Food/ Food Industry in America - Essay Example

Food/ Food Industry in America (Obesity) Introduction The food industry is considered as universal and multifaceted combination of diverse companies that helps to supply most of the consumed food and food energy. The United States Department of Agriculture stated that food system in United States is an intricate network of industries and farmers that associates between them. This link between farmers and industries includes chemicals and manufacturers of farm equipment. Moreover, it also consists of services provided to agribusinesses like suppliers of financial and transportation services. The food system in America also comprises of food promotion firms that primarily connect farms with consumers such as foodservice establishments, retailers, wholesalers, fiber processors and food processors. The major players in international food beverage and processing industry is primarily dominated by big names enterprises such as Unilever, Kraft’s Foods, ConAgra, Cadbury, H.J. Heinz and General Mills. In the year 2008, the food industry in America generated total revenue of about 126 billion dollars. The rapid upsurge in overweight and obesity in America has been one of the main challenges in the food industry. It is believed that industry has opportunity to select best possible solution to nullify increased perception on obesity. The given information about serious significances of overweight and obesity towards public health has augmented the sense of earnestness to become part of the effective solution. The prime purpose of the report is to focus on obesity in America. Furthermore, the paper tries to demonstrate the theoretical understanding about food cultural traditions with actionist, conflict and structural theory. The paper attempts to establish the concepts and terms of basic sociological imagination within the chosen discussion about obesity in America. Discussion The primary concern of the report is to specify and demonstrate the understanding of functional and structural theory towards the selected topic. The topic selected is rise of concerns regarding obesity in American food industry. The topic helps to reveal and validate effective understanding about sociological concepts and terms. In the era of widespread attention in media, the growth in rate of obesity in America has become critical topic to address. During the period of time, the United States food system has seen a rapid alteration. American food system During early 1900s, half percentage of Americans used to live in rural communities and was mostly farmers. In order to fuel development of American economy, it is understood that prime necessity is to free Americans from the drudgery of agri-business and farming. This approach would enable Americans to join labor force especially in factories and offices. This greater transformation would benefit Americans to afford products supplied by evolving businesses. Earlier the occurrence of global World War 2, most of the farmers from America used to promote along with livestock and encourage variety of crop. Over the period of time, the farmers abandoned the diversified approach of farming methods and become more commercial. The American food system transformed their diversified firms in to vastly specialized processes. The process of specialization is being implemented within the American food system (Wright, 2012). This enables to firms and other operation based on food system to function more effectively without focusing on larger number of tasks. In the era of globalization and advancement of technology, the crop production in America has been categorized by genetically soybean monocultures and highly specialized. The food production has become more dependent upon fossil fuels and agricultural chemicals. In case on animal food production, the use of antibiotics and hormones has been effective towards enhancing the speed of production. This introduction of new technologies within American food industry has made manufacturing of production more reliable and predictable. The food industry in America includes wholesale and distribution, food processing, agriculture, manufacturing, education, financial services, regulation, grocery, public market and farmer market. The food processing techniques and method implemented can benefit industries to transform the process of raw ingredients in to consumable food products. The food processing process implemented in American industries takes butchered, harvested and clean components. This enables to product effective merchandisable food products for human consumption. The just in time production, mass production, batch production and one off production are some of the ways that can enables to produce food. The processed food industry in America is regarded as major contributor to the development of economy. Most of the food and beverage industries are located in United States of America. According to the Food Engineering, most of the top 50 multinational enterprises are headquartered in United States. In the year 2007, the processed food industry in United States of America has imported more than 34.7 billion dollars and exported 38.7 billion dollars. There has been continuation of investment in food manufacturing department. The increase process of automation can limited the rate of employment in the manufacturing process. The population of Untied States of America has been progressively culturally and ethnically diversified. This also resulted into diversification on consumer demand. Food industry concentration The shift of superior part of industry concentration has been one of the recent trends. This trend has effectively benefited food system in America. Most of the small corporations have power to control their maximum number of sales. The expenses required for the operation of large scale industries used to approve the introduction of well financed and large industries. These large corporations aimed to magnify their business portfolio by acquiring many small industries. These enabled these corporations to grow larger. The rapid rise of concentration in American food system can enable to reduce costs and increase efficiency. In some of the cases, this rise of concentration can create lower prices of the products for customers. The concerns about obesity and dieting have affected the demand of food industry in America. It has become crucial for organization to implemented effective strategy within their business operation to nullify the impact of obesity and overweight. Challenge of food industry One of the hot prevailing topics is the growth of overweight and obesity. The problem of health crisis with Americans has become one of the major health crises. The medical community has stated that the vivid growth of overweight and obesity can be epidemic situation of people of all ages. People from different ethnic, racial and ages groups has seen rapid upsurge in obesity. The cause of obesity is one of the primary challenges in the American food industry. Over the period of 20 years, the number of people that are spotted and detected with diabetes and obesity has been augmented. Therefore, it can become vital for organization to develop proactive plan and strategy to provide solution towards the issues of obesity. The potential avoidance of reducing these issues can heavily damage the brand image of the organization and detriment public image. Obesity in America The growth rate of obesity in America is considered as highest in the world. It has been stated that out of three Americans two people are assumed to have issue of obesity. In United States of America, the obesity has resulted in to death of more than 120,000 people each year. 190 billion dollars are used by American government for medical expenses. The study conducted from The Journal of the American Medical Association stated that more than 35.5 percentages of women and 32.2 percentages of men are facing the issue of obesity. This conducted study was directed and revealed in the year 2008. The Centers for Disease Control and prevention stated that the major consequences of health obesity in food industry are hypertension, type-two diabetes, coronary heart disease, osteoarthritis, respiratory problems, live disease, gallbladder disease, dyslipidemia and gynecological problems (Smith, 2009). There risky consequences of obesity can heavily affect racial groups and increases weight. Over last 30 years, the rate has seen rapid amplification more than threefold. The presence of obesity can create long-term and immediate negative impact towards the health of children. The rising rate of obesity among children and adults can be reserved by help from physicians, caregivers, healthcare professionals and parents. It has been stated that there has been around 400,000 deaths for obesity in the United States of America. These cited numbers of deaths are annual reading. The Epidemiology of United States and childhood obesity has provided more information about the rate of obesity in America. From the year 1980 to 2008, it has been revealed that children that are aged between 12 and 6 years have increased to 19.6 percentages. The functional and structural examination of obesity in American food industry The structural and functional theory has been developed to provide vivid explanation about complex system of society. This theory enables to promote stability and solidarity. Robert Merton and Herbert Spencer are two renowned theorists that heavily contributed towards the development of functional and structural theory. This theory is implemented in the paper to determine and understand sociological imagination about obesity concerns. The functional examination and basic understanding about sociological concepts can effectively differentiate the cause of obesity. In American sociology, the theory of functionalism is considered as main theoretical tool. The grand argument of functionalism theory is that associations and organizations had social purposes to fill individual and social needs. These needs of individual should be integrated in to large systems (Cawley, 2011). In functionalism perspective, children with problems of obesity tend to have worse indications. Low self-esteem and social discrimination are believed to be instant concerns about the issues. It can be notified that some of the crucial functions for application of functionalism theory are recreation, reproduction and economic production. It can be stated from functionalism perceptive that different roles can make individuals to connect with each other. The American food industry has changed their perspective to focus on providing fast food products. Rather than providing healthy products for individuals, there has been rise on fast food and unhealthy products. These marketing of unhealthy products on television and other traditional marketing techniques encourage children to buy their products. This has augmented the rate of obesity in America. The structural perspectives on occurrence of obesity enable to understand positive function of deviance and nonconformity. This is because there is an existence of deviance. Societies is recapped and retold by its boundaries. The poor performance within family members can result in to childhood obesity. This has become one of the primary societal problems for organization to assess. It has become vital for food industries to create effective plan and strategy to explore the issue of obesity. The dietary practices of parents can influence the eating behavior of children. During the course of development, children are most likely to prefer their personal choice gathered from parental habits. The food preference can be developed from American food industry. Most of the Americans believe that obesity is one of the critical health issues faced by people in United States of America. The author from the book Fat Chance, Dr. Robert Lustig believes that sugar is major cause of weight issues in America (Lusting, 2014). The author stated that one sixth of sugar comes from desserts and one third of sugar comes from sweetened beverages and soda. The author tried to state that most of the people do not know that maximum number of food consumer contains sugar. Moreover, fast foods like hamburger meat, hamburger buns, salads and pizza, etc. contains some quantity of sugar. In terms of sociology, the word obesity is described as social and historical process of outlining. The process of framing is conducted through physiological and medial principles. The weight loss and pharmaceutical industries backed the American Obesity Organization and International Obesity Task Force. There are some things that could have provided better opportunity for people to have better food. The food system of American must have provided healthy foods rather than providing unhealthy foods. This could have effectively reduced the rate of obesity in America. The professor from Johns Hopkins University, Sidney Mintz stated that the most important part of socializing is communication over food. The world of business characteristically ends with deal over providing food. On the other hand, the sporting events must have food franchise stands. It has been estimated that more than 10 billion dollars is spent annually to advertise their respective food brands. The high amount of money spent on advertising is to implant brand loyalty and brand recognition. There has been radical social changes, family members has become busier than before. This creates urgency for fast food. Most of the families in America try to have food that can be made quickly. This social change has amplified the cause of obesity. Interaction’s perspective It is believed that interactionist have different perspective of looking individuals. In case of individual with obesity issues, interactionist would look them as critical members of society. The high rate of obesity has amplified the importance of introducing strategies. An interactionist would believe that despite high rate of obesity, there is quiet dishonor and humiliation towards being an overweight individuals. The people facing issues of overweight and obesity are not treated with same manner and love. People with ideal weight treated normally. It becomes difficulty for people with obesity to shop for clothes and get a job. The lack of getting job can demotivate people. Furthermore, it becomes difficulty for overweight people to trust their skills and intellect. Eventually, interactionist states that the root for this epidemic is socializing. The heart of every social event is food. These include foods provided in business parties, date, weekend parties and events. But the food provided is mostly unhealthy. These makes difficult for people to understand what are best for their health. The perspective provided by interactionist provides vivid agreement that obesity is required to be tackled. In last 10 years, around 75 percentage of American populated are facing issues of overweight and obesity. The interactionist theory makes people to understand about difference between individual with normal weight and obese weight (Weitz, 2012). The perspective of interactions was developed by George Mead. The author tries to focus extensively on problems occurred from regular social interactions. These problems can heavily impact the performance of individuals. The perspective of interactionist tries to focus on minor issues. These issues are critical towards the behavior of individuals. George mead stated that behavior of individuals is linked and connected towards interaction of that individual with other members of the society. Rational choice This approach is another part of interactionist theory. The theories of rational choice points out different kinds of explanations and resolutions towards rise of obesity in America. Posner and Philipson argued that the theory of rational choice appeals overweight and obese children as contends and misnomer. The probable interventions of reducing rate of obesity are pointed out by rational choice theory. These interventions include rising the cost of eating healthy foods and raising the cost of obesity. The cost of obesity is raised by augmenting eating cost. On the other hand, the cost of eating healthy foods can be reduced by focusing on reducing the cost of exercising. People struggling with issues of obesity can neglect the expense of buying organic and fresh foods from departmental stores. These families do not want to go far by buying foods that takes ample amount of time to complete. These are those types of family members that try to buy and cook products that can be easily satisfy stomach of children in no time. It can be beneficial for food industries to make mass media on vegetables and fresh fruits as luxury items. Symbolic interactionism One of the primary approaches developed from interactionist theory is symbolic interactionism. It is an effective theory to note detailed analysis about every individual who wants to interpret and performs symbols. This performs of symbols is performed at the process of interactions. The symbolic interactionism theory benefits sociologists to comprehend and appreciate the issues of obesity. This occurrence of issues mostly involved to children. The introduction of dramaturgy can allow every individuals to assess the process of social interactions are act and presentation. Individuals would think that interaction can occur between people that act and presents. The dramaturgy is considered as effective symbolic interactionism theory that required the help of individuals and actors to agree the process using symbols. This concept of using symbols during interaction is critical towards completion of conversation. The process of dramaturgy can benefit sociologists to have superior knowledge about the continuation and origin of interpretation and agreement of symbols. The symbolic interaction theory enables to explore the sociological effect of obesity towards the development of children. A child that connect and interrelate in an environment that is heavily influenced by poor dietary habits and sedentary lifestyle are most likely to familiarize alike surroundings. The characterized environment provided by food industry in America is vital for earlier development of a child. The likelihood of interacting with bad dieting environment can result in to rise of obesity. The environment created by food industry, school and family is pivotal towards reduction of obesity. Recommendations According to American Medical Association, there has been promotion towards implementation of effective strategy for obesity reduction and support for healthy lifestyle. The availability of physicians inside and outside of offices has benefited people to receive required treatment. The application of structural and functionalism theory within food industry can benefit organization to implement effective strategy. The application of structural and functional theory on rise of obesity in America The main purpose of the application of functionalism and structuralism theory is to eliminate the rise of junk foods in universities, schools and educational sectors. Schools can obtain stability and order by elimination of junk food. The rise of junk food and fast food in schools and colleges has escalated the issues of obesity. These junk foods should be replaced with more physical educational programs and healthier options. The sugary vending machines and introduction of physical education programs should be introduced in the elementary school environment. There are several examples where countries trying to eliminate the issues of obesity. California has introduced policy and plan to ban the use of sugary sodas within school premises. The Native Americans consists of Pima tribe. These tribes in Arizona are on full swing to grow school garden within school premises. This was established to supply cafeterias. Symbolic interactionism and rational choice The marketing of healthy products as luxury items can act as critical for maximizing sale of these products. This increases chances of particular group of people to become healthier than that of other people. This can benefit to bypass and nullify the cause of obesity in America. Conclusion This can be concluded that obesity is one of the critical concerns evolved from American food industry. The development of USA food system has led to the establishment of economic conditions. The trend of food industry concentration has been further augmented by economic conditions. One of the important aspects of determining the occurrence of obesity is the lifestyle of individual and their roles in society. In America, the concerns on obesity and overweight have reached at a high level. The incredible upsurge in prevalence level has augmented public concerns on obesity. The rate of obesity determines the amount of health and psychological effect on an individual. The functionalism theory provides vivid explanation about reason behind the occurrence of obesity. The meager parent role can regulate the rate of obesity. The rate of childhood obesity can also be influenced by way on which child relates with the environment. The symbolic interactionism, rational choice and interactionist theory are all related towards the social difficulty of obesity in America. The idea of introducing functionalism is connected with activities that are required for societal maintenance, social group and species. Therefore, it is important for organizations to receive expert consultation and introduce strategic alteration in food industry. Reference Cawley, J. (2011). The oxford handbook of the social science of obesity. New York: McGraw-Hill. Lusting, R. (2014). Fat Chance: The Hidden Truth about Sugar, Obesity and Disease. New York: HarperCollins. Smith, P. (2009). Obesity among poor Americans. Stamford: Cengage Learning. Weitz, R. (2012). The sociology of health, illness and healthcare. New York: Springer. Wright, J. (2012). Bio-politics and the obesity epidemic. New Jersey: Pearson. Read More