Presentation short abstract

Food system research shows that the easy equation of ethics with vegetarianism has led to invisible harms and diminished responsibility to other people and non-farm animals. This paper argues that an ethical response to harm must incorporate knowledge about and accountability to harm.

Presentation long abstract

The overwhelming consensus in the world of food ethics, is to eat "mostly plants." However, food system research shows that the easy equation of ethics with vegetarianism has led to invisible harms and diminished responsibility to other people and non-farm animals. Very little evidence is marshalled to support these conclusions aside from problematic and controversial claims for how a plant-based diet is ethical or environmentally-friendly, while deeper investigation reveals the widespread harms of plant-based foods. A primary driver of harm in the food system and especially with plant-based alternatives is the perpetuation of unseen and unacknowledged hierarchies between and among humans and nonhumans. This paper combines social theory, philosophy, and academic research to reveal the harms of all food consumption, and how an ethical response to them must incorporate knowledge about and accountability to harm.