Essay On Global Food

There have been major changes in the nature of food production and consumption that are reflected in the U.S and global culture. Over the past decade, great shifts in dietary patterns has occurred that are influenced by multiple factors such as price, income, individual preferences, as well as environmental, economic, and social factors. The increasing pressure on poultry operations and livestock resulted from urbanization and population growth has increased food in quantities. The condition under how farmers run their farms has changed essentially. The growing concern in the loss of farmers and traditional farming has led food critics and agricultural leaders to question future health of our food system. Nowadays, consumers aren’t aware of the process by which food reaches their dinner table.

Agriculture plays a huge role in the food system and has changed dramatically over the past years. Decades ago, food industries use to be made up of small number of trained skilled workers, now food industries rely on a large number of untrained and undocumented workers. We can see Taylorism take place aiming to achieve greater production by no longer using kitchens, but large assembly lines. This has in turn negatively impacted workers, consumers, and the environment. The changes present in agriculture have also led to public health risks including a rise in obesity rates, diabetes, and illness from E. Coli (bacteria largely found in food that causes sickness). However, globally, it does have its benefits as well. There has been an increase in food availability due to rising of income and lower price of food. Fast food restaurants now have the “dollar menu,” making food more affordable, bringing in more customers. It seems that a few large...

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...gets are—all for profit, no concern for public health? Hearing about a boy who loss his life due to eating a single hamburger is incredibly sad; and how animals are being treated is as well. Personally, I feel there’s nothing more disgusting than animal cruelty. In Islam, we eat halal or Kosher meat (which also fits dietary laws of Halal). Halal meat is processed in a safely manner and the animals are raised naturally. Halal slaughter method is done quickly and humanely, strictly forbidding any cruel methods (in the process, if animal is treated cruelly it would be considered non-halal). I'm aware of the differences in meat processing and don’t buy meat from any ordinary market, but the halal market. Just a few personal connections I've made. So I hope to continue to eat only halal meat and in the future hope to grow my own garden! Looking really forward to that!