The debate about the principles and values that guide consumers' choices in eating animal products has gained considerable interest in food ethics in the last decades. The paper aims to analyse some arguments on using animals for food purposes and the underlying ethical perspectives starting from the discussions of a sample of Italian consumers. The description of the empirical study results is introduced by a brief presentation of the context that has led to the growth of public attention on issues related to animal farming for food and the development of the actual European regulatory framework on animal protection. Moreover, some of the main philosophical perspectives in animal ethics that are involved in this debate are presented. Consumers' main arguments for using animals as food were categorized into four macro areas: animals, the production process, people's health and well-being, and the environment. The results are interpreted in light of the ethical theories and some food ethics issues, such as the right to access information, autonomy in individual choices, and their impact on a global level. Empirical research involving consumers in critical self-reflection on their values and actions can foster the understanding of common sense in the debate on animals becoming food as a starting point for outlining paths of social transformation.
