Some people say that food in our culture is one aspect of a larger nightmare. This essay mostly agrees with this statement. Our world today has become an Industrial Civilization where industry is the source of every aspect of production in society, including food. Furthermore, Corporations set standards for what to eat and convince people to eat at fast food restaurants and to purchase readymade food from supermarkets because it is cheaper. The federal government strongly supports this way of life by buttressing the industries with benefits and subsidies. However, many people maintain traditions such as vegetarianism, kosher dietary laws and ethnic traditions.
Industrial civilization is civilization based on machinery and fossil fuels, which includes natural gas, coal and oil. Products of industrial civilization are mass produced in very large factories. Fast, mass production ensures large profits for corporations, which allows them to reduce the prices for the products, which subsequently attracts even more consumers. The government supports this practice because these corporations greatly help the economy and the GDP (gross domestic product). It can also be argued that unemployment is alleviated because many people are required to keep the factories going. Of course, there are many consequences of working in a factory such as unsanitary conditions, dangerous machinery and a low pay
Fossil fuels are quickly being used up by corporations and this is poses an important dilemma for the world. Oil is used for various purposes such as manufacturing products, the machinery itself, the production of food, and as gasoline for vehicles. The dilemma is that we are approaching or have passed peak oil. The theory of peak oil is that the extraction of oil will meet its maximum point, at the time where half of the oil will be exhausted. The United States reached peak oil in the 1970’s, and has since imported oil from all around the world. We are devouring our oil reserves and this has contributed to worldwide peak oil and record gasoline prices.
Not having enough natural resources such as oil is a scary thought, yet there are more things to worry about. Through immense advertising and the tens of thousands of fast food locations across the United States, the fast food industry has soared over the past few decades. Some of the most profitable public and private corporations today are fast food corporations, or prepare food for fast food corporations. The list includes McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Cargill and ADM. In addition, the people that run the franchisees for the fast food chains, struggle to get money for themselves. This is illustrated in the 4th chapter of Fast Food Nation. “It costs about $100,000 to open a subway restaurant, the lowest investment required by any of the major fast food chains. The annual royalty Subway takes from its franchisees—8 perfect of total revenues—is among the highest.” According to the 7th chapter of Omnivore’s Dilemma, fast food is directly linked to obesity Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Yet, one out of every three children eats fast food every single day. And to note, fast food isn’t only purchased at fast food chains, it can be purchases as readymade, microwaveable food at a supermarket.
Food is one aspect of a larger nightmare, but there are still many people who go against the large corporations by conforming to different ways of eating. For instance, vegetarians refuse to eat the meat, poultry, fish and dairy products, which are mass produced, and kosher dietary laws force some to slow the process of producing in order to follow the laws that are necessary. In addition, many ethnic groups prefer to cook their own food every day and to eat together as a family. This definitely does not support the fast food industry. As for corporations other than food corporations, some car manufacturers are now making Hybrid cars that have much more mileage per gallon. This at least attempts to conserve the use of oil.
Hence, we are living in an industrial civilization where corporations dominate our way of life, accumulate huge profits, and mass produce with the use of fossil fuels and machinery. Food in our culture is one aspect of a larger nightmare, but there is still hope to change this lifestyle.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Monday, April 2, 2007
Industrial Food Paper 2nd Draft
The United States and other developed countries have developed a complex Industrial Food System (IFS) over the past 50 years. Industrial Food is the mass production of cattle, poultry, fish and crops by utilizing methods used to produce the highest output at the lowest cost. This includes cramming animals together in small areas before they are slaughtered and used for food. Industrial Food is also heavily dependent on fossil fuels and genetic engineering.
The food industry has turned from a system in which independent farmers sell all their livestock, fish and crops with their own conditions into a system in which large corporations, such as Fast Food chains, essentially have a vertical monopoly over the industry. This means that the corporations engage in the many aspects of the production. McDonalds, for example, owns the farms that have the crops and animals. It owns the plants that process the food and it owns the fast food restaurants. Most of us are part of the IFS whether we work for the food corporations, buy food from supermarkets, eat out for dinner, work on the farms or work in the processing plants.
Food corporations attempt to use as much as they can from the crops and animals that they grow and raise. One instance is corn, perhaps the most important crop in the country. According to Iowa Corn, 11.2 billion bushels of corn was produced in 2005. It can be argued that every processed food in our houses can somehow be extrapolated from corn. This essential crop isn’t only used as food for us. Corn is fed to livestock, used as fuel ethanol, used in plastics and even processed for paper.
The food industry has evolved in the ways that were aforementioned because of the necessity of providing for the inhabitants of our country. The United States population reached 300 million this year and is rising sharply. Thus, it is imperative to efficiently produce enough food so no one will go hungry. As a result, the Industrial Food System has been effective in providing food for Americans. It is easy for us to eat already made food at fast food restaurants and to purchase processed foods that are easy to eat, so the IFS has ultimately become our primary source of nutrition.
The Industrial Food System has some benefits, but there are far more problems inherent in it. Fast Food Nation, by Eric Schlosser, summarizes this very well. “The transformation of cattle into industrial commodities has created labor, environmental, food-safety, and animal-welfare problems.” (p. 8) Animals are overcrowded in the factories and are given synthetic antibiotics, animals are given enormous quantities of food, some of which are not natural for them, to make them much bigger. Animal wastes are improperly recycled by being dumped into rivers or not being removed from the pens in which animals are raised. This causes disease and pollution. Moreover, lots of natural resources are used up and the methods of killing livestock and poultry are considered inhumane. In addition, the workers in the factories that work on assembly lines can catch diseases from animals and inadvertently harm themselves while using machinery.
The consumers of the IFS face various health problems. So many Americans do not know their limit and eat too much. Whether it is caused by food from the supermarket or fast food, Americans are becoming extremely overweight. According to U.S. News and World Report, 32% of American adults are obese. (p. 44) Also, one out of three adults eventually gets Type 2 diabetes. In addition, many cardiovascular problems are associated with obesity. These problems include Hypertension (high blood pressure), stroke and blocked arteries, which leads to heart attacks.
The renowned German philosopher, Martin Heidegger, once said, “Agriculture is now a motorized food industry, the same thing in its essence as the production of corpses in the gas chambers and the extermination camps, the same thing as blockades and the reduction of countries to famine, the same thing as the manufacture of hydrogen bombs.” This is the true essence of the current food industry because livestock and poultry aren’t viewed as animals, but as commodities. They are intended to be created into as many products as possible by utilizing technologically advanced methods that are considered by some to be unethical. Furthermore, the earth is being stripped for its rich resources and huge portions of land in the United States is being set aside solely for farmland and industrial factories.
The IFS is significant to us because it affects our lifestyle and how we eat. Food might be taken for granted sometimes but it surely used up all the time. The earth is being stripped for its resources to provide food for all the human beings on this planet and to keep the IFS going strong. People are always worried about money. For the economy to stay strong, for food to be available all the time however way we wish it to be and for the prices of food to stay low, we must continue investing into the system unless we find a better alternative. This is because the IFS represents this ideology of producing as much as possible and getting the most out of our resources while making as much money off of it or saving the most money.
The food industry has turned from a system in which independent farmers sell all their livestock, fish and crops with their own conditions into a system in which large corporations, such as Fast Food chains, essentially have a vertical monopoly over the industry. This means that the corporations engage in the many aspects of the production. McDonalds, for example, owns the farms that have the crops and animals. It owns the plants that process the food and it owns the fast food restaurants. Most of us are part of the IFS whether we work for the food corporations, buy food from supermarkets, eat out for dinner, work on the farms or work in the processing plants.
Food corporations attempt to use as much as they can from the crops and animals that they grow and raise. One instance is corn, perhaps the most important crop in the country. According to Iowa Corn, 11.2 billion bushels of corn was produced in 2005. It can be argued that every processed food in our houses can somehow be extrapolated from corn. This essential crop isn’t only used as food for us. Corn is fed to livestock, used as fuel ethanol, used in plastics and even processed for paper.
The food industry has evolved in the ways that were aforementioned because of the necessity of providing for the inhabitants of our country. The United States population reached 300 million this year and is rising sharply. Thus, it is imperative to efficiently produce enough food so no one will go hungry. As a result, the Industrial Food System has been effective in providing food for Americans. It is easy for us to eat already made food at fast food restaurants and to purchase processed foods that are easy to eat, so the IFS has ultimately become our primary source of nutrition.
The Industrial Food System has some benefits, but there are far more problems inherent in it. Fast Food Nation, by Eric Schlosser, summarizes this very well. “The transformation of cattle into industrial commodities has created labor, environmental, food-safety, and animal-welfare problems.” (p. 8) Animals are overcrowded in the factories and are given synthetic antibiotics, animals are given enormous quantities of food, some of which are not natural for them, to make them much bigger. Animal wastes are improperly recycled by being dumped into rivers or not being removed from the pens in which animals are raised. This causes disease and pollution. Moreover, lots of natural resources are used up and the methods of killing livestock and poultry are considered inhumane. In addition, the workers in the factories that work on assembly lines can catch diseases from animals and inadvertently harm themselves while using machinery.
The consumers of the IFS face various health problems. So many Americans do not know their limit and eat too much. Whether it is caused by food from the supermarket or fast food, Americans are becoming extremely overweight. According to U.S. News and World Report, 32% of American adults are obese. (p. 44) Also, one out of three adults eventually gets Type 2 diabetes. In addition, many cardiovascular problems are associated with obesity. These problems include Hypertension (high blood pressure), stroke and blocked arteries, which leads to heart attacks.
The renowned German philosopher, Martin Heidegger, once said, “Agriculture is now a motorized food industry, the same thing in its essence as the production of corpses in the gas chambers and the extermination camps, the same thing as blockades and the reduction of countries to famine, the same thing as the manufacture of hydrogen bombs.” This is the true essence of the current food industry because livestock and poultry aren’t viewed as animals, but as commodities. They are intended to be created into as many products as possible by utilizing technologically advanced methods that are considered by some to be unethical. Furthermore, the earth is being stripped for its rich resources and huge portions of land in the United States is being set aside solely for farmland and industrial factories.
The IFS is significant to us because it affects our lifestyle and how we eat. Food might be taken for granted sometimes but it surely used up all the time. The earth is being stripped for its resources to provide food for all the human beings on this planet and to keep the IFS going strong. People are always worried about money. For the economy to stay strong, for food to be available all the time however way we wish it to be and for the prices of food to stay low, we must continue investing into the system unless we find a better alternative. This is because the IFS represents this ideology of producing as much as possible and getting the most out of our resources while making as much money off of it or saving the most money.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Comment on Gary's Industrial Food paper
I can tell that your focus is our corn is the essential aspect of the IFS. Therefore, be sure to let people know this is your focus. I would also recommend you to talk about health problems associated with people eating Industrial food.
Comment on Isabella's Industrial Food Paper
I recognize that your thesis pertains to "The Machine" in the food industry. I like how you emphasized the effects of the machine on our country as a whole, but you can discuss further the problems with the IFS. In addition, your definition should of the IFS should be unambiguous so it could help you organize the content of your paper. Very promising paper.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Industrial Agriculture
Omnivore's Dilemma:
It has significant insight into Industrial Agriculture suppored by numerous facts. This book is good for finding quotes about this issue.
Fast Food Nation:
This is another book that talks alot about Industrial Agriculture. Written in a different way than Omnivore's Dilemma.
"Daily Bread":
Great footage depicting animals being raised and slaughtered. As well as, non-animal food products being grown. Shows patterns in the industry without using dialouge.
Writting discussion preps:
This allows us to further articulate our thoughts and observations pertaining to Industrial Agriculture. This was done with the books we read.
The Meatrix:
Sums up the essence of what we need to know in short clips. The animation can guide anyone along.
Fast Food Experiences:
This offers a first hand experience. We can see what happens after food is processed and at the end of the food industry chain.
It has significant insight into Industrial Agriculture suppored by numerous facts. This book is good for finding quotes about this issue.
Fast Food Nation:
This is another book that talks alot about Industrial Agriculture. Written in a different way than Omnivore's Dilemma.
"Daily Bread":
Great footage depicting animals being raised and slaughtered. As well as, non-animal food products being grown. Shows patterns in the industry without using dialouge.
Writting discussion preps:
This allows us to further articulate our thoughts and observations pertaining to Industrial Agriculture. This was done with the books we read.
The Meatrix:
Sums up the essence of what we need to know in short clips. The animation can guide anyone along.
Fast Food Experiences:
This offers a first hand experience. We can see what happens after food is processed and at the end of the food industry chain.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
McDonald's has a new problem
On sunday, I went to a McDonald's in Astoria. After thinking about what I would do for food class, I came up with a plan. I was determined to demonstrate how the food people were eating was detrimental to their health. On posterboard I wrote "McDonald's Kills You!!!" Then I listed as many health problems as possible that can be linked to consuming a lot of fast food. The list was as follows:
-Obesity
-Heart Disease
-Hypertension
-Heart Attack
-Stroke
-Diabtetes
-Food Poisoning
So, I walked into the store and went to the top floor. I held up the sign and said "McDonald's Kills You" in a louder voice. I walked right up to people and showed them the sign so they could read it. In this 15 minute episode, I sat down next to people and just stared at them. Eventually a worker asked me to leave the premises before he called the manager and I didn't want to cause more trouble. SO I left with a nervous, but satisfied look on my face.
I received various reactions. A few times people kindly or belligerently told me to leave them alone. One person told me that he didn't give a shit what I had to say because it is none of my business and he cursed at me. An elderly woman made me laugh when she told me she had diabetes, for the obvious reason. So I told her that there are so many other places to eat out and cautioned her against eating at McDonald's and she promised me she would stop. A group of young women told me for what purpose was I acting for and I told her that I feel strongly about this subject and I want people to be cognizant of what they eat and know the serious health issues entailed. The women seemed very interested and then left shortly after. SO I guess my day was somewhat successful. It was defintely scary for me to do this alone because I feel more comfortable working with other people.
-Obesity
-Heart Disease
-Hypertension
-Heart Attack
-Stroke
-Diabtetes
-Food Poisoning
So, I walked into the store and went to the top floor. I held up the sign and said "McDonald's Kills You" in a louder voice. I walked right up to people and showed them the sign so they could read it. In this 15 minute episode, I sat down next to people and just stared at them. Eventually a worker asked me to leave the premises before he called the manager and I didn't want to cause more trouble. SO I left with a nervous, but satisfied look on my face.
I received various reactions. A few times people kindly or belligerently told me to leave them alone. One person told me that he didn't give a shit what I had to say because it is none of my business and he cursed at me. An elderly woman made me laugh when she told me she had diabetes, for the obvious reason. So I told her that there are so many other places to eat out and cautioned her against eating at McDonald's and she promised me she would stop. A group of young women told me for what purpose was I acting for and I told her that I feel strongly about this subject and I want people to be cognizant of what they eat and know the serious health issues entailed. The women seemed very interested and then left shortly after. SO I guess my day was somewhat successful. It was defintely scary for me to do this alone because I feel more comfortable working with other people.
Friday, March 2, 2007
My Comment on Simone's Diet Paper
Great insight and nice use of quotes and citations.
My only area of concern is to prove that there are chemical additives in our meat. Otherwise, great job.
My only area of concern is to prove that there are chemical additives in our meat. Otherwise, great job.
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