Interesting article on Healthy Food economics

[SF-Dano]

Thought this was an intersting read and viewpoint, so I thought I would share.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/07/15-5

Published on Friday, July 15, 2011 by Salon.com

Why Americans Can't Afford to Eat Healthy

The real reason Big Macs are cheaper than more nutritious alternatives? Government subsidies by David Sirota
The easiest way to explain Gallup's discovery that millions of Americans are eating fewer fruits and vegetables than they ate last year is to simply crack a snarky joke about Whole Foods really being "Whole Paycheck." Rooted in the old limousine liberal iconography, the quip conjures the notion that only Birkenstock-wearing trust-funders can afford to eat right in tough times.

It seems a tidy explanation for a disturbing trend, implying that healthy food is inherently more expensive, and thus can only be for wealthy Endive Elitists when the economy falters. But if the talking point's carefully crafted mix of faux populism and oversimplification seems a bit facile -- if the glib explanation seems almost too perfectly sculpted for your local right-wing radio blowhard -- that's because it dishonestly omits the most important part of the story. The part about how healthy food could easily be more affordable for everyone right now, if not for those ultimate elitists: agribusiness CEOs, their lobbyists and the politicians they own.

As with most issues in this new Gilded Age, the tale of the American diet is a story of the worst form of corporatism -- the kind whereby the government uses public monies to protect private profit.

In this chapter of that larger tragicomedy, lawmakers whose campaigns are underwritten by agribusinesses have used billions of taxpayer dollars to subsidize those agribusinesses' specific commodities (corn, soybeans, wheat, etc.) that are the key ingredients of unhealthy food. Not surprisingly, the subsidies have manufactured a price inequality that helps junk food undersell nutritious-but-unsubsidized foodstuffs like fruits and vegetables. The end result is that recession-battered consumers are increasingly forced by economic circumstance to "choose" the lower-priced junk food that their taxes support.

Corn -- which is processed into the junk-food staple corn syrup and which feeds the livestock that produce meat -- exemplifies the scheme.

"Over the past decade, the federal government has poured more than $50 billion into the corn industry, keeping prices for the crop ... artificially low," reports Time magazine. "That's why McDonald's can sell you a Big Mac, fries and a Coke for around $5 -- a bargain."

Yes, it is a bargain, but one created by deliberate government policy that serves the corn industry titans, not by any genetic advantage that makes corn derivatives automatically more affordable for the budget-strapped commoner.

The aggregate effect of such market manipulation across the agriculture industry, notes Time, is "that a dollar [can] buy 1,200 calories of potato chips or 875 calories of soda but just 250 calories of vegetables or 170 calories of fresh fruit."

So while it may be amusing to use Americans' worsening recession-era diet as another excuse to promote cultural stereotypes, the nutrition crisis costing us billions in unnecessary healthcare costs is more about public policy and powerful special interests than it is about epicurean snobs and affluent tastes. Indeed, this is a problem not of individual proclivities or of agricultural biology that supposedly makes nutrition naturally unaffordable -- it is a problem of rigged economics and corrupt policymaking.

Solving the crisis, then, requires everything from recalibrating our subsidies to halting the low-income school lunch program's support for the pizza and French fry lobby (yes, they have a powerful lobby). It requires, in other words, a new level of maturity, a better appreciation for the nuanced politics of food and a commitment to changing those politics for the future.

Impossible? Hardly. A country that can engineer the seemingly unattainable economics of a $5 McDonald's feast certainly has the capacity to produce a healthy meal for the same price. It's just a matter of will -- or won't.

© 2011 Salon.com

[Liquid_Drummer]

I try to eat healthy and get sticker shocked every time. I have a Whole Paycheck food store but you wont see me back in there again. Reason ? There is a natural foods section at Kroger near me that has a few items I buy. At whole foods the same thing was 1.25 more !!! WTF ?

Every time I buy stuff to make a healthy meal the cost for the individual ingredients almost equals eating out at a healthy restaurant. When you figure the time to prep, cook and clean up it makes more sense to eat out !

[Rip Rokken]

The real reason Big Macs are cheaper than more nutritious alternatives? Government subsidies

Absolutely true, and it's my latest interest. After watching both seasons of Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, I've been watching a ton of documentaries on the topic (all on Netflix streaming), and they all paint the same cohesive picture. It's amazing how little farmers of commodity crops make in income these days, and what those crops are used for. It's something like $21 per acre per YEAR, which is why they have to have tens of thousands of acres just to make a living. Commodity corn is, like many crops, genetically modified and isn't even edible right out of the field.

My diet has changed completely, and yes, the cost is unfortunately much higher to eat healthy. I shop primarily now at Whole Foods Market and various farmers markets, and it's been a real eye-opener. But no way I'm putting all those cancer-causing pesticides and GMO frankencrap into my system anymore, at least not on a regular basis. L.D. is right - you can find many of the same things at other grocery stores, sometimes even Big Lots for a few items, MUCH cheaper. I get it as cheaply as I can.

On my recent trip to Milwaukee I visited and toured 2 organic farms and learned so much - great people and I took photos of everything. I'm having a lot of fun doing the same here in my home state. Sustainable agriculture is fascinating. Check this website for one of them - met them just yesterday:

www.farmgirlfood.com

If anyone's interested, I highly recommend watching these, then forming your own opinion:

Food, Inc.
Ingredients
Deconstructing Super
The Future of Food
Food Beware: The French Organic Revolution
Food Matters
What's On Your Plate?
Broken Limbs
Fed Up!

[Rip Rokken]

I indulged yesterday and had my first hamburger in 2 months at a new place called David's Burgers. They grind them fresh on the spot from chuck steaks, with no fillers or any of the other crap that is now included in the majority of ground beef. Best tasting hamburger I've ever had.

When you buy most regular ground beef products, I believe they contain up to 15% (allowed by the U.S.D.A.) "meat filler" made from e-coli laden scraps cleansed with ammonia. Yuck!

http://www.grist.org/article/2009-12-31 ... nia-burger

http://current.com/community/91815978_y ... d-beef.htm

After my dad watched "Food, Inc", he now grinds his own hamburger meat too, and loves it.

[DrFU]

The real reason Big Macs are cheaper than more nutritious alternatives? Government subsidies

Absolutely true, and it's my latest interest. After watching both seasons of [i]Jamie Oliver's
]

Ate at one of Jaime's restaurants while in Nottingham for Download ... yummmmmy!

[Rip Rokken]

The real reason Big Macs are cheaper than more nutritious alternatives? Government subsidies

Absolutely true, and it's my latest interest. After watching both seasons of Jamie Oliver's

Ate at one of Jaime's restaurants while in Nottingham for Download ... yummmmmy!

What did you eat?

[DrFU]

The real reason Big Macs are cheaper than more nutritious alternatives? Government subsidies

Absolutely true, and it's my latest interest. After watching both seasons of Jamie Oliver's

Ate at one of Jaime's restaurants while in Nottingham for Download ... yummmmmy!

What did you eat?

Pasta w/ shrimp ... boys had ... hamburgers!

[Rip Rokken]

The real reason Big Macs are cheaper than more nutritious alternatives? Government subsidies

Absolutely true, and it's my latest interest. After watching both seasons of Jamie Oliver's

Ate at one of Jaime's restaurants while in Nottingham for Download ... yummmmmy!

What did you eat?

Pasta w/ shrimp ... boys had ... hamburgers!

I doubt Jamie uses the "pink slime" - his show was the first I'd heard of it. Food, Inc. actually visited a factory that makes it and showed some of how it was done. They were actually proud of it.

[DrFU]

The real reason Big Macs are cheaper than more nutritious alternatives? Government subsidies

Absolutely true, and it's my latest interest. After watching both seasons of Jamie Oliver's

Ate at one of Jaime's restaurants while in Nottingham for Download ... yummmmmy!

What did you eat?

Pasta w/ shrimp ... boys had ... hamburgers!

I doubt Jamie uses the "pink slime" - his show was the first I'd heard of it. Food, Inc. actually visited a factory that makes it and showed some of how it was done. They were actually proud of it.

Right you are; the menu made that clear.

[SteveForever]

The best one on how to get healthier and incorporate more whole foods into your diet is called "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead"
Its on the instant play on Netflix and really is awesome!
I've lost about 10 pounds juicing more and cutting out animals except for fish and a bit of poultry.

Really watch it if you can, its truly inspiring!

[Rip Rokken]

The best one on how to get healthier and incorporate more whole foods into your diet is called "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead"
Its on the instant play on Netflix and really is awesome!
I've lost about 10 pounds juicing more and cutting out animals except for fish and a bit of poultry.

Really watch it if you can, its truly inspiring!

Forgot to mention that one - saw it a week ago, and it's outstanding! Loved how he flew back to help that trucker. Amazing... Thanks for mentioning it!

[ebake02]

Stores like Aldi's and Save-A-Lot don't help either.. I stopped shopping there because of the over abundance of the unhealthy, prepackaged frozen crap and because the Aldi's and Save-A-Lots with driving distance from me are always overloaded with welfare bums. I do most of my shopping at Walmart and Wegmans.

[Rip Rokken]

Stores like Aldi's and Save-A-Lot don't help either.. I stopped shopping there because of the over abundance of the unhealthy, prepackaged frozen crap and because the Aldi's and Save-A-Lots with driving distance from me are always overloaded with welfare bums. I do most of my shopping at Walmart and Wegmans.

Wal-Mart is coming along these days, and they have a few organic products I pick up when I'm passing thru.

[pinkfloyd1973]

Stores like Aldi's and Save-A-Lot don't help either.. I stopped shopping there because of the over abundance of the unhealthy, prepackaged frozen crap and because the Aldi's and Save-A-Lots with driving distance from me are always overloaded with welfare bums. I do most of my shopping at Walmart and Wegmans.

You'll find them there too

[ebake02]

Stores like Aldi's and Save-A-Lot don't help either.. I stopped shopping there because of the over abundance of the unhealthy, prepackaged frozen crap and because the Aldi's and Save-A-Lots with driving distance from me are always overloaded with welfare bums. I do most of my shopping at Walmart and Wegmans.

You'll find them there too

I know they do but the canned variety outnumber fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables by at least 2 to 1. Canned fruits and vegetables are not the healthiest in the world, they're loaded with sugar and/or salt.

[KenTheDude]

Stores like Aldi's and Save-A-Lot don't help either.. I stopped shopping there because of the over abundance of the unhealthy, prepackaged frozen crap and because the Aldi's and Save-A-Lots with driving distance from me are always overloaded with welfare bums. I do most of my shopping at Walmart and Wegmans.

You'll find them there too

I know they do but the canned variety outnumber fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables by at least 2 to 1. Canned fruits and vegetables are not the healthiest in the world, they're loaded with sugar and/or salt.

I think they were saying you'll find the welfare bums at Wal-Mart too.

[artist4perry]

I have been saying this for a long time. It is hard to jump poverty stricken mothers for the diets of their children if you can fill their hungry bellies with junk food rather than the sparse amount of fresh vegetables and fruits she can obtain. I think if Washington wants our kids to have healthy diets they need to make changes in the market instead of preaching to the poor.

[ebake02]

Stores like Aldi's and Save-A-Lot don't help either.. I stopped shopping there because of the over abundance of the unhealthy, prepackaged frozen crap and because the Aldi's and Save-A-Lots with driving distance from me are always overloaded with welfare bums. I do most of my shopping at Walmart and Wegmans.

You'll find them there too

I know they do but the canned variety outnumber fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables by at least 2 to 1. Canned fruits and vegetables are not the healthiest in the world, they're loaded with sugar and/or salt.

I think they were saying you'll find the welfare bums at Wal-Mart too.

The welfare bums at wally world drive me crazy, especially at the beginning of the month and if you're in there on a weekday afternoon it looks like a damn senior citizen convention. I only shop at Walmart for certain things, I refuse to buy beer or fresh meat at Walmart. I bought a steak there once and it was the toughest, most bland tasting pile of shit I've ever had and their deli cuts aren't any better. As for beer, I only drink craft and microbrews and Wegmans has the best selection of craft and microbrews I have ever seen. I prefer Wegmans over anywhere else, best grocery store on the planet!!!!

[artist4perry]

Sorry, I am not a Wally World snob. All people from every walk of life are there. They are just folks like you and me. Yes some are poorer, but you know if you got to know some of those poorer folks you would not be so put off by them. They are just trying to survive in a rough economy. Yes, you do meet the scumbags too. But not so many. I go to Hays and Kroger. Kroger has the fresher meets, great choices on fish and frozen vedgies, and Hays is just nicer than Wally world, and has many of my spices I cannot get at Kroger.

Bottom line though. Walking does a lot to help ones health. Finally got Dan to join me on the healthy walking wagon. My daughter and I used to go together but she has a turned ankle at the moment. With two people to walk with, it becomes family fun. That is also needed. For folks just to get out with their kids and walk through a pretty area, or play ball or something. Turn off the boob tube for a while.

[ebake02]

Sorry, I am not a Wally World snob. All people from every walk of life are there. They are just folks like you and me. Yes some are poorer, but you know if you got to know some of those poorer folks you would not be so put off by them. They are just trying to survive in a rough economy. Yes, you do meet the scumbags too. But not so many. I go to Hays and Kroger. Kroger has the fresher meets, great choices on fish and frozen vedgies, and Hays is just nicer than Wally world, and has many of my spices I cannot get at Kroger.

I'm not a snob either, 99% on the people on welfare where I live are on welfare by choice not because their "trying to survive in a rough economy", they're just too lazy to go out and work like the rest of us. They can't hold down a job but the they can spend all day cutting and selling firewood and then buy stuff with it that I'll never be able to afford. Basically, I buy their groceries so they can buy a $1,000 flat screen or a pool or a brand new 4x4 ATV or blow it at the local bar etc.....

[artist4perry]

Sorry, I am not a Wally World snob. All people from every walk of life are there. They are just folks like you and me. Yes some are poorer, but you know if you got to know some of those poorer folks you would not be so put off by them. They are just trying to survive in a rough economy. Yes, you do meet the scumbags too. But not so many. I go to Hays and Kroger. Kroger has the fresher meets, great choices on fish and frozen vedgies, and Hays is just nicer than Wally world, and has many of my spices I cannot get at Kroger.

I'm not a snob either, 99% on the people on welfare where I live are on welfare by choice not because their "trying to survive in a rough economy", they're just too lazy to go out and work like the rest of us. They can't hold down a job but the they can spend all day cutting and selling firewood and then buy stuff with it that I'll never be able to afford. Basically, I buy their groceries so they can buy a $1,000 flat screen or a pool or a brand new 4x4 ATV or blow it at the local bar etc.....

Where do you live ebake?

[ebake02]

Sorry, I am not a Wally World snob. All people from every walk of life are there. They are just folks like you and me. Yes some are poorer, but you know if you got to know some of those poorer folks you would not be so put off by them. They are just trying to survive in a rough economy. Yes, you do meet the scumbags too. But not so many. I go to Hays and Kroger. Kroger has the fresher meets, great choices on fish and frozen vedgies, and Hays is just nicer than Wally world, and has many of my spices I cannot get at Kroger.

I'm not a snob either, 99% on the people on welfare where I live are on welfare by choice not because their "trying to survive in a rough economy", they're just too lazy to go out and work like the rest of us. They can't hold down a job but the they can spend all day cutting and selling firewood and then buy stuff with it that I'll never be able to afford. Basically, I buy their groceries so they can buy a $1,000 flat screen or a pool or a brand new 4x4 ATV or blow it at the local bar etc.....

Where do you live ebake?

Northcentral Pennsylvania. I was at the store the other day and the person ahead of my me bought $40 in junk food and try to pay for it with her welfare/food stamp card. What pissed me off was that her card wouldn't scan correctly so she said "that's ok" and pulled a wad of 20s out of her pocket and paid cash.

[geminix]

Stores like Aldi's and Save-A-Lot don't help either.. I stopped shopping there because of the over abundance of the unhealthy, prepackaged frozen crap and because the Aldi's and Save-A-Lots with driving distance from me are always overloaded with welfare bums. I do most of my shopping at Walmart and Wegmans.

You'll find them there too

I know they do but the canned variety outnumber fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables by at least 2 to 1. Canned fruits and vegetables are not the healthiest in the world, they're loaded with sugar and/or salt.

I think they were saying you'll find the welfare bums at Wal-Mart too.

The welfare bums at wally world drive me crazy, especially at the beginning of the month and if you're in there on a weekday afternoon it looks like a damn senior citizen convention. I only shop at Walmart for certain things, I refuse to buy beer or fresh meat at Walmart. I bought a steak there once and it was the toughest, most bland tasting pile of shit I've ever had and their deli cuts aren't any better. As for beer, I only drink craft and microbrews and Wegmans has the best selection of craft and microbrews I have ever seen. I prefer Wegmans over anywhere else, best grocery store on the planet!!!!

My wife is a Store team Leader at Wegmans. Not only is it a great grocery store, its an awesome company to work for.

[Saint John]

[artist4perry]

Dan, it is too late to read all that. Sum it up bud.

[pinkfloyd1973]

Dan, it is too late to read all that. Sum it up bud.

In other words.....if we kick everyone off welfare, then we'll be able to balance the budget

[ebake02]

If you limit welfare to only those who truly need it then you would save boat loads of cash. There are too many lazy asses clogging up the system.

[Saint John]

Dan, it is too late to read all that. Sum it up bud.

In other words.....if we kick everyone off welfare, then we'll be able to balance the budget

lol ... no sense in trying to decipher my intent, as I posted that diatribe in the wrong thread!

[pinkfloyd1973]

If you limit welfare to only those who truly need it then you would save boat loads of cash. There are too many lazy asses clogging up the system.

That's the problem....only the people that want it are getting it, not the people who NEED it

[pinkfloyd1973]

Dan, it is too late to read all that. Sum it up bud.

In other words.....if we kick everyone off welfare, then we'll be able to balance the budget

lol ... no sense in trying to decipher my intent, as I posted that diatribe in the wrong thread!