Sports and sustainable development: the troubling absence of meat sourcing policies in the sports sector
The excessive use of antibiotics in industrial meat production in the U.S. incurs severe health implications for animals, humans, and the environment, thereby threatening the integrated health of the ecosystem and sustainable development. While the consumption of meat, including hot dogs, chicken wi...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1341810/full |
| _version_ | 1797277156935467008 |
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| author | Chloe Sher Caroline Fusco |
| author_facet | Chloe Sher Caroline Fusco |
| author_sort | Chloe Sher |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The excessive use of antibiotics in industrial meat production in the U.S. incurs severe health implications for animals, humans, and the environment, thereby threatening the integrated health of the ecosystem and sustainable development. While the consumption of meat, including hot dogs, chicken wings, and hamburgers, is a hallmark of attending professional sports events in North America, the sourcing policies for meat in the realm of professional sports remain relatively obscure. We conducted a content analysis case study on the four major sports leagues in North America, their teams and stadium practices. Our objective was twofold: first, to investigate existing sustainability initiatives at the league, team, and stadium levels; and second, to examine whether there are any food sourcing programs, specifically meat sourcing policies that might encourage the consumption of meat produced without the use of antibiotics, in the sports sector that are designed to mitigate ecological ramifications of meat consumption within sports contexts. Results show that existing sustainability initiatives at the three levels are focused primarily on reducing carbon emissions and waste. There is, however, a notable neglect of food sourcing policies, which is concerning given that industrial animal agriculture is a leading cause of antibiotic resistance and environmental degradation. This suggests that meat sourcing policy is a missing piece in current sustainability initiatives. The major sports leagues should therefore consider incorporating pertinent policies, such as procuring meat-based products produced without the use of antibiotics to help strengthen their existing efforts in achieving their sustainable development goals. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:44:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7c468c7873614c1ca77ae6a026c032af |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2624-9367 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:44:34Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| spelling | doaj.art-7c468c7873614c1ca77ae6a026c032af2024-03-05T04:56:23ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672024-03-01610.3389/fspor.2024.13418101341810Sports and sustainable development: the troubling absence of meat sourcing policies in the sports sectorChloe SherCaroline FuscoThe excessive use of antibiotics in industrial meat production in the U.S. incurs severe health implications for animals, humans, and the environment, thereby threatening the integrated health of the ecosystem and sustainable development. While the consumption of meat, including hot dogs, chicken wings, and hamburgers, is a hallmark of attending professional sports events in North America, the sourcing policies for meat in the realm of professional sports remain relatively obscure. We conducted a content analysis case study on the four major sports leagues in North America, their teams and stadium practices. Our objective was twofold: first, to investigate existing sustainability initiatives at the league, team, and stadium levels; and second, to examine whether there are any food sourcing programs, specifically meat sourcing policies that might encourage the consumption of meat produced without the use of antibiotics, in the sports sector that are designed to mitigate ecological ramifications of meat consumption within sports contexts. Results show that existing sustainability initiatives at the three levels are focused primarily on reducing carbon emissions and waste. There is, however, a notable neglect of food sourcing policies, which is concerning given that industrial animal agriculture is a leading cause of antibiotic resistance and environmental degradation. This suggests that meat sourcing policy is a missing piece in current sustainability initiatives. The major sports leagues should therefore consider incorporating pertinent policies, such as procuring meat-based products produced without the use of antibiotics to help strengthen their existing efforts in achieving their sustainable development goals.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1341810/fullsportssustainable developmentOne Healthmeat policyindustrial animal agricultureantibiotic resistance |
| spellingShingle | Chloe Sher Caroline Fusco Sports and sustainable development: the troubling absence of meat sourcing policies in the sports sector Frontiers in Sports and Active Living sports sustainable development One Health meat policy industrial animal agriculture antibiotic resistance |
| title | Sports and sustainable development: the troubling absence of meat sourcing policies in the sports sector |
| title_full | Sports and sustainable development: the troubling absence of meat sourcing policies in the sports sector |
| title_fullStr | Sports and sustainable development: the troubling absence of meat sourcing policies in the sports sector |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sports and sustainable development: the troubling absence of meat sourcing policies in the sports sector |
| title_short | Sports and sustainable development: the troubling absence of meat sourcing policies in the sports sector |
| title_sort | sports and sustainable development the troubling absence of meat sourcing policies in the sports sector |
| topic | sports sustainable development One Health meat policy industrial animal agriculture antibiotic resistance |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1341810/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT chloesher sportsandsustainabledevelopmentthetroublingabsenceofmeatsourcingpoliciesinthesportssector AT carolinefusco sportsandsustainabledevelopmentthetroublingabsenceofmeatsourcingpoliciesinthesportssector |