Rotten Food

Friendly’s in an effort to compete with the ever changing landscape of putting relatively unhealthy things in between two other relatively unhealthy things to make dangerously unhealthy things has a new product. They are competing with the infamous KFC double down (two pieces of chicken with bacon and melted cheese in between), and the shear audacious IHOP Pancake stacker (a cheesecake sandwiched between two pancakes topped with whipped cream and strawberries with strawberry syrup); their entrant: a grilled cheese burger melt. America this is the abyss. Friendly’s new sandwich isn’t really that offensive. In fact it’s essentially a cheese burger on Texas toast. It is, however, an indication on the mindset of the “restaurant” industry.

New York has just announced a new tax on cigarettes that will increase the cost of a pack buy a dollar each. At this point no one really bats an eye at these tax increases. Sure it’s a bit unfair to smokers, but most smokers acknowledge that the goal in part is to make it harder for people to maintain an addiction to something so detrimental to their health. The other reason for the lack of rage for cigarette tax increases though is the contempt the tobacco industry shows for their customer. They know they have you addicted so why bother making safer healthier products that would allow them to maintain their industry at least as a fringe activity for the average person as opposed to a daily fix. It is that same level of contempt the food industry has for its customers.

Think about McDonald’s Big Mac snack wrap. Taking a Big Mac and switching the bun for a tortilla does nothing to the food—except present it in a package one would assume is healthier than a burger. McDonald’s, in one product, has said I hear that you would like healthy choices but I don’t give a fuck.

Here's a challenge, being summer and all, take journey across state lines. While traveling do your self a favor stop at a rest stop, find something, anything, besides potentially a bag of trail mix, where you can pronounce all the ingredients in the food there.  We are part of a vast scientific experiment run by business men. This is a world of soylent green we're living in. The fact that we are not actually eating people is irrelevant.

The corporations that run these "restaurants" will not change. In fact it works against them to change. To change would mean increasing prices, decreasing profits, and serving less people. The precious stock holders didn't sign up for that. What I can't fathom, is why we are okay with this? The food corporations are poisoning us as much as the tobacco industry, yet when a bill is presented in congress suggesting that the food commercials broadcast to children should have products that contain, you know, food, people jump off of cliffs to defend the companies they love. I get it. Everyone is afraid of a nanny state where the government dictates to the citizens what they are allowed to eat. I believe if you want a diet that consists solely of junior’s cheesecakes; it is really between you and the crane operator hoisting you out of your home. But if real food choices were as readily available as the fake food presented to us would you make the same choice?

From the dawn of civilization virtually all of food technology has been for one goal, storage. Taste was secondary and nutritional value a very distant third. From the earliest salted meats, to fruit cakes, to canning, to high fructose corn syrup, the goal has been the same make it so the food doesn't spoil so fast. This is not smack at the industrialized food industry. Without these advances society would not be what it is today. In fact this is a tremendous accomplishment. Up until now the problem has been prevent my food from spoiling before i get a chance to eat it. What we need to do is start solving a new problem; make sure the food we eat is actually worthwhile eating.  

We live in a hectic world. Now more than ever people spend less time in their kitchen. As a result having healthy affordable options out in the wilds will become increasingly important. As is there are few options, and the dizzying array of food products marketed falsely as healthy only exacerbate this condition. This is particularly true when food choices are made based entirely on perceived monetary value as opposed to nutritional value.