The Politics Of Food: Highly Processed Foods

HIGHLY PROCESSED FOODS Name: Institution: Date: Table of Contents TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u Introduction PAGEREF _Toc9499747 \h 3Ways governments use to regulate the consumption of foods PAGEREF _Toc9499748 \h 4Passing Legislation to regulate marketing of highly processed foods PAGEREF _Toc9499749 \h 4Ensuring Information on these foods is accurate PAGEREF _Toc9499750 \h 5Using disincentives PAGEREF _Toc9499751 \h 7Teaching the public on healthy living through schools etc PAGEREF _Toc9499752 \h 8Using Public-private partnerships PAGEREF _Toc9499753 \h 8What Corporations are doing? PAGEREF _Toc9499754 \h 11Corporations running anti-obesity campaigns PAGEREF _Toc9499755 \h 11Researching to provide alternative healthier highly processed foods i.e Zero calorie beverages PAGEREF _Toc9499756 \h 12Conclusion PAGEREF _Toc9499757 \h 12List of References PAGEREF _Toc9499758 \h 14 Introduction Since the advent of the civilization of man and for the better part of the 20th century, food security and proper nutrition was a challenge to many people. In a bid to tackle the problem, many governments sought to stimulate the production of food and distribution ensuring that it was as inexpensive as possible. The move cultivated an industry of highly processed foods which came to take root in many parts of the world. Technology and research in the industry accelerated the production volume and lowered the cost. Other factors such as better infrastructure, better storage materials (plastic) and equipment and an increase in supermarkets and food stores led to increased consumption of the foods. The invention of plastic as a cheap material that can easily be used to package and store processed foods helped keep the price of processed foods low and increased their distribution. Processed food could now be packaged and transported over long distances. CITATION Mar07 \l 1033 (Bittman, 2007) suggests that the economy also redefined the traditional roles of family members also led to reduced prevalence of families relying on home prepared meals for consumption and dependence of highly processed options that were cheap and easy to prepare. Heavy advertising also increased the demand for these foods and they came to be main course meals for many people which sparked a global epidemic of obesity and chronic illnesses. All these factors culminated to increase in processed foods and their demand thereof. Highly processed foods are a public health hazard and they have been largely attributed to the increase in obesity and chronic illnesses due to their characteristically high-calorie value and low dietary fiber. Roughly two-thirds of adults, nearly 30% of children are overweight or obese CITATION Chr14 \l 1033 (Murray, et al., 2014). The trends in obesity and other chronic illnesses have a positive correlation with trends in the increase in the production of highly processed foods CITATION Cut03 \l 1033 (Cutler, et al., 2003). However, in the light of its increasing human cost and health hazards, governments and big food industries have taken measures to regulate and improve the quality of highly processed foods and the industry at large. Ways governments use to regulate the consumption of foods Passing Legislation to regulate marketing of highly processed foods ...