Cookbook:Ethics

Many individuals feel that their cooking should reflect their ethics. Note that these ethics are not necessarily universal, and the chef is free to decide which of these is important. Note also that in some cases the efficacy in achieving these goals (such as gathering wild food to avoid buying farmed food) is questionable, or may even run counter to your goals. If you decide you care about these issues, it is up to you to research them.

Treatment of animals
The treatment of animals is important to some cooks. Some may only consume eggs, meat, and dairy from free-range animals. Others will avoid eating any animals (vegetarianism) or will avoid any animal products at all (veganism). Some individuals will eat only seafood that has been caught without harming any dolphins or other marine life.

Sustainability
The issue of sustainability has come up in cooking, especially with regard to climate change and damage to the environment. To achieve this, some individuals will preferentially eat food that is in season and local to their area, or will only eat food that they have hunted or gathered themself. Some also use reusable bags and avoid food with excess packaging in order to reduce the amount of waste they generate. Some vegetarians and vegans avoid animal products, associating a higher carbon footprint with animal husbandry.

Consideration for guests
For some cooks, consideration of the needs of their guests is very important. In these cases, the cooks may take care to consider their guests' dietary needs and requirements, such as food allergies or religious requirements. They may also take care to not get hair, saliva, tears, fingertips, or other parts of themself in the food.