The article presented had a very specific and purposeful flow in organizing and addressing the topic of food waste. The opening is strong, it introduces the reader to a bag of muffins. The authors are successful in presenting this simple bag of muffins as harmless but point out that this articular bag is expired. They then introduce the case of the "Muffinman" and his theft of these expired muffin's from a supermarket's dumpster. The opening grabs the readers attention as now these seemingly innocent expired muffins have led to a more serious problem, theft. The next element in the presentation of this article is the paradox of considering how many people suffer from starvation and compare this to the sheer quantity of food that gets thrown away and disposed of that could have been consumed. The authors consider the now apparently obvious question that arrises; why don't supermarkets donate the food that they can no longer sell? The answer is simply liability. Establishments would gladly throw food away then give an article of food to someone that may make them sick. The fear of a lawsuit is what compells many to simply discard their slightly expired food.
The final portion of this article moves into asking the questions, "Is it right to allow individuals to eat food that is disposed of?" and finally, "Legally, are individuals allowed to take from others' garbage?" The article addresses both sides of these questions and discusses the moral implications of allowing a person their right to survival. From this point the authors look into the varying definitions of ownership and posession of garbage all the while harkoning back to the seemingly ludicrous situation of the Muffinman and his charge of theft. This article is clearly written to present both sides of the situation concerning food waste while also showing the reader the clear absurdity of preventing and convicting those who would simply eat what would be thrown away and wasted.
The final portion of this article moves into asking the questions, "Is it right to allow individuals to eat food that is disposed of?" and finally, "Legally, are individuals allowed to take from others' garbage?" The article addresses both sides of these questions and discusses the moral implications of allowing a person their right to survival. From this point the authors look into the varying definitions of ownership and posession of garbage all the while harkoning back to the seemingly ludicrous situation of the Muffinman and his charge of theft. This article is clearly written to present both sides of the situation concerning food waste while also showing the reader the clear absurdity of preventing and convicting those who would simply eat what would be thrown away and wasted.