The American Dietetic Association created the campaign National Nutrition Month. Education and information about making wise food choices and improving physical activity habits serves, as the campaign’s primary focus. Knowledge is power. Campaigns such as this assist in spreading awareness about nutrition and good health. But it isn’t enough.
Consentual pride exists amongst Americans regarding the country’s perceived freedoms. Despite pride for the structure of America, it isn’t always utilized. What influences this indifference?
Obesity, diabetes and heart disease rates are rising. Luckily, other information outlets are becoming available. Consider the documentary “Food, INC.” It exposes hidden information about the processes of our food industry.
Americans are led to believe their food is grown in a pastoral fantasy. Television commercials and food labels contain pictures of big red barns, white picket fences, farmers on garden tractors and cows grazing on green grass. These romanticized images are quite far from reality. The grim truth is that our food system is controlled by a handful of corporations and produced in factories.
Fast food restaurants have been the force driving the industrial food system since their rise in the 1950s. The decision-making power of farm operations grew strong, as they became the lead purchasers.
Uniformity, conformity and cheapness served as an unwritten mission. The priority and scale of the concepts employment resulted in unintentional negative consequences.
Our current industrial food system is the direct result of a consistent rise in corporate power and public indifference for over 50 years. The film “Food, INC.” reveals secrets about the American food industry and the negative consequences endured by farmers, workers and consumers. Appropriate funding and utilization of lobbyists feeds a corporation’s ability to influence government policy decisions. Current policy about the food industry advantageously keeps consumers in the dark. Corporations have an ethical responsibility in Washington. However, the desire for profit often reduces the priority of that responsibility. Congress was lobbied to create farm bills in favor of producing corn. Desire stems from its high profit margin. Today corn is one of the main crops grown in America.
An over abundance of corn resulted in contracting chemists to develop alternative applications. High fructose corn syrup was among the many creations. Amazingly, most processed foods in US grocery stores contain an element created from corn.
Generally speaking, the average American’s understanding of good nutrition is bleak. One may know that soda pop and potato chips lack nutrients, but unaware of the potential effects if over-consumed long term. Clever marketing continues to mislead consumers about what is, and is not, a wise food choice. A plate full of fresh salad is a good choice. It becomes unhealthy when eaten with half a cup of ranch dressing. Processed foods are commonly un-nutritious, widely advertised and cheap.
Basic supply and demand make these products inexpensive. It’s unfortunate that soda pop costs less than fresh vegetables. A segment in the film shows a family whose food choices are based on both a lack of knowledge and funds.
Narration by the mother illustrates their situation. In the past they never thought about making healthy choices because they thought everything was healthy. They work long hours, and their income is low. Affordability and quickness made fast food seem like a good regular choice for the family. The father was recently diagnosed with diabetes. Nutrition facts were introduced by doctors with the discovery of his condition. However, the added cost of medication makes the choice between expensive healthy food and cheap processed food a struggle. A heavy argument connects our country’s obesity epidemic to economic status. This family’s story is just one example.