Question 1
Seed cleaners are going out of business in U.S because of the emerging Genetically Modified seeds, which are eliminating the need of using normal seeds from seed banks U.S Supreme Court advocates for labeling of seed products especially genetically modified seeds. Consumer and organic food producers fight over genetic engineering foods in different occurrences. Labeling food under company names promotes their market as farmers have more confidence in some companies than others. Supreme Court sided with Monsanto Company over the claim Indiana farmers dishonored the company's rights on soybean seeds resistant to its weed-killer (Schlosser, 2012).
Question 2
The U.S government does very little to protect its citizens from food borne pathogens and dealing with consequences of any outbreaks. The U.S shutdown enhanced realization of salmonella from farm chickens that affected 317 people in 20 states. Salmonella is resistant to several common antibiotics endangering the lives of Americans during outbreaks. Most farmers raise hogs and chicken in filthy conditions. This meat produced in unhealthy environment breeds disease-causing organisms in intestines and manure. Furthermore, meat obtained from animals that have been fed with low doses of antibiotics have antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This meat is dangerous for human consumption. American system yields dirty cheap meat where chicken costs as low as $1.50 per pound. The one reared without antibiotics by small farmers go for $4 or $5 per pound. Safe food for consumption is worth paying for unlike the cheap meat that creates illness outbreaks. If this meat were expensive, there would be low consumption hence boosting health and life expectancy of American citizens. This is a free market because no one controls the meat prices. Slaughterhouses decide on the meat prices. These systems need reformations such as improving sanitation, inspection in slaughterhouses and banning some poultry and livestock drugs. Raising agricultural animals with a goal of reducing consumer prices to maximize on profits will increase salmonella and e-coli outbreaks that cause diseases and deaths (Gewertz & Errington, 2010).
Question 3
In reality, meat is not cheap and the tagged price is far from the ordinary one. There is indirect payment of prices by environment, people’s health and millions of factory farm animals. Large meat consumption is not healthy. Studies identify a direct link between increased consumption of meat and diseases such as obesity, cancer, diabetes and heart diseases. Meat has become cheaper because of rearing animals in compromised environments. It is important for people to consider what they are eating because these animals grow in unhealthy environment, feed unhealthy diets with antibiotics. Animals are modified with chemicals and hormones they cannot withstand their weight hence breaking their legs. This takes the shortest time possible from industrial systems where the factories give a devastating impact in water and on air. Global livestock sector contributes highly to global greenhouse gas emissions and anthropogenic methane, which has a high percentage in global warming. People living around factory farms suffer higher than normal rates of headaches, fatigue, nausea and respiratory problems. Therefore, as people consume meat, they do not consider the overall cost associated with it, which is detrimental (Gewertz & Errington, 2010).
Question 4
People who eat fast food make poor individual choices because that affect the considerably. It is unfortunate that some people cannot eat healthier because of lack of the knowledge of the significance of consuming these foods. Fast foods should be least in a healthy diet because they are high in sugar, salt and fats lacking any nutrients necessary for a healthy living (Schlosser, 2012). They put one’s body metabolism in stress feeling chronically fatigued and lack enough energy to perform daily tasks. Health professionals should act critically in curbing high fast food consumption.
References
Gewertz, D., & Errington, F. (2010). Cheap Meat: Flap Food Nations in the Pacific Islands. [N.p.]: University of California Press.
Schlosser, E. (2012). Fast food nation: The dark side of the all-American meal. Boston: Mariner Books/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
