BLOG ENTRY 1 -Unsafe Food Supply is Killing Us

Over the last century the food that we humans consume has undergone unprecedented change.

Food was once cultivated using only organic and natural substance. But nowadays food is artificially grown using chemical substances. In addition all food made available to consumers are processed food made in factories. We consumers have no idea under what conditions, the food are manufactured. We have no other choice than to consume these manufactured food legalized by the government.  Food has a direct impact on our body. And consumption of contaminated food can cause diseases and can be fatal to our lives. However, the Government of America does take initiatives to make the food safe for consumption. But these initiatives are not enough to make food safer. Food, which is our basic need, is becoming the cause of our death.

Throughout the world governments of every nation tries to provide clean and safe food to its people. The first paragraph of the passage “Is America’s food supply safe” states that the government of United States provides one of the “safest foods” in the world. But consumption of foods produced by food companies has caused severe health problems and has been fatal to lives of people all across the nation. For example stomach virus like Escherichia coli commonly called “E. coli found in spinach,” causes serious food poisoning.  And bacteria called “salmonella in peanut butter” causes food poisoning and may lead to death. Feeding contaminated food to infants can be fatal and may cause abnormal growth and damage of brain function. Also new kinds of diseases are emerging from consumption of unsafe food.

The second and third paragraph indicates that government of United States has agencies like “The Food and Drug Administered (F.D.A.)”. It has “635 investigators” working throughout the nation “with federal, state and local agencies, private companies and consumer”. The F.D.A. has workers who are dedicated to "inspecting" our food supply and working with food companies to keep food safe. It also investigates the source of the problems and tries to solve it. However these agencies are often low funded and have no right tools or man power to investigate every single thing in detail. Also the foods are produced in large scales in many big factories throughout the country. Thus it is impossible to keep a constant check. With advancement in technologies new methods like canning, preserving, refrigerating are used to protect food. Also new better methods and techniques are being introduced. .Also the F.D.A. uses new better ways to protect food from bacteria, viral, and chemical contamination.  But the government cannot afford to use technologies every time. And harmful chemicals are used in refrigerating, preserving and canning food. Consumption of contaminated canned and preserved food can lead to diabetes, heart failures, obesity, hypertension and also cancer. Since food companies use everything like sugar and sodium in excess to make the food taste good. Food industry is one of the lucrative businesses and the main goal of these multinational companies is to make profit. These companies try to get cheap labor and manufacture food in cheapest possible way. The government also cannot impose strict laws against food industry. Since these companies pay heavy taxes in return. These food companies can form large association with other agro companies and pressurize government to legalize use of certain harmful chemicals.

Much of the food that we consume in America also comes from all over the world. It is mentioned in the fourth paragraph that the F.D.A. has inspectors working at boarders “to prevent unsafe food from entering the country”. It also works closely with “experts” in other countries. Though the government has set some “standards” and quality of food but food borne diseases are still spreading. Each and every other country has own rules and regulation to prevent food contamination. And due to corruption and poverty in some countries, they may not even have any law against food contamination.  There are also agencies like Custom and Boarder Control to check imported and exported products. But total prevention of unsafe food is impossible as everyday millions of people enter United States. Agricultural goods from other countries are strictly band from entering our country. Yet diseases causing food products are still entering our countries without being checked. Just recently a case in China was investigated. The seafood being exported to America from china was cultured in sewage water by local Chinese farmers. Thus government agencies cannot investigate everything in detail.

The F.D.A. also works to “educate consumers” and works closely with them to “ensure food safety”. Advance technology and development has enable consumers to better understand what they eat. People are aware of food borne diseases and effects of consumption of contaminated food. Yet to some extend the consumers are also to be blamed. Increasing demand for fast food has caused food companies to produce food in large scale and quickest way. This leads to increasing demand for raw material. And thus these companies are discouraging small farmers. The family owned farm lands are all converting into giant industrial farms. Also the foods are produced in large scale using chemical. This has caused extinction of conventional methods of farming using organic materials. This can be seen in our day to day life, as there are more giant company food markets like whole foods than farmers market in New York City. America also exports food to other nations. This has stopped farmers and small scale business in other nation from producing organic food. Organic foods demand excess time and manual labor. Just recently two small scale business owners of Long Island were arrested for producing counterfeit baby products and skin products. Thus government agencies do not have time and money to investigate every corner of food companies.

The government works hard to ensure the safety of America’s food. But that is not preventing us consumers from consuming unsafe food. Government agencies are low funded and government cannot regulate laws. Food being exported also causes spreading of diseases in America every year. Food companies aim to make profit.  They do not care about the health effects of consumption of contaminated food. And we consumers are also guilty for encouraging production of unsafe food. Thus the food we consume is contaminated and unsafe for consumption. It is one of the causes of death every year in America.