I just finished reading "The Ethics of What We Eat" by Peter Singer and I have to tell you what a fantastic read it is. It is comprehensive look at the way the majority of our society is disconnected from the food we eat. We wanted cheap chicken, beef, pork etc and the farming industry delivered this to us, but at what cost? When we purchase these products do we really understand the consequences? For the majority of individuals, probably not.
For example, the chicken in the supermarket most likely came from a chicken that had its beak (which is full of nerve endings) seared off with a hot iron and had less space to live on then a piece of paper that is 8.5 x 11 inches.
This book is well written and Peter Singer did not just write from second hand information. He visited several farms and researched history and food policies so that he could write an informative book that was not just a one-sided argument.
He speaks of the pollution and environmental consequences that mass farming is responsible for and compares it to organic farming (which is humane, healthier for the animal, us and for the environment.) However, he insists that one researches their organic farms because some are better than others with respect to treatment of the animals.
This book explains why our food choices matter and what we can do to improve them. It is an eye-opener to the decisions we make in the grocery store that affect our environment and our animals.