Constructing Ethical Criticism for Your Food Content: A Guide for Creators

Jessica Andrea Faustine

9 January 2024

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Becoming a content creator is not an easy task. We all know for a fact that everything that has been uploaded on the internet will always remain there and you could always find traces of it even though it has been deleted. There has been many content creators that has gotten several backlashes due to the contents of their posts. I will be discussing and guiding you on how to avoid those conflicts as a fellow content creator.

What are things to be considered before critiquing?

1. Culture and Stereotyping

Every countries possess their own authentic delicacies which are deeply intertwined with culture and tradition. We should provide the uttermost honest reviews to hold close our integrity however we should not be ignorant towards the context of history behind every dishes that has been curated over the years. By emerging into diversity, you could build new bridges that can spark curiosity between the various ethnic groups which allows you to target a larger span of the market. Personal growth can also be achieved as we overcome our biases and stereotyping.

2. Food waste

Food waste is a global issue that has inevitably impacted our environment at a very severe state. According to a report published by IFCO, an astonishing 1.3 billion tons of food are wasted as of 2023 alone. As a content creator we should promote ethical behavior and setting a benchmark for the world. We should be more aware of our food consumption capabilities to reduce the possibility of contributing to food waste. Not only does it harm the environment but ordering excessive amount of food would also harm your wallet and raise potential issues on health risks.

3. Honesty is key

Big companies and many restaurants are aware of the influence that can be made by collaborating with content creators therefore sponsorships are becoming a common practice. Here are are some ways to achieve honesty when you are sponsored by brands:

• Accept the sponsorships only if you really like and have interest on the brand or businesses.

• Always be open to your audiences and state if the posts is sponsored. This way your credibility will increase in the perspectives of your viewers.

• Utilize humor or storytelling aspects in your critiques allows viewers to be more entertained and informed at the same time.

• Offer solutions and resources, don't just critique so all parties are educated on what to improve on.

I hope this will help more food content creators to be more careful with what we post on social media and be considerate of all parties to reduce any form of conflicts.

References:

IFCO. 2023. “Food waste by country: who’s the biggest waster in 2023?” IFCO Systems. https://www.ifco.com/countries-with-the-least-and-most-food-waste/.