Publication date: August 24, 2021
The pamphlet "Ethics of Eating. Food and Relationship" by Adriano Fabris explores the act of eating as an ethical and relational gesture. Fabris argues that eating is a specific and problematic way of relating to other living beings and the world, and as such, it can be done well or poorly.
Starting from this premise, the author analyzes key concepts of food ethics, such as the distinction between nourishment and feeding, the latter understood as a cultural act that involves transformation through cooking. Furthermore, he examines the sacred and profane dimensions of food, highlighting how modern consumerism turns food from a resource into a commodity, with negative consequences for small producers and the environment.
Fabris introduces the concept of "food citizenship," reflecting on every individual's right to safe food and the need to ensure the safety of the food supply chain. The author acknowledges that the act of eating inevitably involves a form of violence, as it implies the killing of other living beings. However, he proposes transforming this awareness into responsibility by adopting the "principle of relation" to guide food choices.
In conclusion, Fabris states that food is a symbol of all the relationships that involve us: with ourselves, with others, and with the environment. Eating ethically means creating a balanced and responsible relationship with this core of relationships that is our daily food.
