There’s a storm brewing at the retirement center. It’s a small one. 4 vegetarians have gathered and there’s talk of revolution. We’re sick of looking at all those drawn and quartered and fried dead animals that pass for food and want choices that are healthy. Surprisingly, a number of carnivores are with us. They want more fruits and vegetables, too. So, we have a half baked plan that begins by waiting until the upcoming FDA food pyramid is published with its recommendation for a healthy diet. (Related topic Blog 12/30/15) Our leader is certain that processed meats won’t be on the recommended list and that will be our Omaha beach, where we begin our assault on the administration. As we’re vegetarians, we hope the skirmish won’t be bloody.
That we have meat eaters on our side shouldn’t come as a surprise. As Tom Philpott points out in “The End of Junk?” (Mother Jones, November/December 2015, pg. 64.) America is trending toward healthy diets, a phenomena that is sending large processed food packagers into a tizzy. Keeping up with the trend is costing these companies a combined $18 billion in lost sales. (Ibid pg. 64) Kraft, General Mills, Nestlés and Campbell’s, to name a few, are scrambling to come up with healthier versions of their popular brands or buying trusted organic brands, like Annie’s Homegrown, a recent purchase of General Mills’.
If this sounds like a trend for the good, it is. But there’s a reason why these companies are eager to be compliant. They are using the profits from sales in America to divert the unhealthy stuff to third world companies where the demand for them is growing. In other words, our decision to become more food conscious is helping spread junk food to poorer nations, a dilemma that is cause for dismay.
It’s wonderful that Americans want to have healthier diets. It’s sad that while making the shift, we are exporting our former bad habits to the rest of the world. Why oh why are there no absolute wins in life?
Courtesy of cartoonistgroup.com
