Understanding the IndustrialFood System

The way we produce, package and eat food has changed dramaticallyover the past 50 years. It is important to understand how our foodsystem shapes what we eat and buy.

In agrarian societies, people grew their own food or traded for food with neighbors.

Due to political and economic pressures and incentives, America shifted to an industrial food model.

Because of this shift, Americans can no longer feed themselves and are unhealthier than ever before.

In agrarian societies, people grew their own food or traded for food with neighbors. As American farms grew, they were able to produce larger amounts of food but still grew a wide variety of livestock, veg-etable and fruit.

Livestock and animals helped to fertilize the ground for vegetable growth. The system was seasonal (not all foods were available all the time) and in-balance - soil, air and water quality were high. Baring catastrophic meteorological events, most people could feed them-selves.

Due to political and economic pressures and incentives, America shifted to an industrial food model. We are feeding more people (although 40 million people in the U.S. are food insecure - not sure where their next meal is coming from) but with a host of significant consequences.

WHY DOES THIS MATTER?Food companies spend close to two billion dollars on food and beverage marketing to youth - primarily on fast food, junk food and soda. Most foods and beverage advertised to children is high in fat, sugar and soda and higher in calories.

Today, almost 70% of Americans (and more than 30% of children) are overweight or obese. Unless drastic changes occur, by 2030 95% of all Americans will be over-weight or obese.

75% of all healthcare dollars goes to treat metabolic and lifestyle related disease: heart disease, hypertension, diabetes etc.

In 1980, there were 0 cases of type 2 diabetes among adolescents.

In 2010 there were 57, 638.

This is the first generation of children who will live less long than their parents generation.

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In 1980, there were 0 cases of type 2 diabetes among adolescents.

In 2010 there were 57, 638.

This is the first generation of children who will live less long than their parents generation.

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WHAT DOES INDUSTRIAL FARMING IMPACT?

Growing uses heavy equipment to plant single “monocrops.” Single crop, large scale planting stresses soil and is more susceptible to pests and infestations, requiring the use of more pesticides. This creates more toxic runoff in soil and water systems.

THE WAY OUR FOOD IS GROWN

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Farmers gather ripened crop using heavy ma-chinery which further degrades soil and requires a tremendous amount of diesel fuel (aka petro-leum).

HARVESTING

As expectation and demand for year round food choices increases, your food travels a greater and greater distance, via air, truck, train or barge. The transportation process is heavy on oil/petroleum, creating more greenhouse gas than actual meat production.

TRANSPORTING

Food processors use factory equipment to chop, grind, dry, boil, can or freeze food to make it last longer, transport more easily. Processing plants (particularly meat plants) are unsafe and often unsanitary. Food is typically greatly altered from its natural state.

PROCESSING

Average sugar consumption is now more than 41 tsp/day

The American Heart Association recommends no more than 6-9 tsp of sugar per day.

OUR EATING

Eating no longer takes place at a mealtime, at a table, with others. Food consumption has moved out of the home to gas stations, in cars, restaurants, fast food, movie theaters, corner stores, etc.

PACKAGINGWorkers put food into cans, bags, boxes, plastic containers. Packaging protects food from spoilage and makes it easier to ship but mostly ends up in landfills.

Large supermarkets offer more than 60,000 products on their shelves.

More than 60% of the food is processed food.

SELLING

Leftover food and packaging is discarded. More than 40% of all food is thrown away - either from store or consumer waste.

DISPOSAL