US FOOD INDUSTRY IN REGULATION BATTLE

US FOOD INDUSTRY IN REGULATION BATTLE

courtesy NYT.com

One of the imperatives of the Obama administration is to tackle childhood obesity.  The Congress should also be taking a hard look at what is causing the obesity epidemic in America.  

Whatever initiatives the government has undertaken to stem the growing problem, an equal amount of push back has been received from the 1 Trillion dollar food industry. 

It is well known that Americans rely more and more on high fat, highly processed foods, either through fast food outlets of pre-packaged foods.  This in itself is at the center of the obesity problem. 

However the fast food industry is fighting back in what would be a massive re-direction of the public's food habits, if the government enact new regulations.

The other obstacle, is that the fast food industry has learned well the lesson of economic meal value. They are purposely offering low cost food, although the food quality has been disputed, to combat any competition from healthier foods. 

Eating healthy in fact, is a luxury.  Healthy food, especially food that is organic, is much more expensive than fast food.  Additionally, Americans are losing both the habit of cooking and the time to do it.

The reliance on fast food could be stemmed if the government stopped advertising of less healthy foods, and ban some of the highest risk foods from mass consumption. 

Although the first lady is actively involved in a campaign to educate children to eat well and regard food differently than something you just get from a drive through of a supermarket freezer, countering forces come from the lobbying of the food sector of the US Congress.  

Indeed, the whole of the food industry could see losses in the billions, if just some minor regulations are put in place. 

The fact is, the food industry has been one of the political campaigns' principal contributor.  How does the lobbying translate in advantages for the food sector?  Simple: the Congress has called for subsidies of the production of basic ingredients used in fast food which allows the food to be made cheaper than its non prepared counterpart.   

To be more specific, the corn and soy sector has received a 17 billion dollar package of subsidies, while the non fast food sourcing sector, i.e. fruit and vegetable growers only got 260 million in subsidies.

Lobbyists have also convinced Congress to shy away from regulation that impacts the sector directly, like the banning of sodas in school lunches or halls, soda taxes, or advertising restriction that would lessen the influence on children. 

Adapted from an article in Al Jazeera

Source : Al Jazeera blogs  2.10.13