Food or Foe?

Written by Ella Larson

How many times has a “quick” meal after work involved unwrapping 3 layers of plastic to get to your food? How often have you looked at an ingredients list and wondered what half of them are? It’s impossible to avoid plastic and preservatives completely– true. In many cases, they are necessary. At the very least, they’re certainly convenient. But at what point does convenience become overcommodification? 

Extreme consumerism and highly competitive brand-dominated food systems have led to the inclusion of harmful elements in our food and its packaging. Food, being the literal fuel for our existence, is meant to be enjoyed, appreciated, and nourishing. Yet certain foods have been marked as “good” and “bad”, and there’s even more controversy over terms like “organic” and “GMOs”. Not to mention diet trends that change quicker than the blink of an eye. Amidst all these popular perceptions of food, and the increasing finance and time-related stressors that people feel surrounding feeding themselves and their families, how can we have a healthy relationship with food while also knowing what we’re eating? While there’s no one answer to that question, some important context for redefining one’s relationship with food is understanding some of what goes into its mass manufacturing. 

Firstly, the prioritization of profit by corporations drives much of the way food is manufactured and what is pushed in advertising. Research is funded regarding how to formulate recipes to find the “bliss point” for a food product, a term generally used to refer to the ratio of sugar, fats, and/or salt that will override your brain’s internal “stop” signals. Then, these food products are advertised widely, generally preying on at-risk demographics such as young children and low-income communities. Once the products reach the store, those of lower nutritional value and more likely to trigger the brain’s addiction pathways are priced lower or featured in promotions. This prioritizes sales and outcompetes healthier options, often among the aforementioned marginalized groups. 

Furthermore, plastic and petrol megacompanies have actively hindered the growth of plant-based plastic alternatives that might be used for food packaging, with geopolitics and consumer demand driving prices of petroleum-based plastics so low that bioplastics don’t stand a chance at investment or competition. This is a major public health issue given that the effects of microplastics on general health are starting to emerge in research, and they are highly concerning- cardiovascular issues, infertility, and cancer, to name a few.

Unfortunately, knowing all this doesn’t make it any easier for individuals in difficult financial situations and with restricted schedules to be able to choose options that may be healthier or feel better. Megacorporations still hold a major seat in terms of what’s available in what grocery stores. However, if possible, I encourage the person reading this to seek out their local farmer’s market. Don’t buy anything if you don’t have the means- just learn what’s in season. Understand what goes into putting processed foods in the grocery stores on the shelves, then learn what goes into growing local foods. You can even learn what recipes might include these foods, and just maybe, this will lead to a greater degree of connection to what you eat. Food quality and nutrition directly impact quality of life- let’s prioritize healthy habits!