News In Food
Migrant Farm Workers Unseen Victims
Picture Source: “Two New Journal Articles Focus on Agricultural Workers, COVID-19, and Ways to Improve Health and Well-Being.” Migrant Clinicians Network, 29 Sept. 2020
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The article Migrant Farm Labor Trafficking in North Carolina: Pinning Down Elusive Data presents data collected by a NIJ funded research team from San Diego State University and RTI International illustrating the patterns of exploiting migrant farm workers in North Carolina. Over 25% of migrant workers that were interviewed by this team experienced what can be considered exploitive treatment by employers. Undocumented workers (17% of interviewed workers) were proven to be even more vulnerable, with few alternative options for employment. Also farm workers that weren't allowed to have visitors in there residence on site corelated to experiencing more victimization. This can lead to some migrant workers feeling they can “afford to be exploited” (pg.3, Small Farms Aren’t Answer) and are afraid to speak up. This has created a long challenge for researchers in quantifying this abuse even when trying different sampling methods. Ultimately the true magnitude of exploitation of migrant farm workers can only be approximated.
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This article reinforces the arguments found in our reading of how the current food system rewards competitive and unethical behavior especially in larger scale industries. Since these farms “are supposed to be doing all they can to maximize sales” (pg.42, Can Food Be Addictive?) it raises big questions on why we are content with this system of exploitive competition. Human rights of fair wages and quality work conditions are being sacrificed for our cheaper food. This article calls for action involving more government regulation and laws to identify and support exploited victims in this state’s agricultural sector. Only by allowing migrant workers to be formally integrated into our work force can this victimization be changed.
The State of Food Waste In America
Picture Source: Cather, Alexina, and Alexina Cather. “Down the Rabbit Hole: Why Measuring Food Waste Is so Confusing.” NYC Food Policy Center (Hunter College), 16 Mar. 2021.
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The article “The State of Food Waste in America” addresses the sheer amount of food waste and its consequences in America. Yet it also presents proactive changes in food waste policies and laws emerging in some states. Currently the United States wastes the most food out of any other country. This amount of waste is 40 million tons every year which is around 30-40 percent of the U.S. food supply. Not only is this food lost but food waste also contributes globally to 11 percent of greenhouse emissions. To combat this crisis states like Connecticut now require major food suppliers to send food waste to organic processing facility to be utilize for composting. Even in the private sector companies are searching for ways to repurpose their food waste and create new products from it.
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Currently “Americans spend just over 10 percent of their incomes on food” (pg.4, Economic History of Leftovers), resulting in an attitude of being able to afford to throw out leftovers. This is significant on a global scale since “the American way of eating is on track to become that of the world, too” (pg.10, The American Way Of Eating). This article presents some of the consequences that the article in our class predicts and positive action currently being implemented to address and slow down our American way of eating. Only through a change in attitude towards food in the U. S. can united action be taken to lower food waste globally.
Beyond Food Deserts
George, Caroline, and Adie Tomer. “Beyond 'Food Deserts': America Needs a New Approach to Mapping Food Insecurity.” Brookings, Brookings, 17 Aug. 2021
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This article examines food insecurity as it becomes more apparent in the COVID pandemic. It argues that even if there was perfect food distribution prices and class inequality would still primarily limit food access. A 2015 analysis showed that the average American household goes out of their way to find a preferred grocery store showcasing that food deserts aren’t as severe. Especially with online shopping in COVID resulting in easy access to food. Yet the underlining factor is that good food costs more money than millions of Americans can afford to spend their income on. Already “low income mothers may be forced to spend all available resources on children” (pg.154, From “Junk Food” to “Treats”) due to cultural pressure on proper parenting resulting in food insecurities for themselves. Grocery stores hold great power over the price of food and more of them will simply result in shorter travel time not more food.
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I think this article helps remind us that even with strong infrastructure changes to food distribution there remains an incredible amount of economic inequality that creates food insecurity. The “poorest of the poor” (pg.22, Room 105) need immediate help and federal support to reach food security. Reforming food distribution and waste is a great step in the right direction but as mention in “Let’s Ask Marion” these problems are direct results from economic inequality and these issues need to be addressed along with alternative solutions. Only by modernizing current federal assistance programs and encouraging community lead food security aid can this food crisis start to change.
Your Diet is Cooking the Planet
Gallagher, Tim. “Cow Burps Are Being Used to Offset Our Carbon Emissions.” Euronews, 22 Apr. 2021
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This article proposes that climate change can be significantly combated by changing individual diet habits. Specifically, the author calls for consumers to be mindful of their food waste and to avoid eating meat, in particular cow meat is the worse. For food waste action is called for educating Americans on expiration dates and more regulation on uniformity in best used by labels from industries. As for meat consumption cattle are responsible for roughly over two-thirds of greenhouse gases caused by livestock. The author states that if Americans swapped out beef for an alternative like tofu the country would be halfway to hitting its Paris Agreement target.
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Though I found it interesting that the author does reflect and mention that even though a meat like chicken is better than cow it takes slaughtering much more chickens for each single cow. Therefore, causing significantly more animal suffering in the food industry if cows were swapped out for more chickens. Though I find it hard to understand this point since "what is suffering" (pg. 77, Eating Animals) for animals is something I struggle to wrap my head around, unlike my brother who on the other hand has a high empathy for all kinds of animals. Watching how he goes out of his way to avoid hurting them makes me acknowledge that the world does feels a little nicer when there is less needless "suffering" of animals whatever that might be.
Ultimately, I think the author believes the best solution to climate change and reducing animal suffering is to completely stop eating meat all together, which personally I find that to be a radical claim for myself to process. Especially since its mentioned in Marion Nestle that "agriculture is responsible for 25 percent" (pg.135, Marion Nestle) of green house gases globally which is completely overlooked by this article. Not eating meat would be a massive sacrifice for myself when there are many other factors contributing to climate change that could be solved instead. But I understand the main takeaway message is similar to recycling campaigns that argue that personal responsibility is the main path to lasting change in our environment which is a fine starting point for change. Maybe if those plant vegie burgers truly taste as good as a real beef burger, as they claim to be, I might consider adopting the diet proposed in this article. At the very least I am definitely more mindful of food waste with my meal portion sizes and selecting only food I know I'm going to finish eating.
Misleading Vitamin Water Advertisement
Picture Source: “Coca-Cola Defends Vitaminwater Ads.” FoodBev Media, 3 Feb. 2011
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Coca-Cola received criticism from this ad alluding that their vitamin water could replace flu shots. These claims are ill supported by claiming it had more vitamin c and boosted immunity. While we learned in class that “supplemental vitamins fail to offer the health benefits we once thought they had” (Pandora’s Lunchbox, pg. 85). Not only is this claim misleading but it is also dangerous for a company based off selling drink products to offered medical advice. Especially when the product has around four or five teaspoons of sugar and can hardly be called water. Coca-Cola attempts to defend these accusations by arguing that most customers understand that the ad is supposed to be humorous but “it is human nature to trust the nutrition opinions of celebrities” (Nestle, pg. 26), just like a big brand name like Vitamin Water. Ultimately the Advertising Standards Authority banned the poster ruling that the claim was misleading to consumers.
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I find it disappointing that such a massive company can advertise such a misleading ad with little consequences. This shift towards highly processed supplement filled food makes me wonder how people will ever be able to identify healthy food. Every day I watch dozens of ads and not a single one is advocating a healthy food product to me. I wouldn't be surprised if I come across another ad like this tomorrow.