Government-Subsidized Food - 1201 Words

Government-subsidized food is a growing epidemic in this country. According to Adam Drewnoski, an obesity researcher at University of Washington, â€Å"A dollar could buy 1,200 calories of cookies or potato chips but only 250 calories of carrots. Also, he discovered that a dollar bought 875 calories of soda but only 170 calories of orange juice† (Pollan 1). This statistic proves that the emergence of unhealthy food and growing obesity numbers are directly correlated to the increasing government-subsidized food that is being thrust upon American children. One study found out that, â€Å"about 98% of all televised food ads seen by children are for foods high in sugar, fat, or sodium, and that one thirty-second commercial can influence the brand†¦show more content†¦Unfortunately, schools, or the institutions that are predicated on the principle of telling â€Å"right from wrong† are the same ones that encourage the consumption of unhealthy and potentially lethal foods. Therefore, government-subsidized foods are bad for school lunches because they do not provide enough nourishment to their consumers, and promote food and beverages that are high in high fructose corn syrup. Government-subsidized food is bad for school lunches because it promotes bad food and ignores healthy food. School lunches do not provide well-balanced meals, instead serving up high calorie and fat foods to entice students to buy them. One study found that, â€Å"In USDA school lunches, fresh fruits and vegetables were offered daily at half of schools† (Finkelstein 6). But if these schools are serving fruits and veggies, how are they still encouraging childhood obesity? There are many answers, but the two most common are a la carte cafeterias and vending machines. According to Finkelstein, â€Å"A la carte items were sold in 71% of elementary schools, 92% of middle schools, and 93% of high schools† (Finkelstein 1). Giving students the opportunity to pick wh at they want to eat, according to sources, is a disastrous idea. A study directed by Martha Y. Kubik found that, â€Å"On average, students from schools without a la carte programs consumed more servings of fruit per day than studentsShow MoreRelatedStrengths and Weaknesses of Using Food Subsidies in Improving the Welfare of the Poor in Middle Eastern Economies1535 Words   |  6 Pagesproblem facing policy makers is the choice of options means of improving the short run welfare of poor households in the population. Among these, policy alternative is a choice between food subsidies and agricultural production subsidies. Food subsidies involving either the sale of stable food items at subsidized prices, or income transfers, expected to improve the welfare of recipient households in the short run directly. On the other hand, agricultural production subsidies and other agriculturalRead MoreThe Benefits Of The Agricultural Industry1340 Words   |  6 PagesIt provides a consistent fo od supply to many countries around the world, not to mention the United Sates. It stimulates and stabilizes the economy, all while bringing in billions of dollars every year. While these things are very beneficial to this country, the agricultural industry also depends, at least in part, on funding from the government through agricultural subsidies. The Free Dictionary (2003) defines agricultural subsidies as â€Å"Payments by the federal government to producers of agriculturalRead MoreThe Paradigm Shift in Consumption1861 Words   |  7 PagesConsumption: The New Food Equation Consumer behaviors are constantly changing, as can be seen with the recent trends of obesity in the global north and hunger and malnutrition in the global south. Understanding global food systems is very important as it helps explain opportunities and well as problems that exist in the current global food system. In 1950’s and 60’s an industrial food formula, was created in order to take strides towards delivering ample, affordable, healthy and safe food in the globalRead MoreA Documentary On Food, Inc.1750 Words   |  7 Pagescorrelated with a person’s diet and type of food consumption. In an attempt to assign blame for the cause, political and social commentators’ claim that long standing farm subsidies on particular food commodities correlate with rising obesity trends in America. In a documentary titled Food, Inc., opened to audience in 2008, award winning filmmaker Robert Kenner argues that current agricultural policies on these subsidized food co mmodities are allowing major food corporations to mass produce products thatRead MoreWhy We Should Be Forced to Help the Poor Essay520 Words   |  3 Pagesall of the income goes to food, lodging, and heating bills, which are essential for survival. There is little left over to enjoy the luxuries of life, such as a home with heating, education, medical care, or even three proper meals a day. Because of their lack of education, they cannot get a well paying job, and thus are stuck in the lower classes of society. To help get out of the poverty trap, a good government must provide basic education, health care and subsidized housing. In a democratic societyRead MoreCause and Effect of Corruption1644 Words   |  7 Pagesexists in all countries, both developed and developing, in the public and private sectors, as well as in non-profit and charitable organizations. Allegations and charges of corruption now play a more central role in politics than at any other time. Governments have fa llen, careers of world renowned public figures ruined, and reputations of well-respected organizations and business firms badly tarnished on account of it. The international mass media feeds on it and scandals and improper conduct, especiallyRead MoreAgricultural Adjustment Program : The Price Loss Coverage ( ARC )734 Words   |  3 Pages Throughout the years the Agricultural Act has allowed the federal government to award billions of dollars to farmers, that determines the foods grown and the foods we eat. The Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 mandated the government to pay grant subsidies for corn, wheat and cotton, to maintain adequate supplies of these staple goods during low production times (Orden Zulauf, 2015). The farm bill is revisited every five years, encompassing farm commodity prices and programs, income, farm creditRead MoreThe Is Not Like The Fast Food Workers1383 Words   |  6 PagesLook at all the people in this world, you have doctors, lawyers, construction workers, fast food workers, and a multitude of other professions. What do all of these professions have in common? All the people that work in these fields, want to go to college. Some are successful like doctors, but some are not like the fast food workers. This brings up a question, what prohibits these people from not going to the college of their choosing? There are two answers to this question, the first is, the individualRead MorePoverty And The Hunger Of Venezuela915 Words   |  4 Pagesdisturbing evidence of chronic malnutrition. The government s decision to hide the real situation by refusing to publish statistics per- continents will make the crisis much more difficult to handle. In the second half of 2013, according to the INE, 22.3 % of Venezuelans lived in poverty, and other 9.8 in extreme poverty. While there have been no published figures for 2014 Vice President Jorge Arreaza announced at the annual conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) that extr eme povertyRead MoreFood Inc. Summary Essay735 Words   |  3 PagesFood Inc. opens in an American supermarket and draws attention to the unnatural nature of year-round tomatoes and boneless meat. It pulls aside the curtain that is concealing the truth about food from the consumer. After the brief intro, the movie shifts its focus to the topic of fast food and its impact on the meat industries. Fast food virtually started with McDonald’s. When they decided to simplify their menu and hire employees that repeated one task over and over for minimum wage, the result