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  • From: "Tameson O'Brien" <tamesonob@metrocast.net>
  • To: Healthy soil and sustainable growing <livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Livingontheland] Does It Really Cost More to Eat Healthy Food?
  • Date: Wed, 28 Sep 2011 23:30:26 -0000



Tradingpost <tradingpost@lobo.net> wrote:

>
>Does It Really Cost More to Eat Healthy Food?
>http://www.foodpolitics.com/2011/08/does-it-really-cost-more-to-buy-healthy-food/
>
> I got several calls this week about a new study from the University of
> Washington arguing that because of the way foods are subsidized, it will
> cost everyone nearly $400 a year to follow the recommendations of the
> government’s MyPlate food guide.
>
>The Seattle group calculates the cost of food per calorie. By this measure,
>the price of fruits and vegetables is exceedingly high compared to the cost
>of junk food. Fruits and vegetables do not have many calories for their
>weight.
>
>The Commerce department tracks the indexed price of foods. Its data show
>that the indexed price of fresh produce increased by 40% ince 1980 whereas
>the price of sodas and processed foods has declined by 10-30%. (The easiest
>place to see their charts is in New York Times articles from a couple of
>years ago. Click here and also here).
>
>USDA economists have produced a similar chart:
>
>
>
>Other USDA economists, however, argue that price trends for fruits,
>vegetables, and junk foods are really no different, and that the data shown
>in the figure overstate the apparent difference.
>
>Nevertheless, the Seattle paper got a lot of attention, and rightly so. One
>of my calls was from David Freeman of CBS News who said he was hearing lots
>of complaints that the study promoted a “nanny state” because it blamed bad
>eating habits on the government. My quotes:
>
> “It’s a common misconception that food choices are solely a matter of
> personal responsibility,” Dr. Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition, food
> studies, and public health at New York University and an outspoken critic
> of the fast food industry, told CBS News. “People are hugely influenced by
> the price of food. If you don’t have any money and go into the store to buy
> some fresh fruits, you might decide that it’s cheaper to have a couple of
> fast food hamburgers.”
>
> And those who can afford healthy food may lack the time or the necessary
> food-preparation skills, Dr. Nestle said.
>
> Government-sponsored cooking classes and kitchen equipment may not be in
> the offing. But Dr. Monsivais and Dr. Nestle agreed that federal
> agriculture policies could do more to encourage healthy eating. For
> example, some of the federal farm subsidies now directed to producers of
> corn, soybeans, and other crops used to make fast and processed foods could
> be redirected to growers of fruits and vegetables.
>
> “What’s the matter with that?” Dr. Nestle said. “I can’t think of a
> thing.”
>
>
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  • Re: [Livingontheland] Does It Really Cost More to Eat Healthy Food?, Tameson O'Brien, 09/28/2011

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