Freedman's Criticism Of Junk Food

In society today, junk food has become a major issue in the fight against obesity amongst a large portion of United States citizens. There is no disagreement that "junk food" is observed at negatively and as one of the key causes of obesity. It is a public knowledge that the more you consume these sugary fattening foods the fatter you get. Freedman's article, “How Junk Food Can End Obesity” tests whether junk food is assisting the development of obesity or can truly decrease the total of obese people living in the United States. The statement that junk food could terminate obesity is very ironic because most people believe it to be the cause. Through analysis of this article it is easier to comprehend why Freedman believes that advances in

Freedman backed up his criticism about the wholesale and processed foods by visiting wholesome foods markets and comparing foods. Throughout Freedman’s time he spent in these wholesome food stores, he did his own research to find facts and information to support his claims, to prove what Pollan says about food is inaccurate. For example, Freedman confirmed that a cheesy vegan salad that is organic and healthier, contents more fat content per an ounce compared to McDonald’s Big Mac. The fact is, “fat carries more than twice as many calories as carbohydrates and protein do per gram, which means just a little fat can turn a serving of food into a calorie bomb” (144). He also mentions that healthy greens are pretty much similar when purchasing from wholesale markets and regular supermarkets, which can be brought for less at a regular supermarket. Another issue Freedman talks about is Pollan’s opinions on the rise of obesity. Pollan is critical of food processing and says it is “a source of society’s health problems” (140) and states the major factors causing obesity is due to the amounts of sugar, salt, and fat that is placed into foods. Pollan believes that one can resolve this problem by swapping these foods “… through public education and regulation -with fresh, unprocessed, local season real foods” (140).

Freedman goes into depth how that the people in a poorer community can’t afford fresh, healthy foods from the grocery store (or even the transportation to get to the store). This leads to the poor population relying on the easily accessible, cheap fast food chains that are generally walking distance of any location. Lenard Lesser, from the Palo Alto Medical Foundation and Freedman did an experiment to see what people eat depending on the areas people reside in. Freeman mentions, as they drove through Berkley, they noticed the town is filled with Whole Foods Markets and sushi restaurants, unlike Oakland, they observed gas station markets and barbecued rib stands. They also pointed out the changes of advertisements on the billboards as they traveled from town to town. Berkley had an ad for fruit juice on one of their billboards, while Oaklands billboard ads were filled with fast food restaurants. Freedman states, “According to Lenard Lesser, …The food industry has mastered the art of using in-store and near store promotions to shape what people eat,” (149) and for many reasons like this one, obesity rates going up in poor communities. For the past couple of years, fast food places, McDonalds for one, have been quietly making changes to add healthy alternatives to their menu and reducing