For those who limit their meat consumption according to ethical codes, there is a useful name – the ethical omnivore. Like the terms “vegetarian”, “lacto-ovo vegetarian”, “pescetarian” and so on, the term “ethical omnivore” describes what a person eats – ethically-raised meat and other foods. Like the term “vegan”, it also implies a philosophy (as opposed to vegetarianism, which can be adhered to for reasons of cost, food preferences or health rather than philosophy).
What Do Ethical Omnivores Eat?
The term “ethical omnivore” does not absolutely delineate an individual’s diet. Nearly all ethical omnivores are opposed to CAFO-type feedlots, and will not eat factory-farmed meats. This usually includes farmed salmon. Most ethical omnivores will not eat conventionally-raised turkey, chicken and veal, as intensively raising these animals results in particularly high levels of cruelty.
Other ethical omnivores object to meat obtained by killing a very young animal, such as veal and lamb. Still others require the animals to be fed similar foods to their natural diet – for example, grass-fed beef instead of soy- or corn-fed.
Ethical omnivorism is not just about animal cruelty. Issues such as local and sustainable farming, organic feed, genetically-modified organisms and antibiotics are generally tied into the ethical omnivore philosophy. An ethical omnivore may be just as concerned about the production of the bread he or she eats as the meat inside the bread.
Why Use the Term “Ethical Omnivore”?
Some people object that the term “ethical omnivore” sounds holier-than-thou. On the other hand, those who believe killing an animal for food is inherently immoral find the term oxymoronic.
Dubbing oneself an ethical omnivore, however, is a useful way to convey dietary preferences to others. In a restaurant, it can be a signal to the waiter that the diner may eat fresh-caught fish but not feedlot beef. Some ethical omnivores try to avoid the issue by calling themselves vegetarians, but this not only limits their food options if acceptable meat is available, but causes confusion if they then eat non-vegetarian food such as cheese. Vegetarians frustrated by non-red-meat-eaters co-opting the term, leading to the “vegetarians eat chicken” canard, should appreciate the efforts of ethical omnivores not to further muddy the waters!
Ethical Omnivores in the Media
Michael Pollan’s diatribes on the Standard American Diet, In Defense of Food and The Omnivore’s Dilemma, did much to popularise ethical omnivorism. The related film Food, Inc further disseminated information about factory-farmed meat and the politics of US agriculture, prompting more people to join the ethical omnivore bandwagon.
The Weston A Price Foundation, which promotes a Traditional Foods diet, is also in favour of ethical omnivorism, although the Foundation comes from the perspective of human health rather than animal rights. Ethically, sustainably grown animals and plant foods tend to be more nutrient-dense, tasty and healthy than their conventionally-grown counterparts. WAPF’s Sally Fallon has published a cookbook, Nourishing Traditions, which promotes ethical omnivorism.
Sarah Tennant - Sarah Tennant is a onetime English major who lives in New Zealand with her husband and two small children. Her interests range from ...
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