Food Processing: Killing Ourselves with Food?

Essay 1
Ryan Martz

ABSTRACT This essay explores how food processing has altered the American diet in an irreversible fashion and has contributed to a variety of health issues.

Food is clearly a necessity to life. But, food has one primary limiting factor: it is only usable for a relatively short period of time. Since the beginning of time, man has devised ways to prevent spoilage and prolong the usable time of food. Today this practice goes by the name of food processing. Food manufacturers employ scientists, chemists, and engineers to develop new ways to preserve, as well as transform food for later consumption. And these methods are now being used in almost all of the food available today. Food processing has allowed for the consumption of fruits and vegetables that are do not grow in that season. Also, food can be processed and transported to locations where that food product is not produced. One other benefit of food processing is food safetynew methods have been devised to reduce the outbreak and spread of food born pathogens. However, these methods have come at a cost. The increased accessibility to processed foods has caused an unhealthy, possibly irreversible shift in the diet of present society. More formally, processed food can be defined as any food other than a raw agricultural commodity and includes any raw agricultural commodity that has been subject to processing, such as canning, cooking, freezing, dehydration, or milling (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). The ubiquitous presence of food processing can be seen by simply looking at the ingredients section of almost any food product. Chemicals, dyes, flavorings are just a few of the things used to treat foods. But, these additives are not a complete picture of food processing. Manufacturing process must also be considered. Some processed foods are an amalgamation of pieces of that would normally be deemed unfit for human consumption. Some foods are even treated with radiation to remove bacteria and parasites. All of these operations have altered the

integrity of the food, and these changes have been reflected in the health of the populace. Food can be partly to blame for increases in obesity, heart disease, and even cancer. In a study on prostate cancer, Increased prostate cancer risk is apparent in relation to the Processed [food] pattern, composed of processed meats, red meats, organ meats, rened grains, white bread, onions and tomatoes, vegetable oil and juice, soft drinks and bottled water (Walker, MacNeily, Aronson, Nickel, King, Morales, Wilson,Fan, and Heaton). One of the most evident effects that processed food has had on society is an increase in obesity. Manufacturers of processed foods target children in advertising campaigns, and they are successful. The Center for Disease Control states that childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years. These startling trends are not limited to children. The obesity rate in American adults has also increased significantly. Processed foods routinely include significant amounts of added salt and unhealthy amounts of saturated and trans fats. Consumption of these bad fats and sodium can cause high cholesterol as well as heart disease. One may wonder, Why are processed foods so prevalent if these dangers are associated with them? The answer to this question may revolve around money. First, processed foods are significantly cheaper than foods that contain little to no processed ingredients. So, food companies have capitalized on the fact that, when most people grocery shop, they trying to get the most food for their hard earned dollars. Low prices to consumers mean high profits to producers because more people are willing to buy the product. Producers use processing methods to lower manufacturing costs. The ingredients in processed foods are often of low quality but are 'disguised' by use of

processing (Wikipedia). For instance, chicken nuggets are a good example of how a low quality product can be disguised. A chicken nugget is produced from the parts of the chick left after butchering. They take these pieces and press them with high force through a sieve to make a pink paste. It will then be chemically sterilized, flavored, and colored before being breaded and fried. And ultimately, this will be marketed heavily to children through meals that include toy incentives. The independent film, Food Inc is an eye-opening documentary detailing the origins of many processed products today. It presents the secretive world of mass production meat processing facilities. This could be used as educational material to help the public realize just what they are eating. The biggest problem with processed food may not be fully realized yet. That problem is the dependence on processed foods. Many families depend heavily on processed foods because buying whole foods fiscally impossible. They are forced to accept the adverse health effects because they can only afford processed foods. The obvious mitigation to the health problems would be a transition away from processed foods. At this point, so many products contain processed ingredients and so many people rely on processed foods that any transition toward whole foods may be completely impossible. In fact, society may be so dependent that one day all food will have had some sort of processing prior to consumption. Technology Review in 1987 ran an article by Leo Marx that raised a critical question "does improved technology mean progress?" This article debates whether or not technological advancement is a good benchmark for societal progress. Technology has progressed to a point that food has become abundant to the vast majority of humans. But, has the depletion of critical

nutrients and weakening of the American diet been worth the excess in cheap food sources? As technology continues to improve, maybe it will be possible produce food sources in such a way that little to know adulteration is needed. Science has already made gains in this area. One possible frontier that needs to be explored is the food preservation technique of drying. This process requires no chemicals and also has significantly more nutritional advantages over traditional preservation techniques like freezing. The Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena and the Technische University Dresden/Germany as well as the Zittauer Fruchtveredlungs GmbH (ZIFRU) have been successfully testing how dried food can be processed so gently as to preserve as many vitamins and secondary plant compounds as possible (Medical News Today). They found that 2 ounces dried strawberries deliver as many nutritionally valuable substances as 12 ounces frozen strawberries (Medical News Today). This is the type of technology that could possibly break the American dependence on nutritionally poor processed foodstuffs. The dangers of processed foods are extensive and it has changed the essential characteristics the American diet. Drastic measures need to be taken to ensure that all people have access to nutritious food sources regardless of budget. Technology needs to be applied to this sector to determine safe, healthy, and cost effective ways to preserve food. The next generation will be healthier and have a better quality of life if these technologies are developed. Food has, and forever will, fundamentally shape this society. Action needs to be taken to revert the diet something similar to that of our distant ancestors before complete dependence on processed foods is a reality.

Outline

I. Introduction a. Thesis: The increased accessibility to processed foods has caused an unhealthy, possibly irreversible shift in the diet of present society. II. Body a. Definition of Food Processing i. Additives ii. Manufacturing Process b. Negative Health Effects i. Cancer ii. Heart Disease iii. Obesity III. Conclusion a. Conclusion based on thesis: Action needs to be taken to revert the diet something similar to that of our distant ancestors before complete dependence on processed foods is a reality.

Works Cited Walker, M., Aronson, K. J., King, W., Wilson, J. W., Fan, W., Heaton, J. P., MacNeily, A., Nickel, J. C. and Morales, A. (2005), Dietary patterns and risk of prostate cancer in Ontario, Canada. International Journal of Cancer, 116: 592598. doi: 10.1002/ijc.21112 United States. Food and Drug Administration. U S Food and Drug Administration Home Page. 13 June 2009. Web. 06 Feb. 2011. <http://www.fda.gov/RegulatoryInformation/Legislation/FederalFoodDrugandCosme ticActFDCAct/FDCActChaptersIandIIShortTitleandDefinitions/ucm086297.htm> "Food Processing." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 06 Feb. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_processing>. "Innovative Drying Technology Future Of Food Preservation." Medical News Today: Health News. Web. 06 Feb. 2011. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/35273.php>. "Childhood Obesity - DASH/HealthyYouth." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web. 06 Feb. 2011. <http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/obesity/>. "All the Health Risks of Processed Foods -- In Just a Few Quick, Convenient Bites." Sixwise.com. Web. 06 Feb. 2011. <http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/05/10/19/all-the-health-risks-of-processedfoods----in-just-a-few-quick-convenient-bites.htm>.