This is a 5 part series on ABC by Peter Jennings. Each part is around 10 minutes long.
Things to ponder.
High Fructose Corn Syrup. Government subsidies for 'bad' foods and none for good. Marketing to children. Health risks.
It's fun watching the various Big Agri peeps squirm.
Pip
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=How+the+food+ind ustry+is+deceiving+you&search=Search
Don't forget to remove any extra spaces and try again if the link doesn't work.
Pip:
I thought for SURE Prednisone was going to be in there somewhere
That is how I got fat without even trying. Oh, yeah, and my under-functioning thyroid. Geez, I'm a mess, huh? Phats Jasmine - Let me know what you think AFTER you see the video. Seriously, I'm with you, we have a duty to protect our kids, but, as we see here, they KNOW there's a connection and yet keep on doing what they're doing. Anything else would be bad for business. There's some stuff in there about if you eat a Big Mac meal you have to walk 6 hours to exercise it off. I wondered at why we report feeling so much better on non-processed diets...this could be part of the reason. Pip I'm going to watch the videos later but I have to say if I'm fat, I'm fat because of me. It doesn't have anything to do with advertising, labeling, less than honest food makers and suppliers. I'm fat because of the amount of calories that I consume and I do it quite well without the help of the food industry. Now that being said, I'm losing weight because of less calories being consumed and not paying any attention to the makers and suppliers. I don't use prepackaged food or any of the convenience foods so I don't care what the makers and suppliers advertise because it doesn't affect my weight. One needs to take responsibility for one's weight. The blames lies within not with others. I'm off to get my breafast of oatmeal, banana, and yogurt. Bon Appetit. Lindy I agree - it's what we put in our mouths that do it to us. But, in seeing the program, I was amazed at how much money is involved (33 billion) and what it takes to avoid a lot of this junk. Especially interesting was the info on the marketing to kids and the use of focus groups to get the 'nag factor'. Then the head marketing dude says 'it's the parents fault'. Oh, yeah, sure it is. Every one of us with kids knows we tend to break down at any hint of a 'meltdown' in a store. Wussy? Maybe. But to say they pruposely exploit that and THEN blame US? Puh-lease! Pip I watched the videos and I still say it's up to the individual to make the right choices for themselves. I don't buy anything because of advertising or marketing, I buy it because it either works or I think it will work for me. I truly have a blind eye to marketing and advertising and it might have to do with working hand in hand with that industry for years. And yes, you have control over your children and what they eat. Lobby the schools for more nutritious lunches, pack your child's lunch, don't give in when they demand something in the grocery store, etc., etc. Been there and done it. Not always successful but usually. My grocery bill is about the same because we've also cut down on eating lunches and dinners out. If I pay more for veggies and fruits it all balances out in the end. Lindy
I too indulge in my vices--yes, I have more than one!-,on occasion, and accept the repercussions and take the responsibility for my own actions.
I was just going to watch a bit of that but it was interesting so I ended up
watching the whole thing. If Canada's farm subsidies are anything like the
US', that certainly explains why it's so much more expensive and difficult
to eat healthy foods. I try to eat healthy but it does cost a lot more. It's
ironic that the government is willing to subsidise the production of
millions of tons sugar for the population to consume, but not willing to
subsidise something like vegetables or healthcare for people to consume.
And the advertising to children's angle was something I haven't really
thought about, I guess because I don't have kids.
Another thing about farm subsidies and cheap unhealthy food that they
don't discuss in this expose is a lot of food gets wasted, because we can
afford to buy too much. I'm really guilty of this and I'm really trying to get
a better handle on it, by buying better quality food and using it all up.
Sometimes I go to buy something and instead I remind myself of all the
uneaten food in my fridge and make myself make something of that
instead. Still, I get soooooo guilty when I clean out my fridge, about how
much food I have wasted. It might not be a bad thing if we had to pay
more for food, and have better, healthier foods as a result.
They also don't watch much TV.
Much of the blame for this problem lies with the parents.
Also, when we made a conscious choice to eat healthier, our food bill was cut almost 50%.
Jasmine, did you actually watch the program? It was very interesting. I'd be curious to hear your review.
[QUOTE=Gimpy-a-gogo]Jasmine, did you actually watch the program? It was very interesting. I'd be curious to hear your review.
[/QUOTE]
I'll try to watch it this evening.
I don't know...I just found buying organic fruits and vegetables,
juicing produce, free range organic meats and wild fish to be more
expensive than Kraft Dinner, white bread, factory farm meats, sugary
snacks, pop and juice (not that I ever totally ate like that to begin
with). I guess it would depend on what kind of unhealthy vs healthy
stuff you were buying in the first place, but I find eating healthy
more expensive. That's how it's worked out for me, anyway.
No one decides what I put in my mouth but me. I have managed to eat right most of the time, exercise regularly, and stay a healthy weight. Despite being 44, having 3 kids and RA. And I'm not rich.Linncn, what do you think about huge government subsidies to produce
corn fructose sugar? Just curious (it's not really my issue---I eat
healthy and exercise also, and I'm not rich either).
For instance... the gripe about a supersize McDonalds meal taking 6 hours to walk off... not exactly truthful. At 1400 kcal (quarter pounder w/cheese meal w/reg coke, from McD website), it is more than most normal, sedentary Americans need for an average lunch or dinner... it's about 600-800 kcal over what most need at a meal. So, assuming you eat that for dinner (meaning you're not eating your regular 600-800 kcal dinner) you would need to walk for a couple of hours, or run for an hour, or ride a bike for an hour and a half... or walk for an hour and eat a bit less the rest of the day to make up for the extra 600-800 kcal (not 1400 kcal). Or throw half the fries away and eat a lighter dinner. But it's much easier to claim Ronald McDonald made you eat it.
My children, 7 and 8, know full well what commercials are and what the advertisers are trying to do. They know that the commercials are an attempt to manipulate them into begging us to buy them the crap in the commercial (whether it's toys or junk food). They can tell me which advertised products would be a healthy choice and which ones are crap. They can tell me which toys look like a rip-off. And the woman also says that kids can't be trusted to exercise personal responsibility about food choices... well, they also can't be trusted to drive a car, vote or take a shower without prompting. That's why children come with parents.
And I'm really curious as to why, on this TELEVISION program, the network took absolutely no responsibility for these advertisements that it claims are so evil. They don't have to take the money. But they will continue to take that money and again claim that it's not their fault that they like money.
As for subsidies... just another example of corporate welfare (farms are big business), which I think is complete BS.
Fat in foods is not bad, it keeps us feeling "full" longer. Carbs are not bad, complex carbs break down slower than simple carbs which can help keep you fuller longer. Protein is protein, it does not matter where it comes from, though if you have cholesterol issues taking in less helps.
Many of us eat too much, too fast and when we are not even hungry. The body is amazing! If we let it, it will signal us when we are hungry and when we are full. People (for the most part) are fat because they eat too much, too fast, too often.
Gimpy is right...it costs a lot more to eat healthy. Our low income families in the US are set-up to fail in the wait department. They can't afford to eat healthy. I think it is a crying shame that companies charge so much for there products.
Linncn, the government makes a profit on subsidies?
I'd like to point out I'm not taking a position one way or another on the issue
of who is responsible for obesity (I actually believe there are a lot of
unknown factors). I'm just curious on how the government profits by giving
taxpayer money to corn farmers.When I was doing case management for teen parents I learned a few tricks.
Shop the upper and lower shelves of aisle. Less expensive (read not as much sugar or processing or ads) are found here.
Note that the staples (milk, bread, meat) are usually found at the back of the store. This is because stores want customers to walk through the store to get at them.
Many stores have "family friendly" check out lanes that do not have candy and gum to tempt you or your children.
Many cities have deals with their farmers market that allow people on WIC and food stamps to shop at there.
The more convenient that a food is (more packaging and processing) the more expensive it is.
Kids love to help, shopping and cooking are great way to have family time and keep the kids entertained. Give the kids the shopping list, the coupons, the calculator and let them help out. One year my girls received a kids cookbook for a gift, it was actually nutritious food disguised as fun. They were cooking up a storm with that.
I'd actually like to get a copy of that cookbook for myself.
I watched the whole thing and I thought it was right on. I know it is more expensive to eat good food but not that expensive. You dont have to buy organic meat and vegetables. Just buy and eat more fruits and vegetables and eat more chicken.
My family has an obesity problem and I am at a good weight now 135. If I eat sugar it's because I made a home made dessert like pie or cookies.
This way at least I have more control of what is in them.
I buy as many whole foods as possible. It's not that expensive. We are not rich. I never go to fast food restaurants. That way I save a ton of money and pounds.
It may be the reason I am not crippled from this RA.
Thanks Pip, I passed it on to my son.
If you look at the prices of food in Europe, you'll find that in the US we are terribly spoiled by low priced food.
I haven't watched the videos - I'm still on dial-up and to watch a 10 minute video takes the better part of an hour. But if someone could tell me which one has the information on subsidies, I would like to watch that.
The food industry follows trends. If you don't buy it, they don't make it. How fast have transfats disappeared from products? How many "whole grain" products are suddenly available? If you buy only whole foods and foods made with wholesome ingredients, that is the direction that the industry will go. I make no excuses for food processors, but most of the farms in the US are family owned and operated, even the big ones, and I honestly don't know a single farmer that is getting rich. We are comfortable, but when a suburban friend and I were comparing incomes, she was very worried for our security. It is a hard life made harder by the strange and absurd regulations that the green movement is now causing to be placed on farmers. But, it's what we do and I am very proud of my life and my product. We, by the way, drink our raw milk. If I wouldn't drink it raw, I wouldn't sell it for fluid milk. I don't recommend that any of you drink raw milk unless it is from a certified farm and something that you have been accustomed to. Most people have lost the immunities to common bacteria and hence the food scares.
Ok, off the soapbox. I'm afraid you will find that I'm a little touchy about the public perception of farming in the US and tend to speak to the subject long and loud. LOL
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