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Where our food comes from : Why does it matter?
Where our food comes from : Why does it matter?
Knowing where our food comes from is important for many reasons :
Knowing where our food comes from is important for many reasons :
- It provides transparency regarding ingredients and farming practices, helping us avoid harmful chemicals and reduce the risks of foodborne illnesses.
- It allows us to help protect the environment by choosing local produce, supporting sustainable farming, and reducing land use impact.
- It allows us to eat ethically by ensuring animal welfare, supporting local farmers, and promoting fair labour practices.
The videos below show how a range of foods get from their original locations to our homes :
The videos below show how a range of foods get from their original locations to our homes :
What is the ethical impact of your food?
What is the ethical impact of your food?
Knowing the ethical impact of your food choices is the first step in making an individual difference. There are several ways to measure the effect of your choices :-
Knowing the ethical impact of your food choices is the first step in making an individual difference. There are several ways to measure the effect of your choices :-
- Look for welfare branding on meat products, such as 'RSPCA Assured' .
- Look for meat alternatives, such as Quorn or other meat substitutes
- Look for socially conscious practices, such as 'Fairtrade' or other schemes which support farmers.
What is the environmental impact of your food?
What is the environmental impact of your food?
Knowing the environmental impact of your food choices is the first step in making an individual difference. There are several ways to measure the effect of your choices on the environment:-
Knowing the environmental impact of your food choices is the first step in making an individual difference. There are several ways to measure the effect of your choices on the environment:-
- What are the 'Food Miles' associated with your food?
- What is the 'Carbon Footprint ' for your food?
- Is the food produced in a 'Carbon Neutral' way, or do the producers take part in a 'Carbon Offsetting' scheme.
Food Miles
Food Miles
Food miles are the distances that your food travels from where it is grown to where it is consumed. They are used as a measure of the environmental impact of food production, along with factors such as transportation and greenhouse gas emissions.
Food miles are the distances that your food travels from where it is grown to where it is consumed. They are used as a measure of the environmental impact of food production, along with factors such as transportation and greenhouse gas emissions.
Nutella - 28,731 Miles
Nutella - 28,731 Miles
Nutella is one of the more internationally sourced foods. With the hazelnuts travelling over 2,260 miles from Turkey, the palm oil from Malaysia (6,485 miles) and the sugar and soya coming from Brazil (5,447 miles), it all adds up.
Nutella is one of the more internationally sourced foods. With the hazelnuts travelling over 2,260 miles from Turkey, the palm oil from Malaysia (6,485 miles) and the sugar and soya coming from Brazil (5,447 miles), it all adds up.
Snickers - 50,791 Miles
Snickers - 50,791 Miles
Easily one of the most well-travelled products, Snickers bars contain ingredients from all over the world.
Easily one of the most well-travelled products, Snickers bars contain ingredients from all over the world.
Some of these include: coconut oil from the Philippines (6,795 miles), peanuts from Argentina (7,291 miles) and vanilla extract from Mexico (5,454 miles).
Some of these include: coconut oil from the Philippines (6,795 miles), peanuts from Argentina (7,291 miles) and vanilla extract from Mexico (5,454 miles).
However, Snickers bars do contain some local ingredients too, with skimmed milk powder and egg white powder coming from the UK.
However, Snickers bars do contain some local ingredients too, with skimmed milk powder and egg white powder coming from the UK.
Big Mac - 8,050 Miles
Big Mac - 8,050 Miles
For such a global icon, the average Big Mac in the UK is surprisingly local, at least compared to some of the other foods. This is due to McDonalds’ commitment to using local producers for their food items.
For such a global icon, the average Big Mac in the UK is surprisingly local, at least compared to some of the other foods. This is due to McDonalds’ commitment to using local producers for their food items.
As such, the buns come from Oxford (77.5 miles), the beef patties from Scunthorpe or Waterford, Ireland (270 miles on average), the lettuce from Chichester or Spain (557.4 miles on average – it’s seasonal), the cheese from Northern Ireland (509.2 miles) and the Big Mac sauce from Lancashire (222.6 miles).
As such, the buns come from Oxford (77.5 miles), the beef patties from Scunthorpe or Waterford, Ireland (270 miles on average), the lettuce from Chichester or Spain (557.4 miles on average – it’s seasonal), the cheese from Northern Ireland (509.2 miles) and the Big Mac sauce from Lancashire (222.6 miles).
Only the onions and pickles come from further afield: the onion from the US (4,484 miles) and the pickles from Turkey (1,930 miles).
Only the onions and pickles come from further afield: the onion from the US (4,484 miles) and the pickles from Turkey (1,930 miles).
Carbon Footprint of your food
Carbon Footprint of your food
How far your food has travelled is not the only indicator of its environmental impact, however. The process of growing/rearing, farming, processing, storage and transport methods all affects how much carbon dioxide is emitted by your food across the supply chain. This is know as the Carbon Footprint (or Foodprint) of your food.
How far your food has travelled is not the only indicator of its environmental impact, however. The process of growing/rearing, farming, processing, storage and transport methods all affects how much carbon dioxide is emitted by your food across the supply chain. This is know as the Carbon Footprint (or Foodprint) of your food.
The diagram below shows some of the average amount of Greenhouse gases released globally per kg of product, including how this is split up across its supply chain:-
The diagram below shows some of the average amount of Greenhouse gases released globally per kg of product, including how this is split up across its supply chain:-
Carbon Neutral & Offsetting
Carbon Neutral & Offsetting
For a food to be considered 'Carbon Neutral', the carbon emissions throughout the life cycle of a product need to be calculated. This includes emissions caused by raw materials, production, distribution, processing and packaging of the product as well as what happens at the end of the products life.
For a food to be considered 'Carbon Neutral', the carbon emissions throughout the life cycle of a product need to be calculated. This includes emissions caused by raw materials, production, distribution, processing and packaging of the product as well as what happens at the end of the products life.
These emissions are then offset through certified carbon offset projects. Carbon offset projects are projects that contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases.
These emissions are then offset through certified carbon offset projects. Carbon offset projects are projects that contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases.
For example, these might be afforestation or forest conservation projects that reduce the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere by creating additional or preserving existing wooded areas or projects that support the transition to renewable energy or biomass.
For example, these might be afforestation or forest conservation projects that reduce the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere by creating additional or preserving existing wooded areas or projects that support the transition to renewable energy or biomass.
Carbon offsetting schemes can sometimes be criticised, however, as they could be seen as an excuse for companies not to work towards reducing their actual emissions; that it is better to reduce the emissions at source, rather than trying to clean them up afterwards.
Carbon offsetting schemes can sometimes be criticised, however, as they could be seen as an excuse for companies not to work towards reducing their actual emissions; that it is better to reduce the emissions at source, rather than trying to clean them up afterwards.
The video below shows an overview of Carbon Offsetting:-
The video below shows an overview of Carbon Offsetting:-
Reducing the environmental impact of your food : Alternative Choices
Reducing the environmental impact of your food : Alternative Choices
One of the key ways to reduce your food's Carbon Footprint is simply to make more informed choices. By knowing what types of food are high Carbon emitters, you can make choices that can reduce this impact.
One of the key ways to reduce your food's Carbon Footprint is simply to make more informed choices. By knowing what types of food are high Carbon emitters, you can make choices that can reduce this impact.
The table below has been produced by the Scottish Government in partnership with the Climate Challenge Fund to show changes that you can make to reduce the Carbon Footprint of your food:-
The table below has been produced by the Scottish Government in partnership with the Climate Challenge Fund to show changes that you can make to reduce the Carbon Footprint of your food:-
To find out how your personal food choices impact the environment, please click on the image below to access an interactive Food Impact calculator:-
To find out how your personal food choices impact the environment, please click on the image below to access an interactive Food Impact calculator:-
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