Consumer demand for labor attributes in food products: The case of prison labor in milk

Carceral systems, deeply rooted in historical injustice, extend their ideologies, logics, and practices into society, including food systems. The use of prison labor in agriculture and food systems is notably underdiscussed. The practice of employing incarcerated individuals in agriculture and food production processes raises profound ethical and human rights concerns, echoing historical legacies of exploitation and systemic inequalities. This research measures consumer attitudes and preferences for milk made with or free of incarcerated labor. Results for the study indicate that consumers have a notable aversion to milk made with prison labor, and demonstrated substantial preferences for milk using labor practices that guarantee safe working conditions or minimum wage. Further, the findings of this research also reveal that consumer choices are influenced by race and ethnicity: consumers from communities overrepresented in the carceral system have a greater aversion to food made using carceral labor. Results from this research are informative to producers and policymakers regarding the potential development of a labor sustainability label, akin to USDA Organic, advocating for fair labor practices and the exclusion of carceral labor in the broader context of social sustainability standards.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Agricultural & Applied Econ

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2023

Author dc:creator

• Stewart, Donnyqua Lauren

Contributors dc:contributor

• Atallah, Shadi
• Arends-Kuenning, Mary
• Endres, Bryan
• Kalaitzandonakes, Maria

• Carcerality
• Agriculture
• Consumer Demand
• Choice Experiment
• Ethical Products
• Sustainability
• Prison Labor

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2023 Donnyqua Stewart

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/122177

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F122177