Getting Real About the High Cost of Food
Susan A. Caldwell Allison Armentrout English Comp
March 25, 2013
“Getting Real About the High Price of Cheap Food,” by Bryan Walsh, (2009) was interesting but a stomach churning read. As I leaped through the paragraphs, I could imagine the nausea that the average animal-loving Americans might think after reading how animals are treated on corporate farms. It is a given that in this article, not only are the animals seemingly just for profit; the American public is viewed essentially the same.
Walsh makes points throughout the article about the crops and livestock as he slowly introduces us to the manure lagoons: “The waste, produced by the pig and his thousands of pen mates, on the factory farm, where they go into manure lagoons” which overflow into the water system. We can understand here why so many of us drink store bought and bottled water. I have done this for years because the tap water started to taste and smell different. Now I cook with water that I purchase so that I only use the city water when necessary.
Walsh then ties in obesity, the destruction of farmlands, the use of chemicals and antibiotics. Americans have become overweight but does this actually affect our health? Dr. Jennifer Kuk, assistant professor in York University’s School of Kinesiology & Health Science in Toronto does not think so in her study she states “Our study challenges the idea that all obese individuals need to lose weight.” (CNN 8/16/11) I have to agree with Dr. Kuk, not all overweight people are unhealthy or sick. Our health depends on what we consume and how we exercise. Even thin people can be unhealthy if they do not eat or exercise properly. Not everyone can be the same height or carry the same weight so then; it is how we utilize what we have in caring for ourselves. Walsh states “At a time when the nation is close to a civil war over health-care reform, obesity adds $147 billion a year to our doctor bills.” This I believe because most of us do not
March 25, 2013
“Getting Real About the High Price of Cheap Food,” by Bryan Walsh, (2009) was interesting but a stomach churning read. As I leaped through the paragraphs, I could imagine the nausea that the average animal-loving Americans might think after reading how animals are treated on corporate farms. It is a given that in this article, not only are the animals seemingly just for profit; the American public is viewed essentially the same.
Walsh makes points throughout the article about the crops and livestock as he slowly introduces us to the manure lagoons: “The waste, produced by the pig and his thousands of pen mates, on the factory farm, where they go into manure lagoons” which overflow into the water system. We can understand here why so many of us drink store bought and bottled water. I have done this for years because the tap water started to taste and smell different. Now I cook with water that I purchase so that I only use the city water when necessary.
Walsh then ties in obesity, the destruction of farmlands, the use of chemicals and antibiotics. Americans have become overweight but does this actually affect our health? Dr. Jennifer Kuk, assistant professor in York University’s School of Kinesiology & Health Science in Toronto does not think so in her study she states “Our study challenges the idea that all obese individuals need to lose weight.” (CNN 8/16/11) I have to agree with Dr. Kuk, not all overweight people are unhealthy or sick. Our health depends on what we consume and how we exercise. Even thin people can be unhealthy if they do not eat or exercise properly. Not everyone can be the same height or carry the same weight so then; it is how we utilize what we have in caring for ourselves. Walsh states “At a time when the nation is close to a civil war over health-care reform, obesity adds $147 billion a year to our doctor bills.” This I believe because most of us do not