How What You Eat Affects The Environment
Eating patterns can drastically alter the environment, but consumers may not be aware of how their meal planning has an impact.
Beef, chicken, and pork farms can take up hundreds of acres of land. Fish farms are often located on the shore of a lake or ocean. Although responsible owners may recycle waste and other byproducts, many factory farms choose simple disposal because of the cost. This leads to contaminated soil and water. Organic farms may claim to raise their animals safely, but they have a significant land use footprint without producing as much product as factory farms.
Cheap food may be sourced from countries without high environmental standards. For example, China has dealt with tainted meat, milk, and vegetables within the last five years. Hundreds of people have died in each scandal, and thousands experienced severe illnesses. Lax environmental standards lead to increased air pollution, the loss of fertile land, and unhealthy consumers.
Food costs are necessary expenses for any budget. Food with the least impact on the environment may be too expensive for many people, but consumers can upgrade to a slightly better option than their current choice of foods. Even a small improvement can make a difference.