Effects of Food Deserts on Poor Health and Environmental Degradation in Coloured Communities - Outline Example

Effects of Food Deserts’ on poor health and environmental degradation in coloured communities Claim ‘Food Deserts’ enhance poor health and environmental degradation in coloured communities Reasons Industrialized and global food systems have adverse effects on healthcare costs, hunger, nutrition-related diseases and obesity. The change towards industrialized agricultural products has given rise to reduced farmlands in addition to creation of tiny farms that are not productive. Food deserts have also led to neighbourhoods covered in junk foods, with no access to better or healthier diets. Assumptions Communities of colour record the highest rates of deadly medical disorders caused by meat consumption and other related animal products. The diseases include diabetes, cancer, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. Increase of fast food outlets in the United States has doubled cases of obesity since 1980. Therefore, obesity epidemic and environmental degradation are the overall results of food deserts. Backing Both public health organizations and nutritional researchers implicate food deserts as the main contributor to obesity because of the presence of high sugar, calorie and fat content. In addition, nutritional value of fast foods is very low. Latinos, African-Americans and other coloured groups living in fast food neighbourhoods suffer excessively from higher rates of diet-related disorders (and therefore obesity) than whites. Residents in food deserts generally experience surplus fast food joints within walking distance from their aboard. These communities are also marked by absence of grocery stores or supermarkets, and to reach nearer ones, private transportation plays a big role. Lack of private cars and the fact that many of the coloured population take two jobs to maintain their upkeep make fast foods as the quickest option. It is also less expensive and easier than purchasing and preparing healthier meals. However, disproportionate dependence on fast foods as dietary staples over long periods leads to dangerous weight gain and a collection of physical problems. Studies indicate that environmental, economic, and social conditions in non-white and low-income communities make it difficult for individuals in these communities to live healthily (Health Policy Institute, 5). Food deserts are connected to the problem referred to as ‘antibiotic resistance’ (Los Angeles Food Policy Council, 9). The report released by IFAP (Industrial farm Animal Production-commonly referred to as ‘factory farming’) document that the use of certain drugs has led to serious public health pressures. The tendency of using antibiotics on factory farms to treat animals has contributed to the development of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics (Pew Charitable Trusts & Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 12). Overall, these bacteria cause serious infections on human. Food deserts also cause air pollution. Rating systems used by Food and Water Watch indicate that places with minority groups such as Latino and African-Americans have high densities of factory farms. Waste burning, toxic gases related to manure, field waste, and pesticide drift are food-manufacturing elements that contribute to extreme air pollution and high rates of respiratory illness and asthma. For example, ALA (The American Lung Association) ranked Fresno County in California the fourth for highest pollution for fine particulate substances. Food deserts are also connected to cases of pesticide exposure. Widespread use of pesticides in agricultural industries exposes farmers, farm workers, families, and neighbours to serious amounts of dangerous chemicals, often surpassing regulated safety levels. Low-level or chronic exposure to pesticides is linked to various health issues including impaired functions of immune system, behavioural and reproductive health effects, neurological disorders, birth defects, and cancer. Research also indicates that cancer rates reported by farm workers are twice the global average, likely because of chronic contact with pesticides (Los Angeles Food Policy Council, 9). Studies indicate that in coloured and low-income communities, fast food businesses tend to gather around schools. This trend extends their outreach to youths and young children. A situation known as an “Obesogenic Environment” occurs as a result. Obesogenic Environment refers to the situation where closeness to fast foods, at the expense of healthy diets, heightens feeding on these products (along with the increase of waistlines or girths) (Food Empowerment Project, 1). Fast food business gains more from hazardous factory farming than other industrial or commercial sector. Thousands of acres of forestland are cleared annually to produce packaging for fast foods, which includes around one-fifth of wastes (litter) in the United States. In addition, many companies manufacturing fast foods use perfluoroalkyls in coating paper packages to prevent grease leakage. These substances are toxic and can possibly harm human health and the environment. Conditions of rebuttal Many people believe that fast foods foster industrialization. Fast food companies invest in modern equipment in the production and packaging process. Adopting technological advancements increase globalization of a nation, better living standards for the people, in addition, safe environments. This is very different from the research conducted by environmental agencies and health organizations. Communities depending heavily on food deserts claim that fast foods are very convenient. Restaurants supplying or serving fast foods are located nearly in every corner. In addition, people can drive through or subscribe to these services using home-delivery option. Contrary to the notion of health experts, coloured communities fast food outlets enable an individual to consume portion-controlled, fresh, and ready-to-eat meals. People also have the option of ordering healthier meals from fast food joints in case they do not want to prepare at home (Live Strong, 1). It is evident that fast food joints offer rich choices of meals. A diverse assortment of food deserts enables an individual to experience meals or courses from different cultures. Therefore, a person does not need exorbitant sums of money for full-service cafeterias. Places that offer sandwiches, chicken and burgers are numerous, but places that offer Middle Eastern, Mexican, Italian, and Chinese meals also are numerous. Despite the connection between fast foods and obesity, restaurants in food deserts have calorie indicators. The Patient Protection and Affordable Act (2010) specify that chain restaurants and fast food outlets document calories counts on their menu boards. Customers, in making low-calorie decisions while eating fast foods, can use this information. It is also less costly to eat in fast food outlets. It is easier to stay within a budget when eating a meal at a fast food outlet than one at a sit-down cafeteria. In case an individual wants to eat healthy meals on a budget, it is advisable to purchase items such as seasonal produce, whole pasta, brown rice, dried beans, peanut butter, and tuna. These items are cheaper and readily available at food deserts. Qualifier It is clear food deserts caused by fast food joints are not keen on caring about the environment, animals, workers, and people. It is all about accruing profits. The environmental impacts caused by food deserts are evident in most states of the United States and other developed nations. Cases of asthma and cardiovascular diseases have increased because of air pollution. In addition, people have also developed complications caused by bacteria. Overall, food deserts contribute much to poor health and environmental degradation especially on the coloured communities of the US and other developed nations around the globe. Works Cited Los Angeles Food Policy Council. Strategic Priorities 2012: City of Los Angeles Good Food Office. Retrieved June 12, 2014 from http://goodfoodla.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Good-Food-Office-Strategic-Priorities-3-8-13-1203pm.pdf Pew Charitable Trusts & Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Putting meat on the table: Industrial farm production in America.  Retrieved June 12, 2014 from http://www.pewtrusts.org/uploadedFiles/wwwpewtrustsorg/Reports/Industrial_Agriculture/PCIFAP_FINAL.pdf Food Empowerment Project. Fast Food. Retrieved June 12, 2014 from http://www.foodispower.org/fast-food/ Live Strong. What are the benefits of fast food? Retrieved June 12, 2014 from http://www.livestrong.com/article/259534-what-are-the-benefits-of-fast-foods/ Read More