Faster. Easier. Cheaper. Today’s American culture demands food that satisfies and provides convenience for a fast-paced lifestyle, but at what cost? Processed foods are a staple for most of society, but these seemingly innocent foods can come with heavy consequences. The use of genetically modified (GM) ingredients, the overuse of corn and soybean products, and the excess of salt in processed foods have considerable effects on the environment, society, and human health. Processed foods have taken over the American diet (Moss, 2013, xi). These foods are marketed to be delicious, easy, and affordable, often using colorful cartoon characters or eye-catching advertising to pull the consumer in (Moss, 2013, xi). This is especially effective for children; they are more likely to pick Goldfish, “The Snack That Smiles Back”, over a less appealing apple (Moss, 2013, xi). Even foods normally considered to be healthful can be deceiving. A yogurt Yoplait used to sell “had twice as much sugar per serving as Lucky Charms”, but sales were high due to yogurt’s healthy reputation; many yogurts marketed to children are loaded with sugar and flavoring as well, which takes away from the nutritional benefit (Moss, 2013 xiii). Processed foods can be found everywhere from the grocery store, to school cafeterias, to convenience stores. Part of the reason they are so accessible is because processed foods tend to have longer shelf lives than fresh foods, which allows them to be simple to store (Warner, 2013, p. 39). This attribute is especially desirable to stores in lower-income areas (Warner, 2013, p. 39). These businesses do not want to lose profit on spoiled food, so they tend to sell mostly processed foods (Warner, 2013, p. 39). People in these areas... ... middle of paper ... ...goes on to discuss how farm legislation is to blame for making corn and soybean products so cheap. Streker, M. (2013). What are genetically modified foods, and does eating these foods affect our health? NSTA Reports, 24(5), 16-17. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.library.wisc.edu/docview/1313201110?accoun tid=46 5 This article explains how almost all processed foods have GM ingredients in them. Also, it discusses how most people are unaware of the potential risks of GM foods and the lack of regulation and labeling laws regarding GM ingredients. Warner, M. (2013). Pandora's Lunchbox. New York: Scribner. Warner explains the shelf life of processed foods. She attempts to contact numerous giants in the food industry to learn more about what is in our food and how it is made. The excess of soy and soybean oil in processed foods is covered as well.
When we say processed food what does this really mean? The food industry has changed the way food is being made today. This concept of natural and healthy food simply does not exist. Today, food is mass produced, genetically altered to grown faster, bigger and in a lot less time. We all know that vegetables grow in the soil, thi...
Food is an essential part of everyday life without it one could not survive. Every day we make choices on what we put in to our bodies. There are countless varieties of food to choose from to meet the diverse tastes of the increasing population. Almost all food requires a label explaining the ingredients and the nutritional value allowing consumers to make informed decisions on what they are consuming. However, many may not be considering where that food is coming from or how it has been produced. Unfortunately, there is more to food than meets the eye. Since 1992, “ the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ruled, based on woefully limited data, that genetically modified foods were ‘substantially equivalent’ to their non-GM counterparts” (Why to Support Labeling). GM food advocates have promised to create more nutritious food that will be able to grow in harsh climate conditions and eventually put an end to world hunger in anticipation of the growing population. There is very little evidence to support these claims and study after study has proven just the opposite. GM crops are not only unsafe to consume, but their growing practices are harmful to the environment, and multinational corporations are putting farmers out of business.
Michael Pollan discusses two categories of food: one is real food (the kind our great-grandmother would recognize), while the other is “edible food-like substances”. The category that needs defending according to Pollan is the real food. This category of food is minimally processed, fresh (will eventually rot), and includes mostly things that are taken straight from the source (the ground, tree, etc.). When one walks into a store, they should look for and pick the foods that are more “quiet”such as fresh produce than the ones that have more labels that say they are more healthy, or better for you.
In our fast pace society, we base everything on time and money. This need to save money and time has transformed the way we see food and purchase food. Food is an essential part of all cultures. It plays a role in every person’s life. The population has the power to choose what we eat and how the food industry is shaped. There are many important questions that we need to ask ourselves in order to keep the food industry in check. These questions are: How do we know our food is safe? What should we eat? How should food be distributed? What is good food? These are simple yet difficult questions.
In the U.S., GM foods have received little public opposition; this is largely due to the fact that food manufacturers are not required to label their products as containing genetically modified ingredients for fear of confusing consumers. Due to the lack of evidence that genetically altered foods are harmful, the Food and Drug Administration considers GM foods to be “generally regarded as safe” (known as GRAS) and no special labeling is required (Falkner 103). In the U.S., genetically modified crops are monitored by t...
To begin with, according to Pollan consumption of highly processed food is very high in America. Pollan says, “They [processed foods] contain much less water, fiber and micronutrients, and generally much more sugar and fat”(12). Pollan believes the American population does not consume enough real food; therefore, they constantly look for something to satisfy their hunger. Fiber and micronutrients in whole foods give people satisfaction after consuming them. Processed foods are significantly low in micronutrients and fiber. People do not feel satisfied after eating processed foods; consequently, they overeat the foods that negatively impact their health. Processed foods in America are sold at a minimum price, making it easier and more accessible to consume foods that are dangerous to the human’s health.
Processed foods compose up to seventy percent of the American diet. Convenient and affordable, highly processed foods have become a diet staple, with many Americans grabbing a PopTart or microwaveable meal without a second thought. But what ingredients make up those highly processed foods? Excessive amounts of fat, sugar, and additives, all of which can contribute to disease. Instead of automatically reaching for processed foods, Americans should embrace whole foods, foods that are unprocessed or minimally processed so as to be eaten, so that whole foods form the majority of the American diet. Whole foods should be the main part of anyone’s diet, while processed foods should be minimized
Feature, W. (n.d.). Genetically Modified Foods (Biotech Foods) Pros and Cons.WebMD. Retrieved April 29, 2014, from http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/are-biotech-foods-safe-to-eat
Over the years food has changed from more natural occurring products to quick and easily accessible ones. I for one blame the companies who accept and encourage this. From the previous essay, it also provides a series of questions for which we should be analyzing our food: “How fresh is it? How far was it transported? How pure or clean is it?” (Berry). Simply, we need to be more aware about our food. Food used to be only grown. There was no way
“Genetically modified foods are a "Pandora's box" of known and unknown risks to humans and the environment. They have been forced onto the American public by multinational biotech and agribusiness corporations without adequate oversight and regulation by the United States government (Driscoll, SallyMorley, David C).”Genetically Modified Food is food which has been chemically altered by scientists during the production process to give the food more nutrients, better appearance, and a longer shelf-life (Rich, Alex K.Warhol, Tom). The importance of this issue is that these GMO’s can actually have a negative effect in our society in general. It could mutate in a negative way and cause cancer or other diseases. Genetically modified food should be strictly controlled due to its various detrimental effects on the environment, human health, and potentially insect/animal effects.
Processed foods have been around for decades, and for many people, it’s all that they consume throughout the day. The processed food industry is one of the largest portions of food production in the world, but that doesn't mean they're necessarily the best. This paper will explore what processed food is, how they're produced, and the various health effects that they cause.
Genetically modified foods most commonly refers to the plants, which has been modified in the laboratory to enhance improved nutritional content and aimed traits created for human beings and animals. With progress in various types of technology, especially in genetic engineering, farmers and scientists have changed the way in which food is grown and made, raising questions about the methods, their risks and possible effects. It is not a secret that GMF-ed foods have spread out rapidly to the whole world. GMFs have raised concerns over their own beneficial in that they are resistant to diseases, produces greater yields, and it improves the nutrition of foods making the people unaware about their effects. Every time we go to any grocery stores or supermarkets, we would not know whether the vegetables, fruits or even meats being sold are genetically modified. To make this situation worse, most consumers do not pay much attention to what they are eating, when they are actually consuming modified foods.
Food has been a common source of necessity in our everyday lives as humans. It helps gives us nutrition and energy to live throughout our life. Over several decades, the development of making foods has evolved. They have changed from natural to processed foods in recent years. Nowadays natural ingredients are barely used in the making of foods like bread, cheese, or yogurt. The food industry today has replaced natural food making with inorganic ingredients. The cause of this switch is due to processed foods being easier, cheaper and faster to make. Artificial nutrition and processed foods have been proven to last longer in market shelves then natural foods. Also, due to artificial additives in processed foods they help satisfy consumers taste more than natural ingredients. The method of producing processed foods is common in today's food industry and helps make money faster and efficiently for companies. Examples of this can be found in all markets that distribute food. Even though processed foods may be easier and faster to make, they are nowhere near as healthy for consumers compared to natural foods. Natural foods are healthier, wholesome, and beneficial to the human body and planet then processed foods.