Comments on: How to Pig Out on Thanksgiving (But Without the Guilt)

By: Chickfactor

Chickfactor — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 23:14:30 +0000

My mantra has become “it’s only cake [or bread, or pizza, or crips, or whatever- you get the idea], it’s not genocide” as coined on here a while back. I’m often suprised by how many people seem stunned by this, as if I’ve told them an amazing secret!

By: Starling

Starling — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:56:59 +0000

Shoutabysss: No, you’re right there. I just was musing on the ways that I had an easier time finding out about my food because I had all the benefits of an upper-middle-class yuppie intellectual living outside the People’s Republic of Santa Fe. In New York, I can take someone else’s word for it, but that’s not a great idea when dealing with large companies, and that’s what people have to do when they can’t go to Pat’s.

By: shoutabyss

shoutabyss — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:44:16 +0000

Quite true, Starling. We are all free to make those choices. I’m just saying those sorts of decisions should be based on solid factual information, not deception and not deliberate attempts to mislead. I’d bet my paycheck that if customers of Chipotle could be interviewed, those that believed the pork and chicken products to be “ethical” would more often than not have a similar expectation regarding the beef, since the purpose of the advertising that stresses ethics is to lead consumers who don’t think critically to that conclusion. That is what makes Kate’s observation so impressive.

By: Starling

Starling — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:31:05 +0000

There was a lot to be said for living in the middle of nowhere, and getting my eggs from Pat down the road who had chickens. They always seemed like pretty happy chickens to me. Not, obviously, an option for anyone who does not live down the road from Pat. Seriously, though, the CSA in my hometown outside of Santa Fe (where I am visiting for a few months this winter) has good produce and ethical meat-and-egg farms. When I was a member, all the CSA members were invited to a picnic/work party at the farms twice a year, so you got to see first-hand what you were getting.

But. If you don’t have $10 a pound for righteous meat, or $4 a carton for righteous eggs, or $30 a week for random seasonal produce, or a kitchen large enough to store and cook said produce, or the resources to track down recipes for some of that produce, or the leisure in which to cook it, or the money to live in my expensive little community in the first place, you are pretty much SOL. Food ethics are not entirely the privilege of the rich, but they aren’t cheap, either.

By: shoutabyss

shoutabyss — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:29:50 +0000

“Our chicken is ethical!” and “Our pork is ethical!” and… nothing about the beef. You are obviously a critical thinker, one of the things that originally attracted me to your blog. That is a beautiful example of extrapolating information you have been given. When it comes to information fed to the consumer, it is crucial to be able to think critically and parse that information. I've been consciously watching out for messages and terminology in advertising lately and the realizations you come to are amazing.

By: MissPrism

MissPrism — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:10:26 +0000

In the UK, foods labelled “organic” have stricter standards of animal welfare than “free-range”, “freedom food” or the RSPCA mark. Obviously knowing the farm is better still, and I have other problems with “organic”, but if I’m picking up some eggs at the supermarket that’s what I’ll go for.

Tonight, however, I’m working late and therefore eating peanut butter out of the jar with a spoon. Is there a more perfect stash-in-your-filing-cabinet foodstuff?

By: Kate Harding

Kate Harding — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:58:24 +0000

Yeah, I’d never looked into it before, but had definitely noticed every time I went in there that there are signs everywhere saying, “Our chicken is ethical!” and “Our pork is ethical!” and… nothing about the beef.

By: shoutabyss

shoutabyss — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:51:56 +0000

Thanks, Kate. That is very interesting information about Chipotle.

By: Kate Harding

Kate Harding — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:17:22 +0000

Sarah B – Isn’t McDonalds the parent company of Chipotle? Thus making that whole situation even odder.

They were, but they sold it off a couple of years ago.

Chipotle also makes a big deal about their chicken and pork “with integrity,” but doesn’t talk so much about the beef. I just checked the website, and on that point, they’re like, “Uhhh, you know, we have to take the long view!” Meaning some of their beef is naturally raised now, and they’re planning for all of it to be eventually, but in the meantime…

By: KellyK

KellyK — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:12:32 +0000

Chipotle? Chipotle with all their stuff about ethical treatment of animals? Ouch.

After doing a bit of reading about the situation in Florida, I e-mailed Chipotle & asked them to agree to the extra cent per pound CIW is asking for. Baby steps, right?