food is more expensive. Fresh fruits and vegetables, organic, 
and whole grain products are generally more costly than wonder bread and canned chili. Socioeconomic levels can define food choices- the poorer the family the poorer the nutrition. There is something seriously wrong with a food system that recommends whole grains, fruits, and vegetables but sells fatty hamburgers for less than the price of an apple.
Where does all this corn go? sweeteners and feed. High Fructose Corn syrup is in lots of products. tons actually. All of those products' tastes are sweetened because of the cheap availability of corn. There is conflicting evidence about whether corn sweetener is any worse than sugar. To me, this isn't even the issue- the issue is that corn sweetener has become so cheap that manufacturers can use it liberally without effecting their bottom line. It is slipped into many packaged foods, even savory choices. And that overabundance of sweetness is making the cheapest food unhealthy.Food is easy to consume, but thinking about food- how it's produced, grown, fed, and processed is overlooked. Part of learning to cook, for me, has also included trying to figure out where food is coming from, why, and what it is doing to the earth and its people.
(I'll save the corn for feed issue for another day)
Michelle Obama speaking out about food
Wired Magazine Science Article
New Study from Tufts University about corn subsidies
Mayo Clinic on High Fructose Corn Syrup
Classic Peter Jennings Report on Obesity and the Food Industry: How to Get Fat Without Really Trying
3 comments:
I kind of liked this political blog entry....Emy told me last year to stop eating stuff with corn syrup in it. Since then, I have made a decent attempt. However after reading all the articles and watching Pete Jennings, I am frustrated by the cost of eating fresh and organic. It is near cost prohibitive especially for those with a big fam. Same ridiculous thing as trying to build "green", it is impossible unless you have tons of $ up front. We need a change, run for office Wynn. Love you so. Thanks for your research.
Nice, food politics.
If we all ate fortified cereal for every meal, life would be a lot better...wink wink.
I think another interesting food politics discussion is the ambiguity that exists among calling something "organic" or "grain fed" or "free range." My understanding is there very limited qualifications in order to stamp those labels on food...
true. this is true. and the evidence shows that there are acutally very few benefits going organic (except things like milk where organic makes tons of difference in hormone level).
win with wynn for prez. "And if you elect me I'll invite every one that voted for me over to the white house for an vegetarian feast on me. And then...."
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