Food And Drinks You'll Want To Stop Buying After You Learn How They're Made

We've all been working around the clock trying to make something of our lives, with an intensity that's taking a toll on us and the environment. The trade-off of modern society becomes unmistakably clear as soon as we follow the trail of our food supply chain. Every steak we grill, and every banana we peel has a story to tell that can make us uncomfortable. However, as we grow and continue to expand as a civilization, it's now on each of us to understand the impact we make on distant communities around the world with each dollar we spend at the grocery store.

Simple changes in our diet lead to significant changes in our sustainability record. But where do we start? With the meat and dairy industries definitely getting enough media coverage, we sometimes may miss the actual magnitude of the problem. From Californian almonds ripping off vital water resources to cramped chickens in their tiny forever homes, the list of foods in the red is much longer than we would like it to be.

People get pretty fired up whenever a beef topic is mentioned. While Healthline reports that most of us will not see significant health effects from eating red meat, beef production's impact on our environment is undeniable. As our craving for beef grows stronger, so does the harm being done to our planet.

Producing beef requires significant resources, including land, water, and feed, meaning vast areas of forests are often cleared to make room for grazing or to cultivate animal feed crops like soybeans and corn. This deforestation has a detrimental impact on delicate ecosystems and results in habitat loss. Shockingly, beef farming alone is responsible for 7% of global emissions. And when we add ethical concerns from the intensive confinement and often cruel conditions that cattle endure, the scale tips towards consuming less of it.

It's becoming less of a secret that shrimp farming has negative environmental consequences as it destroys essential ecosystems such as mangrove forests and coastlines that provide habitats for many species. The damage isn't only limited to the farms but also to the surrounding habitats like tidal basins, mudflats, estuaries, salt flats, and coastal marshes.

To make matters worse, antibiotics used in many of these farms promote the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that can harm human health. Meanwhile, agricultural pesticides and chemicals pollute nearby water sources, including groundwater and coastal estuaries. Although tropical climates in countries like Africa are ideal for rapid shrimp growth, intensive farming generates enormous waste and chemicals that contaminate water sources. Disease outbreaks in shrimp farms can quickly spread, resulting in significant economic losses and unemployment.

It's hard to imagine a life without corn — it's a staple that we all know and love, from the grilled corn on the cob to our favorite popcorn. However, the corn industry has grown exponentially, leaving a massive ecological footprint. Monoculture practices and the industry's overreliance on chemical fertilizers have contributed to numerous socio-environmental issues.

One of the most alarming effects of corn production is air pollution. In the United States, where corn is the most significant agricultural crop, it releases a massive amount of toxic particles into the air. The use of synthetic fertilizers, the operation of tractors, and the cultivation of land all generate air pollutants that pose a risk to human health. This widespread air pollution is linked to respiratory illnesses and even premature deaths.

Chocolate is undoubtedly indulging, as is an amazing chocolate cake. But with each bite, there comes a cost. Despite cacao being a vital cash crop, many cacao farmers in the region struggle to earn a decent livelihood. Organizations like the Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade certify cacao farming to increase biodiversity and minimize agrochemical usage, but only a tiny fraction of chocolate products are made with certified cacao.

West Africa, particularly countries like Cote d'Ivoire and Ghana, is the world's central hub for cocoa cultivation. Sadly, the increased cacao production has led to extensive deforestation in these areas. A jaw-dropping 70% of illegal deforestation in Cote d'Ivoire is linked to cacao farming. On top of environmental implications, cacao farming raises social challenges, such as rampant child labor in West African cacao farms. An estimated 2 million children are still involved in dangerous work annually.

Bluefin tuna is yet another widely consumed delicacy facing severe sustainability concerns. While farmed bluefin tuna may seem like a viable alternative to wild-caught tuna, there's more to the story than it seems. In fact, the WWF Seafood Guide has deemed both farmed and wild-caught bluefin tuna unsustainable.

Tuna is a carnivorous fish and requires a staggering 15 tons of feed for every tonne of farmed bluefin tuna. These numbers are significantly higher than farmed salmon or trout. This dubious inefficiency clearly puts farmed bluefin tuna on the blacklist. Many farmers are increasing the size of their bluefin tuna to meet the high demand and profitable market. They achieve this by feeding the fish sardine, sand eel, and cuttlefish. Still, that's nowhere near as sustainable as yellowfin tuna caught with selective handline fishing in Indonesia and the Philippines.

Ever since avocados were introduced into Europe, they have become synonymous with a healthy lifestyle. However, lately, the reputation of avocado toast as a sustainable and nutritious food option has been heavily scrutinized. The surging global demand for avocados caused a sharp price rise, adversely affecting indigenous communities who have long relied on this healthy fruit. It has hit Mexico the most, which has been the largest producer globally since the lift of the ban by the U.S. Sadly, it acted as a double-edged sword, drastically affecting the U.S. domestic sector and dwindling food security in Mexico.

Water scarcity is also a big issue since avocado farming requires considerable amounts, depriving local communities of this valuable resource. And the worst part? Mexican drug cartels routinely extort hard-working avocado farmers, forcing them to take costly security measures or give up their businesses altogether.

The global demand for piña colada has shifted from small-scale pineapple farming to large-scale monocropping. Countries like Costa Rica, where pineapple is the primary food export, face various environmental issues, from water grabbing to loss of biodiversity. The pineapple industry relies heavily on water from nearby rivers for irrigation, significantly affecting the quantity and quality of these resources. Moreover, the pesticides used in this industry, such as nematicides and insecticides, contribute to wildlife depletion. Trees that depend on insect pollination are experiencing a decline in fruit production, ultimately affecting the food security of the locals.

The continued use of hazardous pesticides contradicts Costa Rica's efforts to promote sustainable tourism and tarnishes its reputation as a sustainable destination. Surprisingly, Costa Rica has one of the highest pesticide usage rates globally, a stark contrast to the environmentally friendly image the country is trying to establish.

Bananas hold the crown as the world's most favorite fruit and they are also the most exported fruit globally, making up approximately 75% of the tropical fruit trade. While delivering ripe bananas to stores is remarkably intricate and requires high-tech solutions, the reality at the farms isn't as pretty.

The conditions and treatment of workers on many plantations remain deplorable. Efforts have been made to impose ethical certification processes on banana suppliers, but reports from Ecuadorian plantations highlight severe weaknesses in the schemes. Workers are subjected to toxic pesticides without proper protection, violating regulations and certification requirements. According to workers, the improvements are often temporary and staged for inspectors' visits.

The situation in Guatemala isn't much better. Workers do not receive fair compensation. Large companies such as Dole and Bonita pay workers as little as $13 per day without providing benefits, on top of already terrible working conditions.

Rice is a vital crop, particularly in Asia, where it is absolutely essential for sustaining the population. However, concerns about sustainability have surfaced due to the use of fertilizers and pesticides and the amount of water rice cultivation requires. One of the main challenges associated with rice farming revolves around its heavy dependence on water. Cultivating just one kilogram of rice demands a staggering 2,000 to 5,000 liters of water, making it highly susceptible to droughts. Moreover, the flooding technique employed in rice paddies contributes to methane emissions and water pollution, as the soil lacks sufficient oxygen penetration.

The issue of water management in rice cultivation may grow increasingly complex, given the repercussions of climate change, such as more frequent droughts and water scarcity. Farmers must reassess their rice-growing strategies to adapt to future scenarios where water availability becomes even more limited.

China is the world's leading exporter of pine nuts, with a significant amount of them being sent to Europe and U.S. However, due to the wild nature of pine nut harvesting, the supply chain faces inherent challenges: pines are masting trees, so harvest, and location vary wildly by year. This hard-to-follow cycle poses a significant hurdle in meeting the soaring demand for this buttery nut. Unfortunately, the Western appetite for pine nuts has already taken its toll on broadleaf forests in East Asia, raising alarming concerns about the environmental consequences of the unsustainable harvesting of conifer trees.

While pine nuts constitute a mere 1% of global tree nut production and primarily impact local ecosystems, sustainability concerns arise from the carbon footprint associated with long-distance shipping. One great solution is to support local producers and prioritize locally sourced, unshelled pine nuts as a more sustainable alternative to their imported counterparts.

Having access to strawberries all year round is a wonderful thing. Sadly, the industry has grown too reliant on hazardous chemicals like soil fumigants, which are now subjected to strict regulations. California is a prime example of this. Strawberries are California's sixth most valuable commodity, but many of the state's strawberry farms hide a darker truth. These farms are notorious for paying low wages, keeping inadequate working conditions, and using excessive pesticides.

Fumigants maintain high productivity and uninterrupted production on the same land. However, this presents a challenge when transitioning to more sustainable methods. Due to the high land cost, many growers hesitate to adopt less intensive practices. Only a handful of small farmers have employed minor crop diversification or located land in less expensive areas. This, unfortunately, means that the dream of affordable and clean year-round strawberries remains elusive.

For long, hearts of palm have been a staple in South American and Southeast Asian cuisine. This unique ingredient is extracted from the inner core of palm trees. It's grown increasingly popular in the U.S. and Europe, although the French seem to love it most. It definitely has culinary potential, especially when used as a seafood alternative.

While it is possible to grow hearts of palm sustainably, it depends on the type of palm tree. Some, like peach and acai palms, have multiple stalks and can be harvested responsibly without damaging the tree. However, a tree with only one stem, like a coconut palm, will be killed during harvesting. Although regulations exist in many regions to protect palm populations, illegal palm harvesting is still a significant problem, especially in countries like Brazil. So, if you're ever curious to try a palm hearts ceviche, check for a label indicating they were sustainably sourced first.

With the ever-increasing popularity of quinoa as a super grain worldwide, farmers in Bolivia and Peru have undoubtedly benefited from new economic opportunities. However, this newfound commodity status has significantly cost the environment and society, leading to land-related issues and environmental degradation.

Farmers face a tough challenge as they strive to meet the demand for more crops. They've already expanded their fields to new areas, only to face land erosion. To make matters worse, fewer llama herds are around to provide vital fertilizers. As a result, the locals have had to switch to cheaper, less nutritious foods like white rice due to the rising cost of quinoa. The good news is that there have been successful experiments in growing quinoa outside the Andean region. Europe and Asia have showcased good yields, but much work must be done before the quinoa industry can become sustainable.

Despite being a delicate vegetable, asparagus carries an astonishingly high carbon footprint. In fact, a study published in the Journal of Industrial Ecology in 2014 revealed that asparagus isn't innocent at all. The carbon emissions produced by asparagus far exceed those of any other vegetable, even outpacing chicken and milk.

Transporting delicate fruits and veggies like asparagus by air freight may seem like a quick solution, but it comes at a high environmental price; air transport requires more energy and creates more greenhouse emissions than shipping, road, or rail. When we buy produce flown in from faraway places like Asia, Africa, or South America, we might be helping out farmers, but we're not doing the environment any favors. And there's no good way to determine whether a product was transported by air, which is unfortunate.