Free to Choose Obesity

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/08/opinion/08krugman.html?th&emc=th


Dear Mr. Krugman-

Your article fails to address the true source of the American obesity problem— corporate greed and the government’s willingness to look the other way while profit is favored over the good of the American people. There are simple remedies that would dramatically improve the quality of the foods we eat that have to be taken at the production stage of food products.

England banned the use of growth hormones in their beef and dairy products in 1981, yet American products are laden with them. We will never make progress in the increase in obesity while we are stuffing children with growth hormones. The science that says there is no effect from consuming them is simply wrong, and usually sponsored by the industries that use them.

Another change that could be simply made is to ban the use of hydrogenated vegetable oils and high fructose corn syrup. Again, it’s up to industry to make better choices, and/or the government to provide incentive or sanctions to promote better choices. Both products are cheap and enhance flavor and texture, but they are major contributors to obesity. The oils would be more healthfully replaced by peanut oils. The sugars would be better replaced with Splenda, which doesn’t affect blood sugar and doesn’t seem to have any identifiable negative effects. The change could be made without affecting American farmers, if the crops used to make these unhealthy items were diverted to produce bio-diesel fuel. It would be a win-win situation, and the cost of making these changes would be minimal if they were offset by tax breaks. With the amount of corporate welfare we hand out anyway, why not invest a little in areas that will actually help make our kids healthier? Why not invest in organic farming rather than unhealthy factory farms that produce sickly, chemical, hormone and pesticide laden foods?

Of course, the consumer has some responsibility in the choices they make, but short of becoming a vegetarian, or being able to afford and having access to organic products, we can only choose from what is available. Only the most urban areas have all of these alternatives available. Kids can’t choose what isn’t offered in school lunch programs. It’s time we expect the industry that produces our foods to take the lead in using healthier products, and it’s time for government to put our health ahead of the profits of powerful industries with active lobbyists.

This is not about freedom of choice. It is about opportunity to make better choices.

Sincerely,

Morgaine Swann

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