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What are some food items that cost less than what they "should"? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 9 months ago by otp@sh.itjust.works to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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Bananas are ridiculously cheap even up here in Canada, and they aren't grown anywhere near here. Yet a banana can grow, be harvested, be shipped, be stocked, and then be purchased by me for less than it'd cost to mail a letter across town. (Well, if I could buy a single banana maybe...or maybe that's not the best comparison, but I think you get my point)

Along the banana's journey, the farmer, the harvester, the shipper, the grocer, the clerk, and the cashier all (presumably) get paid. Yet a single banana is mere cents. If you didn't know any better, you might think a single banana should cost $10!

I'm presuming that this is because of some sort of exploitation somewhere down the line, or possibly loss-leading on the grocery store's side of things.

I'm wondering what other products like bananas are a lot cheaper than they "should" be (e.g., based on how far they have to travel, or how difficult they are to produce, or how much money we're saving "unethically").

I've heard that this applies to coffee and chocolate to varying extents, but I'm not certain.

Anyone know any others?

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[-] vividspecter@lemm.ee 15 points 9 months ago

The problem is that you are still contributing to demand for meat. It would be impossible to meet all of the current demand by "ethical" means, so the only way for meat to become more ethical across the whole industry is for the demand for meat to go down massively (or the supply is reduced by legislation). And I don't see that legislation being likely if people are still so invested in eating meat.

[-] federatingIsTooHard@lemmy.world -4 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

the only way for meat to become more ethical across the whole industry is for the demand for meat to go down massively (or the supply is reduced by legislation).

this presupposes that ethical production is not the norm despite animal welfare laws and humane slaughter being the norm in the entire developed world, and also shows a great lack of imagination and a misunderstanding of economic theories.

industry creates is own demand. you aren't going to stop big meat by buying beans. there use no amount of beans you can buy that will change how many head of cattle a rancher keeps.

[-] JubilantJaguar@lemmy.world 8 points 9 months ago

Factory farming is indeed legal. You seem to be suggesting that it is ethically defensible as well. That's a serious stretch if you know what it really looks like, even in the most restrictive jurisdictions, i.e. Western Europe. The only charitable explanation is that you have not looked into the subject very deeply.

[-] federatingIsTooHard@lemmy.world -3 points 9 months ago

what I said is that animal welfare laws and humane slaughter laws are the norm in the western world. I said nothing about legality of factory farming implying morality. I'm saying there are legal restrictions to ensure it is humane.

[-] JubilantJaguar@lemmy.world 4 points 9 months ago

Yes, and I am saying that you clearly do not understand the reality of what goes on in the average factory farm. Or do not care. But I prefer to imagine that it's ignorance, that is less disturbing.

[-] federatingIsTooHard@lemmy.world -2 points 9 months ago

you have no basis for these accusations. you have no idea what I know or what I care about.

this post was submitted on 19 Jan 2024

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