*Food, Morality, and Religion

 Food choice as a reflection of one's morality or ethics?

The article argues for the ethical dilemma in food choice. How are the decisions we make about the food we consume and purchase impacting the environment? Where does the chicken we buy come from? And what about the fruits and vegetables? Are we reducing our "carbon footprint" by purchasing what we consider "organic" foods? Are farmers getting fair wages? Well, depending on where our foods are made and how they are imported/exported the answer will vary. While the article does touch on factory farming and mass production, it asks a basic question with regard to ecology. The researchers wish to promote healthier eating habits as well as environmental sustainability.

In extension, food and religion is a topic that has surfaced in the areas of economics, government, and law.With a market for 'kosher' and 'halal' foods as well as foods that we do not consider morally wrong e.g. the recent horse meat incident in the UK, the intersection between religion, economics, government, and law has been an interesting one. To what extent should governments regulate this market so that companies, suppliers, are adhering to the standards of demand? And where does the law come in? Can a lawsuit be filed under not upholding particular standard or should it go with the lawsuits that imply false advertising and averse consequences upon the people? The economy and governments answer these questions in various ways.

Without making any particular stance, it will be something that will need to be addressed further. Instead of making broad ethical arguments of morality and virtue, when such arguments are placed into practical contexts such as food consumption, distribution, and workings of the market, the ethical and moral theories fall slightly short and into gray areas that require exegesis. Would it not be more fruitful if we did indeed direct our attention to contemporary and practical concerns? Philosophers and theologians who wish to address ethical and moral concerns, should apply their understandings to areas like food choice - consumption and distribution, or actual concerns between governments, corruption, and the economy. I, personally, would like to see more of this as opposed to theories of how persons ought to be or should be or what kind of virtuous character one should or ought to have.