How to Be a Conscious Eater

aimed at a business audience, you can still use it to learn

about the human rights track record of a fishery before

you buy.

If no third-party labels are available and you’re unsure

about a product you’re considering buying at a grocery

store or restaurant, ask questions. “Where is the farmed

shrimp from exactly? Was the fish on your menu caught

legally?” Transparency is not merely the modern currency

of the retail and restaurant worlds—it is your right.

Check for country of origin. The majority of shrimp we eat

in the United States is imported, so you’ve got to be vigilant.

Clearly, shrimp from Thailand remains untrustworthy, so

I’d avoid it altogether until we can be sure it’s free of human

rights violations. Shrimp from US sources—North Carolina,

Louisiana, Florida, Texas, and Alaska—are safer choices.

Surprised to see how much more those options may cost?

This is a reflection of how artificially low the prices have

been set for shrimp from ill-gotten sources—stealing

wages, well-being, and dignity from the people laboring to

get it to us.

Being a conscious eater doesn’t mean forking over your

entire paycheck to support only the top-of-the-line products

or precious artisanal foods. But it does mean being aware of

the true cost of food—and doing everything in your power and

within your means to adjust your expectations and weekly

shopping habits accordingly.

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