Avocado controversy: Why this superfood is falling out of favor
Avocado, once a staple on our tables, is now increasingly absent from restaurant menus and shopping baskets. Why is this? There are several reasons, with the most critical being the negative environmental impact of avocado cultivation and the controversies related to its production.
Once a symbol of a healthy lifestyle and an essential part of many diets, Avocado is now stirring up controversy. An increasing number of people are choosing to give up this popular fruit, and some restaurants are removing it from their menus. What is driving this unexpected shift? Is it worth reconsidering before reaching for another avocado?
Avocado – a hit of a healthy diet or a problematic choice?
Not long ago, avocado was one of the most sought-after food products. Rich in healthy unsaturated fats, potassium, vitamin E, and folic acid, it was widely used in the diets of health-conscious individuals. Guacamole became a staple of Western cuisine, and the fruit's popularity was skyrocketing. In America alone, hundreds of millions of avocados are consumed as paste or meal additives during the Super Bowl final.
Despite its numerous nutritional benefits, avocado has recently become controversial. Concerns have arisen not only about the ethics of its production but also about its environmental impact. For many consumers, these factors are key in deciding to eliminate avocado from their diets.
Avocado and the environment – the invisible cost of cultivation
The global increase in avocado demand has led to significant changes in the ecosystems of the largest producing countries. Mexico, Chile, and Peru are major producers, often at the expense of the natural environment. To increase production, vast areas of forests are cleared, destroying wildlife habitats and leading to significant climate changes.
Additionally, avocado requires a tremendous amount of water. Producing one kilogram (about 2 pounds) of this fruit demands up to 160 gallons of water, placing a heavy burden on local resources. In countries facing droughts, like Chile, mass avocado cultivation contributes to water shortages and difficulty supplying drinking water to the population.
Avocado in the hands of cartels – the dark side of success
The surge in avocado production has attracted the attention of Mexican drug cartels. The transformation of avocado cultivation into a lucrative business has prompted illegal groups to seize control of plantations, demanding money from farmers and employing brutal coercion methods. In Michoacán, a primary avocado-producing region, many farmers have lost their lives resisting bandits.
Moreover, working conditions on some plantations can be described as nearly slave-like. Workers receive extremely low wages, endure harsh conditions, and their rights are often violated. As a result, more people view the avocado not as a superfood but as a product with questionable ethical values.
Is it worth giving up avocados?
Increasing consumer awareness has led to declining avocado popularity. The "avocadon’t" movement, which is gaining momentum, encourages people to give up this fruit in favor of more ecological alternatives. Restaurants in the United Kingdom and Scandinavia are already removing avocados from their dishes, and more people are considering its true environmental and societal impact.
However, this doesn't mean you have to forgo altogether eating avocados. Conscious choices might involve selecting fruits with Fairtrade certifications, which ensure proper working conditions and less environmental harm. Alternatively, you could choose avocados from Spain or Israel, where production methods are less invasive than in South America.
Should avocados disappear from our diet? It is an individual decision for each consumer. Still, it's essential to remember that a healthy lifestyle involves caring for your body as well as the planet and the people who produce our food.
