Ethical Considerations

StakeholdersEnvironmentHumans

healthcommunitiesemployees

AnimalsSuppliers

Retail ValueIn 2006, the retail value of the US beef

industry was $71 billionUS broiler was $41 billionUS pork was $38 billionIn 2009, the egg industry was valued at $6

billionSelect corporations: Tyson, Smithfield,

ConAgra, Contigroup, and Seaboard Corporation.

Factory Farms

Environmental concerns

Deforestation

Water PollutionTyson, world’s

largest producer of chicken meat, dumped wastewater from its poultry plant in Edalia, Missouri in a tributary of the Lamine River. They paid $7.5 million in fines.

Climate ChangeAccording to the Food and Agriculture

Organization of the United Nations, animal agribusiness is responsible for 18%, or nearly one-fifth, of human-induced greenhouse gas emissions, more than all the world’s transportation sector.

“Given the amount of energy consumed raising, shipping, and selling livestock, a 16 oz. steak is like a Hummer on a plate.” (Time Magazine 2007)

CommunitiesLower property values

Environmental racismThe poorest areas throughout North Carolina have 18

times more hog farms than the wealthiest areas. (Handout, 5)

Residents can suffer from the effects of related air pollution such as skin and eye irritation, coughing, asthma headaches and sleep loss. (Handout, 7)

Human Health Antibiotic Resistance83% of all chicken

meat (including organic and antibiotic-free brands) is infected with either campylobacter or salmonella at the time of purchase (Foer, 139).

E. coli Virus mutations (e.g.

avian flu, H1N1).

Employees 71% of the farmers

who work under contract for Tyson (world’s largest chicken producer) earn below poverty-level wages (Handout, 6).

Farmer autonomy?Pressures to go big

Slaughterhouse Workers

Animals10 billion animals per year

In the US, there is no federal law governing the welfare of farmed animals while on farms. Federal protections apply to transportation methods and slaughterhouse practices only (Singer 45).

Gestation Crates

Egg Layers: Battery Cages and Male Chicks

BroilersChickens raised for

meat consumption.Americans eat 150

times as many chickens as we did only 80 years ago.

Genetically designed to grow quickly.

Cattle

The Killing Floor

The Killing FloorToday the killing line

for chickens typically moves at 90 birds per minute (Singer 26).

180 million are improperly slaughtered each year (Foer, 133)

Inspectors have 2 seconds for each bird

RecapEnvironmental damage

Sustainable?Communities

Social justice?Human health

Long term consequences?Employees

Welfare and rights?Animals

Welfare and compassion?

Where to we go from here?

Proposition 2 (2008)

Leading the way

Veganism is a $2.8 billion market

Wide Circle Vegan Investment Fundhttp://widecriclefund.comDrivers of future

growth:EnvironmentPublic healthEthics

Companies that sell vegan productsArcher Daniels

Midland (NYSE: ADM)Dean Foods (NYSE:

DF)Kellogg Company

(NYSE: K)Kraft (NYSE: KFT)The Kroger Company

(NYSE: KR)Tofutti Brands

(AMEX: TOF)

Whole Foods Markey, Inc. (NASDAQ: WFMI)

What can we do?

Eat less meatImpact legislationTell othersGo vegetarian/veganSupport

organizations