http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gS_Qkp3nPqI9l6K6qenqkQFdU2hQ?docId=e439d974a5474c8f93c4b115a0a58103
According to this article, Burger King has pledged to only
purchase eggs from cage-free chickens and cage-free pork. The restaurant plans
to slowly phase-in the cage-free products until 100% of the eggs and pork is
cage-free by 2017; currently, 9% of Burger King eggs are cage-free. Burger King’s
announcement comes at the heels of other fast food restaurants such as McDonalds
and Wendy’s, who have released statements in February and March respectively
indicating that they will undertaken similar initiatives.
Thanks to the help of popular and easily accessible
documentaries like Food, Inc. that we watched in class, and (while
controversial) vocal groups like PETA, the public is developing a better
consciousness of their food and where it comes from, including the conditions
in which the animals were raised. The article states repeatedly that studies
have shown that consumers are generally willing to pay more for products that
protect animal welfare.
For me personally, the most disturbing scenes in Food, Inc. were
the ones about the conditions in which many of the poultry and livestock live
when they are being raised, especially the chickens, so I definitely support
the decision Burger King and other restaurants are making to distance
themselves from these practices. However, I don’t think that Burger King should
stop after 2017. The article emphasizes that these restaurants are mainly
motivated by consumer demand for the humane treatment of animals, but consumers
also need to be concerned about the sanitary conditions the animals live in and
the possibility for disease. I would like fast food chain restaurants address
these issues and, where needed, extend initiatives similar to this one to chicken
and beef as well.
I realize that’s a huge undertaking – the article states
that Burger King is the second largest hamburger chain restaurant in the world,
and has over 7,200 locations nationwide. Cage practices were introduced to
produce eggs and meat faster and cheaper to keep up with the demand of the food
industry. But ultimately, I think the problem is that food industry has become
entirely too over-industrialized. I’m happy to see fast food restaurants –
arguably some of the captains of the industrialization of food – developing a
better self-awareness and taking steps to support more humane agricultural and
livestock methods. The reality is that Burger King’s announcement mainly came
at the hands of consumer demand rather than any sense of responsibility for the
humane treatment of animals, so I think that it’s absolutely possible to see
more positive changes in the future, as long as we keep demanding them.
I am encouraged by the initiatives of these top fast food restaurants to phase-in the promotion of better treatment of animals. The Food, Inc. documentary was extremely disturbing to me and it makes you seriously question the integrity of the meat industry. I would hope this trend of corporations responding to consumer's demand for more ethical business practices will continue. According to Food, Inc., fast food restaurants are partially at the root of the problems in the meat-packing industry because of the vast quantities that are required of the industry and promotion of such low costs. It is uplifting, in a way, to see and hope that maybe fast food restaurants will eventually be the cause of better practices in the future. Now, it remains to be seen what actually comes about as a result of these initiatives. I would like to see initiatives that go beyond assurance of "cage-free" chicken production, to issues of worker's rights and working conditions as well.
ReplyDeleteI was struck by the individual in the Food, Inc. with the large straw hat in documentary who remained dedicated to organic, careful and ethical food production practices in spite of larger corporations who tried to buy him out. What a world it would be if somehow there was a farmer like that in every major market throughout the country and we did not depend on money-making mass produced and degrading systems of meat packing.
Twist, I really like your idea about moving from animal's rights to worker's rights and reform of working conditions. Though it may seem harsh, I have never really been one of those people who cries at the movie "when the dog dies." I don't mean to come across as crass or insensitive towards animals- I was definitely moved and disgusted by the utilitarian, unsanitary, and heartless treatment of animals in Food, Inc. Often, though, I think it is easier for the media to play on the public's emotions regarding animals because they are seen as wholly "innocent," whereas the destitute farmer is seen as having more agency and control in his or her life. With that said, I do think Food, Inc. did a great job of portraying the ways that farmers, workers, and people in general were affected as a result of our gigantic food industry in the hands of a powerful few. For me, it was the situations and lives of the people being manipulated and controlled by big meat and food corporations (Tyson, Monsanto, etc.) that most affected and changed me after my viewing of Food, Inc.
ReplyDeleteBurger King's efforts to buy "cage-free" is definitely a step in the right direction. Just like blueivy, I see no problem in the fact that changes were garnered through consumer demand. In this sense, the average consumer's dollars are really their votes. Like the people of Hyde Park who were not as in tune to adverse health effects because they were "too busy living," I would contend that most of us do not prioritize sitting down to think about creative and insightful ways in which we can reform large food corporations and the food industry. Rather, we can make the most impact through our daily choices about what to eat and where to eat.
I think it's really important that fast food corporations are making the switch to providing food from healthier, more sustainable sources. I do have a comment on blueivy's response though. While it would be nice to know that Burger King and McDonald's care about the humane treatment of chickens, it is clear that this switch is more of a response to increasing public demands for "cleaner" food. And, let's face it. Most people don't even think about the fact that most factory chicken farms keep the birds in horrible conditions. They're more concerned with the thought that these birds are injected with hormones and antibiotics, fed things that chickens probably aren't meant to consume in the first place, and are at high risk of disease from standing in their own feces, and that they are in turn ingesting all of these unpleasant things as a result. I, like the other respondents, was moved by the images of essentially tortured chickens in Food, Inc., but I feel like the general public could really care less. I do think, however, that regardless of motivations, these types of actions on behalf of corporations reflect the power of the educated consumer. As we become more aware of where our food comes from and the meaning of terms like factory farming, organic, green, etc., we can begin to effect change on a bigger level.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't matter whether Burger King is thinking with their pocketbooks or their hearts--everyone (and not only those who frequent such restaurants) can be grateful that the fast-food industry is moving into food sectors that promote more humane treatment of animals which in turn reduces the public health risks to an extent. The deplorable conditions at such factory farms require low level doses of antibiotics in the feeds of these animals to prevent infections and stimulate growth, as they move towards cage free eggs and genera 'free range animals products' it is my hope that they take the advice that is now even coming from federal officials regarding the use of antibiotics in that industry which must be curtailed in order to help prevent the growing problem of antibiotic resistance. It is no coincidence that a more ethical and moral way of raising animals for food is actually safer, the ethics of business and industry really do have implications for public health and safety. Not to mention to inhumanity of it all. I wonder if the prices for these breakfast foods made with burger kind free range eggs will rise. this is probably not a bad thing, although consumers like to say money at the fast food register and there are many peoples that operate on limited budgets and depend upon the cheap convenience of fast food, the more that we consume healthier foods including organic produce and animals raised more safely and humanely, the cheaper those healthier food alternative will become due to market effects of supply and demand. Besides, when we save money by eating foods produced by an industry without ethics, the cost is externalized into the environment and health services. This change is just one very small step towards the larger goal of food and human safety and environmental sustainability.
ReplyDeleteThat is an incredible pledge; it will do quite a lot for the cage-free industries and allow them to expand, and it will also greatly hurt the less humane industries. Food Inc. named Burger King and the fast food industry as the largest purchaser in the country of a great many types of food, and they will clearly have a great influence on the market. While the fact that it follows Wendy’s and McDonald’s make it almost certainly a marketing move, the same can probably be said for the other companies and the end result will still be the same. It is good that they are motivated by consumer demand, which reflects well on both the consumers and the companies. However, it is interesting to consider the demographic to which the fast food industry most likely caters, and it is probably not those who are dedicated to healthy food choices. In fact, Food Inc. pointed out that many people who choose fast food options do it because of the cost and are not even acutely aware of how unhealthy the meals are; they are simply looking for the most food for their money to feed their families. I wonder, then, who is pushing for the more humane sources of eggs and pork; I suppose Burger King is so far reaching that there are enough casual patrons that are interested to some degree in humane choices that it yields a powerful enough impact to elicit change.
ReplyDeleteThese are superb comments to an excellent post. Good job all of you on tying all these issues together with our class viewing and discussions.
ReplyDelete