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The Ethics of Consumption

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Food Ethics Education

Part of the book series: Integrating Food Science and Engineering Knowledge Into the Food Chain ((ISEKI-Food,volume 13))

Abstract

Throughout history food has always played an important role in human existence and that foods have an effect on health is certainly not a new notion. People buy food; they ingest it several times a day. These practices are a meaningful and sustained arena of action and interaction that has significant societal effects. There are those who maintain that they have every right to consume what they like, when they like, and that choice is a private matter. This chapter seeks to discuss this opinion and attempts to understand the process of consumption.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    A philosophical system that holds that every rationally justifiable assertion can be scientifically verified or is capable of logical or mathematical proof and that therefore rejects metaphysics and theism. The New Oxford American Dictionary (Kindle Locations 644, 769–644, 770). Oxford University Press. Kindle Edition.

  2. 2.

    The Daily Mail (UK) on the 3 June 2014 stated that supplies of prized Wagyu beef, which originated in Japan and is renowned for its flavour and succulence, are normally sold in luxury stores, gourmet butchers and food websites for £100 per kilo – putting it out of reach for most families. See also http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2647838/Aldis-latest-lure-middle-classes-Prized-wagyu-beef-7-8oz-steak-just-quarter-standard-price.html (accessed on 13/07/2014).

  3. 3.

    Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of Food Law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety OJ L 31, 01/02/2002, p. 1–24. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/;jsessionid=7STTT49LjWhQg9JP73524w595js3Q5RZzy9xyr4wldhscS3TnXhy!1318808511?uri=CELEX:32002R0178 (accessed 30th March 2014).

  4. 4.

    Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of Food Law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety OJ L 31, 01/02/2002, p. 1–24. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/;jsessionid=7STTT49LjWhQg9JP73524w595js3Q5RZzy9xyr4wldhscS3TnXhy!1318808511?uri=CELEX:32002R0178 (accessed 30th March 2014).

  5. 5.

    An adult who has a body mass index of 30 or higher is considered obese (source http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult/defining.html accessed 15/07/2014).

  6. 6.

    An adult who has a body mass index between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight. (Source http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/adult/defining.html accessed 15/07/2014).

  7. 7.

    See Chap. 6 for definitions of CSR and CNSR.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Health Science, University of Malta, Block A, Level 1, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta

    Anna McElhatton

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  1. Anna McElhatton
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Correspondence to Anna McElhatton .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. CERNAS, College of Agriculture of the Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal

    Rui Costa

  2. Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy

    Paola Pittia

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McElhatton, A. (2018). The Ethics of Consumption. In: Costa, R., Pittia, P. (eds) Food Ethics Education. Integrating Food Science and Engineering Knowledge Into the Food Chain, vol 13. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-64738-8_4

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