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The Industrial Food System: Social, economic, environmental, energy, and health issues

The Industrial Food System: Social, economic, environmental, energy, and health issues. Consider the Twinkie:.

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The Industrial Food System: Social, economic, environmental, energy, and health issues

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  1. The Industrial Food System: Social, economic, environmental, energy, and health issues

  2. Consider the Twinkie: Wheat Flour, Bleach, Enrichment Blend: Ferrous Sulfate and B Vitamins–Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Folic Acid, Sugar, Corn Sweeteners, Corn Syrup, Dextrose, Glucose, and High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Thickeners: Cornstarch, Modified Cornstarch, Corn Dextrins, Corn Flour, Water, Soy: Partially Hydrogenated Vegetable and/or Animal Shortening, Soy Lecithin, and Soy Protein Isolate, Egg, Cellulose Gum, Whey, Leavenings, Baking Soda, Phosphates  (Sodium acid pyrophosphate and monocalcium phosphate), Salt, Mono and Diglycerides, Polysorbate 60, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Sodium and Calcium Caseinate, Calcium Sulfate, Sorbic Acid, Color (FD & C Yellow 5, Red 40)

  3. More than just food . . .

  4. Multi-functional ingredients . . . • cane sugar derivative used in flame retardant foam, to make ink and to cure tobacco • 14 of the most common chemicals we use are found in Twinkies • Corn dextrin is also for the glue on postage stamps and envelopes • Ferrous sulfate is used as a disinfectant and weedkiller • calcium sulfate is also plaster of Paris • Lecithin (an emulsifier) is also used in paint • Cornstarch is used to make cardboard and packing peanuts

  5. Globalized food . . . • vitamins from China • food coloring from China and Missouri • polysorbate 60 from Delaware • cellulose gum from Georgia • calcium sulfate from Oklahoma • soybean shortening from the Midwest • high fructose corn syrup from Nebraska • diacetyl from China or Germany • whey from Wisconsin • corn from Illinois and Iowa • ore for baking soda/powder from Wyoming • additives from India • flavoring from New Jersey

  6. Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eKYyD14d_0 • Interview with Michael Pollan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXmF_erEv1o

  7. Environmental, Economic, Energy and Health Problems • Monocultures • Hybrid and GM seeds • Animals removed from farms • (Over-)use of fertilizers • Use of pesticides • Energy source - use of fossil fuels rather than energy of the sun • Subsidies encourage over-production (= low price) and benefits go to large agri-businesses

  8. Environmental, Economic, Energy and Health Problems • Beginning of corporate consolidation (most grain elevators run by corn processing companies) • Transport of grain to processors and Cafos • Export of cheap grain to other countries  unfair competition for local farmers there

  9. Environmental, Economic, Energy and Health Problems • corporate consolidation of corn and soy processing, meat packing, food processing and food retailing • Corporations are ultimate beneficiaries of subsidies – low price of raw materials • Extensive lobbying of these firms

  10. Environmental, Economic, Energy and Health Problems • Production of ethanol is energy intensive – taking almost a liter of fossil fuel to produce a liter of ethanol

  11. Environmental, Economic, Energy and Health Problems • Energy intensive process of breaking down grains into starches, sugars, enzymes, fats . . . later to be re-assembled into foods • Increasing number of foods consisting largely of corn (also fat and sugar) • Massive use of chemical additives for flavor, color texture, shelf-life . ..

  12. Environmental, Economic, Energy and Health Problems EVERYTHING ADDED TO FOOD IN THE UNITED STATES http://www.foodsafety.gov/~dms/eafus.html

  13. Environmental, Economic, Energy and Health Problems • Live animal transports • Cheap corn leads to Cafos • Cows eating corn develop intestinal and liver problems – they suffer • Increase of bacteria such as E.coli • Cows given antibiotics and growth hormones • Manure becomes pollution problem – pest problems CAFO – Confined Animal Feeding Operation

  14. Environmental, Economic, Energy and Health Problems • Notoriously bad working conditions in the meatpacking industry (exploitative, dangerous, insecure, illegal ...) • Lack of effective government regulation

  15. Environmental, Economic, Energy and Health Problems • Long transport ways • Labelling intransparent (and intentionally so?) • Large supermarket chains killing off local stores • Dubious marketing claims to attract ethical or health conscious consumers (e.g. "all natural") • Profit margins on FairTrade goods • Price pressure on suppliers

  16. A bit on labelling . . . vs. Source: http://www.foodbubbles.com/blog/2009/09/07/smart-choices-not-so-smart/

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