms, if you

would like to eat meat, again, it is best to get it from a small, local shop or butcher who is not associated

with large, environmentally irresponsible companies.

A final problem that keeps consumers from being conscientious omnivores is cost. Healthy and

well grown fruits and vegetables are expensive. For some reason, the government continues to provide

subsidies to large meat-making corporations and does not provide the same subsides to growers of

healthy fruits and vegetables. Food Inc. shows that the Federal Department of Agriculture is headed by

formed executives of the food industry. In short, when it comes to the governments involvement with

the food industry, it is just as corrupt as factory farming itself. Sadly, the governments involvement with

the food industry has negatives effects on the consumer, since the government allows unhealthy,

unethically grown food to be subsidized. As one family stated, We would like to buy the vegetables for

our family, but they are just too expensive (Food Inc.). When consumers see the high prices of healthy

foods, they are more tempted to go to McDonalds and purchase a factory-made, unethically produced

hamburger. The solution to solving government corruption in the food industry is for government

agencies which regulate the production of food to be headed by those who care about the average


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consumer and the capitalist vultures of corporate America. Although this idea seems farfetched, since

FDA has been corrupt under both republican and democratic administrations, it is true that voters and

consumers have a say in how things are done. Voters can contact politicians to voice concerns about

corrupt government agencies, and consumers can choose not to purchase unethically grown and

regulated meat.

Although it may be extreme, the best way for consumers to be conscientious omnivores is for

them to be vegetarians, people who do not eat any meat. Of course, vegetarians are not omnivores;

they are herbivores. The point is vegetarians know that they do not engage in eating meat created from

animals that were raised improperly or slaughtered inhumanely. The Ethics of Eating Meat agrees

stating drawing a clear line against eating animal products may be the best way to ensure that one eats

ethically and sticks to it (787). Vegetarians also know that they are helping free up land for agriculture

instead of factory farming. Though it means cutting a lot out of your diet, one sure way to know that you

are a conscientious consumer is to become a vegetarian.

Personally, I respect vegetarians; they respect animals and eat healthier than their omnivorous

counterparts. I know, however, that a full-fledged vegetarian diet is not for me. Firstly, at the current

time, I am a high school student living with my parents, so I do not control what I eat. I eat whatever my

parents prepare for me and rarely complain. They should not be expected to cook special food for me

just because I decide to give myself dietary restrictions. After giving my long term diet much thought, I

have decided that when I do live on my own, I will not eat red meat, meaning pork or beef. Studies show

that cutting red meat from your diet decreases your chance of having a heart attack or getting many

forms of cancer or diabetes. Recent studies show that cutting red meat from your diet actually increases

life expectancy. I will, however, always eat white meat, mainly chicken. I believe that it would be

difficult for me to get my daily dose of protein if I were to eliminate all meat from my diet. I enjoy nuts,

but can not eat enough everyday to get enough protein, and I dislike beans and tofu, which are sources


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of protein for vegetarians. Also, I do not swallow pills, so taking protein supplements is not an option of

mine. Having given my future diet much thought, I have decided that only eating white meat would cut

down my environmental impact; it takes more resources, land and food, to raise pigs and cows when

compared to that of a two legged chicken. I think that my perfect diet helps the environment, keeps me

healthy, and makes me a conscientious omnivore.

Problems in the food industry, including factory farming and poor regulation, combined with

high cost, keep consumers from being conscientious omnivores. Furthermore, the consumption of meat

harms the environment, and meat is not the most efficient use of land. Sure, everyone could become a

vegetarian, but that is an extreme option most are not willing to take, as it may not fit their dietary diets

or budget. While it requires some effort, it is possible for consumers to be conscientious omnivores. The

best way to be a conscientious omnivore it to make sure you know where your meat comes from and to

refrain from purchasing meat that may have been created from an unethically raised animal.

Food Inc. Dir. Robert Kenner. Perf. Michael Pollan, Barbara Kowalcyk, Joel Salatin, and Gary Hirshberg.

Magndia Pictures, 2009. Film.

Peter Singer and Jim Mason. The Ethics of Eating Meat. A World of Ideas. Ed. Lee A. Jacobus. Boston:

Bedford/St. Martins, 2010. 771-787. Print.


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