The Western Diet: Smart for Profit, Dumb for Health – Part 2

Capitalism abounds when you eat mass-produced processed food brands

It is no surprise that in a capitalistic society our food system has devoted its energies to increasing production yields so it can sell food as cheaply as possible. Clearly, making a profit is necessary to sustain a business — as is creating efficiencies to maximize profit. But, advantages can also be realized when food is grown sensibility and responsibly.

Organically produced and minimally processed food have paved the way. Unfortunately, the more responsible option is the more expensive option — until it becomes normalized.

Drugged up

Have you ever considered who profits when you consume all those highly processed, packaged foods?

The answer is: Not you.

You might save $$ to buy it cheap, but that saving is likely to cost you later as your health depletes. In reality, the food industry is waiting to profit from your bad dietary choices. The food industry, pharmaceutical companies, nutritionists, healthcare staff, insurance companies, and medical suppliers all profit from your health issues.

Did you know that 80 % of antibiotics are used by the U.S. meat industry? The drug companies especially promote meat consumption because they not only make out when selling medicines to the meat industry but later to you when you suffer the ailments that result from a meat-centered diet.

I imagine the corporate agricultural behemoths in board meetings strategizing ways to tinker with the food to maximize executive bonuses and shareholder profits. This typically involves the use of cheap substances to enhance the flavor of the food and make it addictive. For instance:

How to Grow a Bigger American
1) Provide cheap food ($$$ if addicting)
2) Make cheap food easy to get ($$$ fast food franchising)

How to Accomplish #1 and #2 goals: When in doubt, just add bacon and cheese…and don’t forget the 32 oz. bucket of coke!

KFC’s double down bunless chicken sandwich. Photograph: Dan Kremer/AP

Industries are really good at finding foods that appeal to our pre-programmed craving for salt, fat, and sugar. Since these substances are rare in nature, our body is designed to send us feedback to eat more of it. The problem is that these substances are no longer rare because we have focused our energy on mass manufacturing them. KFC certainly has it figured out, and YUM Brands is pleased with their profit margins.

How can chicken be so cheap to produce, anyway?

Simple. Just monoculture the food supply. Treat everything like an inanimate good passing through a factory. Figure out how to manufacture it as large as possible for as cheap as possible in the least amount of time for the least amount of effort. I have no problem with adapting systems to keep efficiency high and cost low (I am an engineer), but NEVER would I condone applying this to LIFE forms. I am pretty sure chickens are not appreciative of it either – because for them to survive in cramped conditions and not commit suicide – we have to burn off their beaks and feed them antibiotics. They are also fed a concoction designed to plumpen their breast size up as FAsTly as possible to maximize the size of your bunless sandwich. It is truly heartbreaking.

Photograph: Jake Spain CIWF/Jake Spain

Have you considered who will gain by eating grains, fruits, and vegetables?

The answer is You. No wonder why vegetables and fruits are never marketed to you.

May you consume wisely,
Outdoor Herbivore

Outdoor Herbivore