The Inner Mammal is not going to get up on its hind legs and bang a drum on this topic at every opportunity, but it does take a definite stance on the food that appears on its table. Basically, this is that the food we eat should be produced without causing misery and suffering to human or animal, and that the ways in which it is produced should be sustainable and respectful of the environment.
Like most sentient beings, the Mammal is pretty inconsistent in adhering to its principles. Avoiding inhumanely produced meat and meat products is a moral imperative, but beyond that it frequently throws up its paws in defeat. It will eat non-organic fruit and veg, and, though buying Fairtrade and ethically-sourced food and ingredients where possible, tries not to think too hard of the conditions in which some of what it eats may have been produced.
It buys almost all of its meat and as much other food as possible in specialist butchers and grocers and in farm shops, but finds supermarkets indispensable for filling the gaps, and can only do its best by shopping in those that appear to make a genuine effort to stock ethical products and to treat their staff and suppliers at least better than their competitors do.
As it is a courteous and convivial Mammal, it avoids airing its opinions when served a 'non-compliant' meal as the guest of a family member or friend, though it might politely refuse large or second portions, or confine itself unobtrusively to certain items, where there is a choice.
All in all, it could probably try harder on those aspects of its beliefs that are more awkward to put into practice, but is a busy Mammal and lacks the single-mindedness required for consistency in these matters.
Some links to organizations upholding an ethical approach are given on the right; more information will be added to this page from time to time.
