It has been stated time and time again that society has become obsessed about consumer goods and services. We want possession of the newest technology, fads and gadgets of our time; providing we have the funds to do so. A superficial view of life is so engrained in our society, that even basic human necessities have to be perfect in every way.
Food—the fuel for humans has become much more than a means to meet a basic physiological need. We care about the way our food looks and it has caused a global imbalance in the distribution of food. Additionally, global hunger is an issue that has detrimental health effects on malnourished populations.
This article titled “Half of world’s food wasted, report finds” from the Toronto Star highlights the socio-cultural food inequalities from the consumer and provider – also known as the food companies. For instance, many grocery stores want food that looks good enough to purchase “because that’s what customers expect” (Westhead, 2013). The question remains if it is whether we are expecting this or if we are simply “used to eating the nicest-looking foods” (Westhead, 2013). It could be a two-way streak, but the fact still remains that consumerism with food is very apparent all around the world.
This carelessness for food has detrimental environmental and economic impacts. In India, approximately 40% of the fruits, vegetables and grains produced do not even make it to the market. A plethora of factors leads to this including inefficient transportation methods, corruption and financial imbalances within the population. In Canada, roughly 33% of vegetables are rejected because they do not look appealing enough to supermarket chains. These two countries compared in the article are quite opposite in terms of governmental organization, culture and population. India has a massive population and in turn there are more people to serve. However, there is still a vast amount of food being wasted, which could be used to feed millions of people. In Canada, we also produce copious amounts of food, yet a lot of it is thrown out because it does not meet the standards to appeal to consumers. Furthermore, with “buy one get two free” sales or promotions that encourages people to purchase more than they need also leads to food being wasted and left to rot in the back corners of massive fridges. This stark disregard for fresh produce has lead to a problem that needs to be addressed for better functioning societies.
Presenting all these factors, there is an undeniable waste of products by all populations in the world. This global phenomenon of wasting food has an impact on people’s health and well being. It seems as if there is no value for the efforts and hard work that goes into farming, agriculture and the food service industry. Those who are denied food due to high prices, corruption and lack of access experience negative health effects that can lead to malnutrition and health issues.
Health promotion aims to focus on values and inspiring social and environmental change. This relates to food shortages because food supply is directly correlated to environmental changes and sustainability. Promoting the importance of agriculture and ensuring that the farmers’ needs are met can lead to yielding better crops. By enabling food to have a greater value in the lives of individuals, it is a social change that can hinder the present food shortages. It is important to take a health promotion approach to ensure that both the provider and consumer is aware of how food shortages affect health and to work towards food equality.
Food supply is a marginalized topic, since it is not something that one would consider to have such a vast impact on health. Yet, it does indeed affect the health of millions. Food has an impact on humans physically, emotionally and culturally, and proper distribution of this is essential to promote health on a global scale.
This constant waste and lack of value is a common theme in the developing and developed nations. It costs a lot to grow, transport and sell food and to have it thrown away because it isn’t up to perceived consumer standards is extremely inconsiderate. Are we going to be the generation that is eternally plagued by consumerism? This ideology has already had a negative effect and if it continues, this situation will worsen.
Artifact Source:
Westhead, R. (2013. January 10). Up to half of world’s food wasted, report finds. The Toronto Star. Retrieved from http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2013/01/10/up_to_half_of_worlds_food_goes_to_waste_report_says.html
Time to Think Global 