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An Equal Shot: Big Fat America

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For a long time, one of the most controversial topics of conversation has been the rise of obesity in America. Through the expansion and growth of the food industry, responsible for the exportation of healthy food products, companies have abused their control by disregarding the health and safety of their animals. As a result of this negligence, unhealthy food is manufactured and distributed to American consumers. Responsible for the welfare of products, the food industry is accountable for America’s obesity epidemic through the manipulation of advertising, science, and animal welfare. While it is the public’s decision in choosing what foods to eat, consumers do not have a choice in how the food they buy is manufactured. When someone looks …show more content…

As a result of producing “low in fat” products, companies are able to falsify nutrition labels, entrapping consumers to believe that particular food item is healthy when it is really just more sugary. The misleading information advertised on food products shouldn’t be the consumer’s fault, but the company who manufactured it. According to the article, “An Equal Shot: Big Fat America”, food that is manipulated chemically is done so to up the taste of quality.” (Malello). Even while making conscious food choices, consumers are manipulated by the industry with falsified labels and replacement substances that constitute a large portion of the food. In addition to this advert manipulation, companies have also mastered the art of lying …show more content…

Through the modernization of machinery and the process for producing products, the definition of food has changed into something sinister. In the article, “Down to Earth: All Vegetarian and Natural”, the author discusses that the initial definition of food has changed by saying, “Instead of a nourishing substance to sustain life, food is now fatty and processed.” This refined definition of food is all consumers know, and the production of this meat is a result of the food industry's abuse of the welfare of their animals. Originating from controversial and illegal ethical actions, consumers and their families’ health suffers as a result. In the novel, Eating Animals, author Jonathan Foer states, “The very genetics of chickens, along with their feed and environment, were now intensively manipulated to produce excessive amounts of eggs.” (106). The chickens in particular that consumers eat have been genetically modified, and have redefined the definition of food. As a result, consumers are still eating meat that is genetically engineered to contain more fat in unhealthy proportions. The effects of meat consumption have been evident in meat eaters, especially families and children. Frank Reese, one of the last poultry farmers who do not abuse their animals states that due to these modifications, “Girls are going through puberty much earlier,

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Worldwide, millions of people are consuming fast food, unaware of the mental and physical consequences it can cause to their body. The fast food industry lacks to label the food they advertise, leaving individual’s clueless and with little, to no choice. In the article An Equal Shot: Big Fat America the author claims that “The real solution here is to give people the choice to eat organic foods that are in season and are locally produced. But that can only work if people are informed, and that means more labeling.” On the other hand, if the fast food industry informed people about the ingredients they are putting into their bodies and labeled more of their food items, it would be no one, but the individual to blame.

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In David Freedman’s essay How Junk food Can End Obesity, Freedman makes the claim to policy arguing that instead of demonizing processed foods, Americans should instead support the idea and production of healthier processed and junk foods. He calls on the public to recognize that while many products on the market these days are labeled as “wholesome” and “healthy”, consumers should learn to become aware of the fat and calorie content in these products because many times they have the same- if not more- fat and calorie contents as that of a typical Big Mac or Whopper. In his essay, Freedman primarily places blame on the media and the wholesome food movement for the condemnation of the fast and processed food industries saying, “An enormous amount of media space has been dedicated to promoting the notion that all processed food, and only processed food, us making us sickly and overweight” (Freedman), he further expresses that this portrayal of the

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Obesity has been one of the largest epidemics for years now, but only recently been one of the top three causes of death in the U.S.. The real cause of obesity has also been quite controversial due to the fact that no one can unanimously blame one person; some saying that the consumers are to blame for buying and eating the food, others saying that big companies are to blame for lack of disclosure. big companies deceive consumers, and as a result are solely responsible for obesity. Even though food labels are presented on the back of almost every store bought product, consumers don't always know what they are ingesting, however, this can be prevented with more disclosure. In paragraph ten of “ An Equal Shot: Big Fat America, Michael Maiello states, “By all means put chemicals, hormones,

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