article
At the centre of controversies: Why do we love to hate and hate to love meat?
This is an excerpt of an article written for The Conversation by Zeynep Arsel, associate professor, Marketing and Concordia University Research Chair in Consumption, Markets and Society; and Aya Aboelenien, assistant professor of Marketing, HEC Montréal.
When was the last time you ate meat? Today? This week? Ten years ago? Never? Have you ever had an argument about meat consumption with someone, whether it was over environmental impact or the ethics of eating animals? Are you confused when it comes to the conflicting information on meat’s health implications? Do you feel guilty eating meat but still continue to do so?
From the controversial carnivore diet to plant-based “meat” and lab grown meat, meat is everywhere.
Many of us consume, or used to consume meat — except those who were raised plant-based because of family or culture. Even those of us who follow a plant-based diet might still eat plant-based meat to enjoy the that familiar, meaty taste.
Science journalist Marta Zaraska refers to this centrality of meat in diets as “meathooked.”
