The Economic Injustice of Plastic

Food: A Series of Reflections Pt.3

This weekend I did some exploration. I dropped by my local Safeway with a full stomach for the purpose of looking at the marketing, packaging, and value of food. When you become desensitized or hungry, key details seem to slip past you. I evaluated various food items based on some of the following questions:

1) What is the nutrient value of the product? Is it good for me?
2) How eco-friendly is the packaging? How could it be better? How does the packaging make the product look healthy?
3) Where is the product made and distributed?
4) What image is the product trying to project?
5) Are there corn or soy ingredients in the product? 

One particular example of packaging that was completely unnecessary was a package of four russet potatoes on a foam tray wrapped in plastic for $2.99. What a waste of resources! Another interesting thing to note was that many "natural" products were packaged in recycled cardboard with simple labeling or in bags that where matte rather than shiny in order to provide a more rustic look.

If shoppers where to go into the store and ask themselves these questions there might be a shift in purchasing. The carbon footprint of an item that was distributed 12 states away or imported is far different than an item that was produced and distributed in state. Packaging in paper, glass, and tin is far more environmentally responsible than plastic. In season produce that does not come from Mexico or South America is more responsible both environmentally and economically as it supports US farmers.

Consider these questions the next time you shop.

Happy Monday

-CCosner

Food: A Series of Reflections Pt.2

Corn, believe it or not, seems to be the beginning of this chain of sad food events. Pollan starts here in his book and follows corn’s history and its variety in our food chain. I will break most of this down best I can, giving an overview.

Corn has humble origins in our life.  A native to the Americas, it has found its way into our diets more than we know. Much of what was a diverse Mid-West is nothing but fields of corn to feed the constant need of consumers and processors. The sad part of this is that many corn farmers are starving; their businesses on the edge of dying. This leads to an ugly self perpetuating process. The price of corn remains low because so many farmers grow corn. Therefore when the corn is harvested growers are paid a low price. They try to grow more corn the following year by pouring on more fertilizer and hoping for the best. But everyone does this which only raises the amount of corn being produced which lowers the corn price further.

Lovely right? Farmers are starving and by attempting to dig themselves out of the hole they only dig themselves deeper. But as with any free market things should right themselves. Wrong. The USDA subsidizes corn growers. They are cut a check if the price of corn falls below a certain amount set by the USDA. This sounds like a good thing. But it is really not. It only keeps farmers going in order to supply the demands of huge corn buyers.  Here is where it gets even more convoluted.

Corn is used in just about every processed food imaginable, high fructose corn syrup being a one bi-product that has received a lot of media attention lately.  Cereals, chips, candies, baked goods, the list goes on and on. This was something I was aware of. But the fact that corn is used to make the wax that ends up on many fruits purchased in the supermarket surprised me. Corn is the main source of nutrients for all factory farmed animals. Those hot houses of chickens, the desolate feed lots of cattle and dairy cows all have one thing in common: corn. It is the dominate ingredient used in the ration for the artificially rapid growth and production of these animals. 

So here is an economics question for you: What would happen if the price of corn went up? Every single of the above foods would increase in price. Dairy products, meat, processed foods, McDonalds and beyond.  And what do Americans love more than anything? Cheap food! Why do you think fast food restaurants continue to flourish when we are obese? Why do supermarkets like Wal-Mart deeply discount their food? So that we can have our food for cheap.  No matter about the quality or where it comes from. 

If corn prices rise, the cost of food rises. End of story. Oh how the consumer would howl to the government, to the producers, to the poor famers (who have finally paid off their mortgage)! It would be unending. The processors would absolutely die. So for the USDA to not worry about the farmer and dip their finger in to the market makes sense for all of the big corporations who have the USDA as a puppet. (Just watch Food Inc) and for all of the rioting public.

Here we have a story of a simple grain which has taken over. Its influences reach into the meat market where feeding corn to cattle causes wild bacteria growth and has been linked to the outbreaks of tainted hamburger. The industries reaction to this was not to change the feeding practices. Why should they when they have all that cheap corn at their finger tips? Rather their response was to take all ground hamburger and ammoniate it. Gag! That is about the same is using kitchen cleaners on your meat. Healthy? I think not. But it is cheap…so we as consumers don’t question it.

To think that the plant itself is the root of all evil would be unfair. There are many players in this game multi-billion dollar corporations such has Monsanto, Tyson, MIP, Kraft, the list goes on,  that work with the government to insure that things don’t change.  It is sad but the little people, the ones that these companies are supposed to be serving are the ones that end up hurt by this. The grower gets paid a horrible price. Here is a person who works day in and day out for no W-2, no pension, no insurance, and ends up with a tiny little check. Why doesn’t he quit? Think of what would happen if they did. Then there really is no more food. And then there is the consumer. They work hard to feed their family but when the cheapest food is the worst thing for you then how can you make a good choice? Why do you think obesity is on the rise? That is a pretty self fulfill prophesy.

Happy Eating,

CCosner