Dirty Secrets of the Fast Food Nation

They should put clinically obese people on McDonald's burger wrappers.

Perhaps the problem begins with the fact that this legislation is commonly called "the farm bill"--how many people these days even know a farmer or care about agriculture? Yet we all eat.

Amazing find, Pamela.

The modern environmental movement began forty-four years ago when Silent Spring exposed the deceptions behind the idea of "better living through chemistry."

Silent Spring led to a ban of DDT that has killed millions, most in Africa.

Poets should not pretend to be scientists.

Thanks for seeding this article.

My current thoughts very much agree with ideas presented in the articles such as vegan diets, crop diversification, and resisting "monoculture". I think this post could also use the "greenvine" tag because I know several greenvine watchers who would appreciate this article as well.

An additional comment on the "system" is made by looking through the list of WIC approved foods, and other "free" or subsidized food that is distributed through low income and temporary assistance programs. Besides sucrose and fat, there's also a high sodium content in a lot of these products. The flip-side of the argument is that any food is better than no food, and by using the cheapest food more people can be fed. But, there's also the possibility that it's part of a design to help keep the American class system intact. Sorry, but everything I start thinking about turns into an equation with a life of its own and an exponentially increasing list of variables and before I can reach a solution, I always seem to run out of memory and my brain crashes. Regardless, we all need to try to be more aware and stay informed.

Running my grandparent's farm has been quite the learning experience for this former city girl. I was saddened when I learned last year that most of our crop ends up as livestock feed with an extremely low ratio of efficiency in terms of food/energy returned. I wish I had more time to fully organize a response to this (and other great articles on Newsvine, plus even do some writing of my own.)

Most of our farm grows corn and soy under contract with one of the "evil" companies mentioned in the article. On the rest of the farm we grow vegetables, fruit and herbs to sell at local markets, to produce vendors, local restaurants and enough for ourselves and relatives. I've spent as much time possible learning about alternative farming methods, organics, crops, etc. I'd very much like to know my farm was benefiting humanity and the planet and harming none. That's my goal.

What I've been reading about hemp seems very interesting. One on-line article is In prase of weed. Although the spelling makes me wonder. :)

Fast Food Nation

Did anyone know that a McDonald's cheeseburger will not rot. Purchase a burger/cheeseburger with no extra toppings and leave in in your cupboard, that's right not your fridge, and it will not rot. For those who don't believe me try it, we have had one sitting in our cupboard for over 6 months.

I am proud to say that cheeseburger I purchased is the only money I have given to a fast food joint in years.

Great seed! Thanks, I learned a great deal. I have been looking out for high fructose corn syrup in all that my family eats and I was surprised that it is an ingredient in everything. We are making a concerted effrot to no longer buy factory farm produce. Its hard since almost everything at the grocery store come from a big factory concerned with profit margins. What to do?

My local supermarket has a natural food section filled with organic food, does that mean the rest of the food in the store is unnatural and inorganic?

No stone is left unturned by corporate america in the name of the almighty dollar. Your food, your air, your water, your health... all managed (abused) for profit.