Peter Singer, "Consider the Turkey" (Princeton UP, 2024)
New Books in Critical Theory
Deep Dive
Why did Peter Singer write 'Consider the Turkey'?
Peter Singer wrote 'Consider the Turkey' to highlight the ethical and environmental issues surrounding the mass production and consumption of turkeys, particularly during Thanksgiving. He aims to raise awareness about the cruelty in factory farming, the health risks, and the potential for pandemics like avian flu. The book also encourages readers to consider vegetarian alternatives for holiday meals.
How many turkeys are raised and killed annually in the United States?
More than 200 million turkeys are raised and killed each year in the United States, with around 46 million consumed specifically during Thanksgiving.
What is speciesism, and how does it relate to the treatment of turkeys?
Speciesism is the belief that humans are inherently superior to animals, justifying their exploitation and suffering. It manifests in the way turkeys are treated as commodities, bred in factory farms, and subjected to inhumane conditions. This ideology parallels historical racism, where dominant groups exploited those they deemed inferior.
What are the conditions like for turkeys raised in factory farms?
Turkeys in factory farms are bred to have unnaturally large breasts, making natural mating impossible and requiring artificial insemination. They are kept in overcrowded sheds, mutilated without anesthesia, and suffer from skeletal abnormalities due to rapid weight gain. They live in stressful, unsanitary conditions until they are slaughtered.
What is ventilation shutdown plus, and why is it controversial?
Ventilation shutdown plus is a method used in the U.S. to kill large numbers of birds, typically during avian flu outbreaks. It involves sealing sheds, turning off ventilation, and heating the birds to death over several hours. This method is considered inhumane and is not used in other countries, where more humane alternatives like nitrogen gas are preferred.
How does the turkey industry contribute to environmental waste?
The turkey industry is highly inefficient, with only about one-third of the nutritional value of the food fed to turkeys being returned as meat. The majority is wasted, contributing to environmental strain, including land use, fertilizer pollution, and carbon emissions. Reducing turkey consumption could free up resources for more sustainable practices.
What is the significance of the U.S. presidential turkey pardon?
The U.S. presidential turkey pardon is a symbolic ritual that began as a publicity stunt by the National Turkey Federation. It is seen as hypocritical, as it distracts from the inhumane treatment of millions of turkeys raised for consumption. The ritual does not address the ethical issues of factory farming.
Why does 'Consider the Turkey' include ethical recipes?
The book includes ethical recipes to provide readers with vegetarian and vegan alternatives to traditional turkey dishes. These recipes, contributed by Singer and his friends, aim to make it easier for people to adopt more sustainable and compassionate eating habits during holidays like Thanksgiving.
- 46 million turkeys sold at Thanksgiving in the US alone
- Over 200 million turkeys raised and killed each year in the US
- The tradition of turkey at Thanksgiving is relatively recent, developing in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
- Wild turkeys live very different lives than factory-farmed birds
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