Eco Friendly Food Decisions

In the current era there are many more aspects to deciding what food we eat then there ever have been before. There is an endless amount of information at your finger tips at all times about what food serves what nutritional purpose, what amounts of what food are healthy, etc. . Also, food is much more accessible. Fruits that are not in season all year round can be shipped from across the world to still be available year round. Although this is great in regards to fulfilling dietary needs easily, it is not the most eco-friendly way to eat. Food that is shipped, stored, preserved, or treated all have extra side effects on the environment that buyers should be aware of. Here is a list of some foods and the amount of CO2 that is emitted for their production.

Single cheeseburger - 7 - 14 lbs CO2
Pound of lamb - ~ 16 lbs CO2
Pound of beef - ~ 15 lbs CO2
Pound of pork - 6.75 lbs CO2
Pound of chicken - 3.37 lbs CO2
Pound of wild tuna - 4.5 lbs CO2
Pound of wild-caught shrimp - 2.7 lbs
Pound of wild salmon - 0.06 lbs CO2
Pound of hothouse tomatoes - ~ 9 lbs CO2
Pound of potatoes - ~ .4 lbs CO2
Quart of milk - ~ 3 pounds CO2 equivalent

The UK has recently started a fad regarding the idea of making food items more earth friendly. The creation of a Carbon Reduction Label is sported on various items, including food. The Carbon Reduction Label is taken on by certain brands as a way to show consumers that they are working to decrease their carbon footprint. For example, certain orange juices will compare stating that more energy is required to store and transport pure juice than concentrated juice. When deciding what food to buy one does not usually think that it is having a great impact on the environment, but in short every decision is making a difference. As a consumer it is important to know information that will keep you happy, healthy, and why not eco friendly at the same time? The easiest way to comply with eco friendly decisions is to keep your food local, organic, and in season. Although, this is not always the easiest option it is one that has positive long term effects on the environment that we are creating for future generations.

References:
http://www.nature.org/greenliving/carboncalculator/
http://urbanaillinois.us/market
http://www.localharvest.org/
http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/340/1/The-carbon-footprint-of-food-.html

Happy Eatings!
-Anth249 H