Loved this article! Now that groceries are considered a luxury, it widens the gap between people who have access to healthy food and those who can't afford healthier options.
Thank you for this punchy, going to the heart of the matter article. This is an issue some of my colleagues have written about too as part of a Food and Health related project in NZ. Do take a look when you get a chance: https://ourlandandwater.nz/project/aotearoa-food-cultures/
Also I read "Racecraft" by Barbara E. Fields and Karen J. Fields recently (incredible book) and that soda ad really was an example of what they call race-crafting.
This was great. In food as a subject broadly, diet and nutrition are really fascinating for me personally. I've been wondering lately what the next diet-schtick will be, as it's always got to be something to sell, as you point out about the ultra-processed foods. You can tell how much thought and effort you put into this piece 🙌
This is an excellent essay, and i like the war on drugs analogy. The UPF discourse in mainstream media also makes a lot of assumptions about the level of choice available to people. If all you have in your kitchen (should you be lucky enough to have one) is a microwave, or you are working more than one job and don't have a partner or family member at home to cook, or you have a disability, convenience foods are going to make up a big percentage of your diet. Even those of us who do have the infrastructure, income, and time to choose food on the more unprocessed end of the spectrum are going to have to prioritize other things sometimes. Telling people they are Doing It Wrong unless they spend more time and money is not possible for many and not realistic for most of the rest of us.
wow thank you for saying this, anne marie! i couldn't agree more - i'd love to see people have more access to alternatives, but i always think grounding health and nutrition approaches with the understanding that people are doing the best with what they have, and being realistic about what that looks like is the best way forward
I think you are mischaracterizing the work on UPF and some of the efforts to decrease its consumption. There are efforts to structurally change the grocery landscape, but that takes time and requires that political will be developed. Front of pack labels are initial policy attempts.
That part I do understand and agree with, but the good intent of labels doesn’t always account for the sensationalism and racism that surrounds what gets socially understood as UPFs. Nuances are important here.
Loved this article! Now that groceries are considered a luxury, it widens the gap between people who have access to healthy food and those who can't afford healthier options.
thank you! and yes totally, groceries as luxury feels like such a heavy reality to navigate
Thank you for this punchy, going to the heart of the matter article. This is an issue some of my colleagues have written about too as part of a Food and Health related project in NZ. Do take a look when you get a chance: https://ourlandandwater.nz/project/aotearoa-food-cultures/
oh wow, i will absolutely check out. thank you for sharing, Sita! this looks like important work
Also I read "Racecraft" by Barbara E. Fields and Karen J. Fields recently (incredible book) and that soda ad really was an example of what they call race-crafting.
oh thank you, i am not familiar with this book so will be sure to read, i always trust your recommendations!
This was great. In food as a subject broadly, diet and nutrition are really fascinating for me personally. I've been wondering lately what the next diet-schtick will be, as it's always got to be something to sell, as you point out about the ultra-processed foods. You can tell how much thought and effort you put into this piece 🙌
This is an excellent essay, and i like the war on drugs analogy. The UPF discourse in mainstream media also makes a lot of assumptions about the level of choice available to people. If all you have in your kitchen (should you be lucky enough to have one) is a microwave, or you are working more than one job and don't have a partner or family member at home to cook, or you have a disability, convenience foods are going to make up a big percentage of your diet. Even those of us who do have the infrastructure, income, and time to choose food on the more unprocessed end of the spectrum are going to have to prioritize other things sometimes. Telling people they are Doing It Wrong unless they spend more time and money is not possible for many and not realistic for most of the rest of us.
wow thank you for saying this, anne marie! i couldn't agree more - i'd love to see people have more access to alternatives, but i always think grounding health and nutrition approaches with the understanding that people are doing the best with what they have, and being realistic about what that looks like is the best way forward
I think you are mischaracterizing the work on UPF and some of the efforts to decrease its consumption. There are efforts to structurally change the grocery landscape, but that takes time and requires that political will be developed. Front of pack labels are initial policy attempts.
That part I do understand and agree with, but the good intent of labels doesn’t always account for the sensationalism and racism that surrounds what gets socially understood as UPFs. Nuances are important here.