Food miles versus personal health?
Feb 06
The acai berry has been found to help numerous ailments, make people feel better, increase energy, etc. This all comes at a time when people are becoming more and more of their diet and personal health. However, there is also the “green” effort. Celebrities drive fuel efficient cars and throw solar panels on their roofs, whether it’s a move to improve reputation and gain publicity doesn’t really matter – if they’re helping the environment, who cares? But what about this amazing little purple berry that has to be transported from Brazil right when “food miles” is starting to pick up steam. Retailer Tesco, for example, puts carbon footprint information on the packaging of some of their products.
Datamonitor consumer analyst Michael Hughes told FoodNavigator.com: “Consumers are more concerned about their own individual needs than the environment.” Is the distance the acai berry has to travel acceptable? How much pollution is it generating? And do the benefits outweigh the drawbacks? Carbon emissions versus personal health?
