Ethical Food

Derrik Stevenson
ENG 4U1
Ms. Jeon
April 22, 2014


In the average North American supermarket there is 47,000 products, 78% of which have
been genetically modified (Food inc.). But what does genetically modified (GM) mean?
Genetically modified foods started in the 1990s, when scientists started engineering seeds
through many techniques. This led to the very first genetically modified food, the Flavr Savr
Tomato which was approved by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) in 1994 (David
Suzuki).
The original intent when genetically engineering seeds was to create crops that were able
to sustain harsh weather with very little maintenance to lower the price of the food and solve the
world hunger crisis. Yet this is not what happened. Instead the pesticides that were engineered
into the foods, to prevent insects from affecting the crop, became too common and the insects
mutated to be immune to them. This has led to farmers using more chemicals which then raises
the cost, meaning that our food is not only expensive but unnaturally modified as well (Living
Green).
This wasnt the only change. In fact there has been more of a change in our food system
in the past 100 years, than there has been in the last 10,000 years (Food inc.). Another example
of change was in the 1930s when raw milk started to be replaced by pasteurized milk, then
leading to the sale of raw milk to be illegal. Yet it has been proven that raw milk benefits
outweigh the benefits of pasteurized milk (Farmageddon).
It is impractical to eat a 100% ethical diet. One where a person can look at every food
they eat and say that this animal was treated fairly, this farmer was able to farm without being
harassed by the government, etc. Employees are not treated properly from the large multi-billion
dollar food companies. As well as, government agencies are constantly trying to shut down small
organic farmers. Finally, the animals in todays farms are treated with no respect and suffer
constantly.
There are people who say this is false, that everyone has the choice, and anyone can
decide to eat an ethical diet. Yet research has proven that the effects of the chemicals and
pesticides are much greater than what we think. A 10 year U.S. geological survey found that
97% of tested streams has pesticide partials present (Living Green). Not only are these particles
getting into the water supply, but they have also been found to be air-borne, proving that is not
practical to say any crop is truly organic.
In 1970, the top five beef packers in the world made up 25% of the industry, today the
top four beef packers make up 80% of the industry. Tyson, Cargill, JBS, and National beef
control the beef industry and are some of the cruelest companies in existence. When a farmer
signs a contract with Tyson to farm chickens they must spend $300,000 on a poultry house
(Food inc.). They are then bombarded constantly with upgrades to their facilities and have no
choice but to complete these upgrades or they will be brought to courts, and most likely go to
prison for evading their contract. These upgrades cost thousands of dollars, which the farmers do
not have. If a farmer has two poultry houses they make around $18,000 per year, and each farmer
is currently on average $500,000 in debt. Some of this debt comes from their attempt to fight for
their right in court, which they often lose the big corporations (Food inc.).
Smithfield Foods is the largest pork producer in the world, with an astounding 102,000
hogs processed per day (Meatami). Not only is Smithfield abusing these animals and
slaughtering at a senseless number, they are also treating workers poorly. Smithfield is notorious
for hiring illegal immigrants from Mexico in their facilities. They have an agreement with the
local police in Tar Hill, NC which allows for fifteen of their illegal workers to be arrested per
day which they will give an address and information about, in exchange for their processing
facility (the worlds largest) to not be raided (Food inc.).
The farmers contracted under Smithfield, similar to Tyson arent making what they
should. Smithfields current annual income is around $13,000,000,000 yet they only paid out
around $360,000,000 in 2013. This results in from total revenue, Smithfield only paid out 2.75%
of revenue to the farmers that make their operation work (Smithfield).
Todays farms are not really farms at all, rather they are factories, large buildings
processing thousands of pounds of livestock and crops daily. In 1950 the average farmed chicken
was alive for 70 days, today that number is now 48 days and when the chicken is killed it weighs
double of what it did in 1950 (Food inc.). Also if the package of your chicken does not say
free-range, grass-fed, or any other benefits alike, the chicken most likely has not been outside or
seen the sun. Chickens are often unable to walk as the steroids that are given make them big, yet
do they not have the muscle capability of moving more than a few feet before tumbling over
(Farmageddon). Beaks are also cut off to prevent the chickens from pecking peers and the
farmers (Living Green). None of these facts appear to the public to be an ethical way to
produce our chicken. This is the same way with pork and beef are raised as well; kept in small
pens, some unable to turn around.
Furthermore these animals are not fed their native diets. Most farm animals would
typically eat grass, yet it is corn which is being fed to them. Corn is heavily subsidised by the
U.S. government, allowing for it to be very cheaply produced. In fact 30% of crops in the U.S
are corn crops, much of which is not for human consumption, rather animal consumption
(Food inc.). Changing an animals diet can cause sickness which then leads to outbreaks of
disease which then harms humans. This is no different than if we were to do this to humans, if
we were to only eat grass from now on, sickness would occur and there would be an epidemic.
The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) makes running an organic farm
almost impossible to do. In many cases the USDA has spent millions of dollars investigating
family owned farms that produce organic food. Linda Faillace of Vermont wanted to start an
organic sheep milk farm, and purchased sheep from New Zealand. After a USDA inspection, it
was declared that the sheep had Mad Cow disease, which is impossible for a sheep to get. The
USDA requested that Mrs. Faillace surrender her sheep, but she refused. And investigation then
started, with constant vehicles parked outside her house, and customers of hers being followed as
well (Farmageddon).
A court case was then opened. While the trial was still underway the USDA invaded their
property and seized all sheep, took them away and then killed them all. Days later they came
back and took all of the hay away as well, because it was Contaminated. Larry (Lindas
husband) followed the trucks to see that the hay was dumped in a local landfill, proving it was
not actually dangerous. 18 months later the USDA gave the Faillices $1300 per sheep in
compensation, though the original cost was $5000. In a statement from the USDA it said, It was
because they held a fight that the compensation was dramatically lower than expected
(Farmageddon).
After constant appeals and court dates, in 2008 the court ordered the USDA to release the
tests that were taken from the sheep in 2000. The test results showed no disease found in the
animals at all. This is one of many examples of government agencies hurting small families
whos intent was to better the lives of others. But why is the USDA doing this? Many executives
from large companies like Tyson and Smithfield, leave their positions to go to executive
positions at the USDA and FDA. They are in their positions to not help the government or what
their association governs, rather to help their former companies excel (Farmageddon).
Unfortunately it is impractical with the way our developed society works to eat a 100%
ethical diet, in which we can be proud of. The issues start at the being of the process, our
farmers are not treated properly with low wages and strict procedures. There is no more respect
paid to the animals themselves, which have been modified with antibiotics and steroids, and
suffer every day from abuse. Finally, there are the people who are trying to do well, the farmers
who are trying to feed society healthy organic products yet are unable to due to government
agencies who are only interested in helping the multi-billion dollar corporations. Change can be
made, and there is no reason for change to not be made we as a society need to realize what this
food is doing to us. In 1826 Anthelme Brillat-Savarin said, Tell me what you eat and I will tell
you what you are which to this day leaves much food for thought on the status of our food
system.

Bibliography

Farmageddon. Dir. Kristin Canty. 2011. Internet.
Food inc. Dir. Robert Kenner. 2008. Internet.
Food Matters. Dir. Carlo Ledesma James Colquhoun. 2008. Internet.
Heffernan, Jason and Virginia Hillers. "Attitudes of consumers living in Washington regarding food
biotechnology." (2002). web.
Meatami. November 2010. Web. 17 April 2014.
Vancouver Sun. "What are GMO's and Why are they here?" 2014. News Paper.
World Book. Living Green: Producing and Obtaining Food. Chicago: World Book, 2009. book.





Middle Stage:
My persuasive essay on ethical food shows great improvement from my persuasive paragraph.
My arguments were all supported well, along with a strong thesis. I did fall behind in the form, as this
was the first non-five paragraph essay I had written so it was a learning experience. Expanding my
research would also help to better my understandings and make for a better essay.