The Food Pyramid Hoax
We are what we eat, but the federal government believes we are a bunch of jackasses who will eat what they deemed healthful. We are bombarded daily with the food industries lies and deceit and it is rational for the average person to seek guidance. Most people turn to the USDA’s Food pyramid, but time has shown that the federal government interference in the food guidance, with the issuing of the pyramids, has been a dangerous failure. According to Kim Severson in her article “The Government Pyramid Scheme” people just don’t pay attention to the pyramid. The very government agency that produced the pyramid (USDA) stated while 80% are aware of it, “only …show more content…
Pollan states that this was the first time the Federal Government intervened in to the area of attempting to change the American diet (28). The Dietary Goals that Pollan cites as a major event in the evolution of the concept of nutrition, can be traced back to the Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs (chaired by Senator George McGovern). (22) This however, was not the very first time the government got into issuing food advice. According to Carole Davis, in her article about the future of the pyramid, in 1916 a food guild was published by the USDA (n.a.). Governmental intervention was necessary in certain times in our history. Kim Severson in her New York Times article stressed that “dietary guidelines helped Americans eat economically during the Depression, and later navigate rationing through World War 11” (n.p.). Now is the time to put all that …show more content…
Sub-population groups as well as those interested in the cultural aspect of food consumption have design the soul food pyramid and the Mediterranean diet pyramid. This appears to be the future if the pyramid is to survive. However, as always, Carole Davis points out, “Achterberg et al cautioned that adapting the original Pyramid in hopes of improving it could sacrifice clarity, consistency and credibility to the public” (n.a.). The warming continue when Davis points out that a reassessment of the pyramid is forthcoming and that it will be “gathering input from stakeholders”(n.a). One might ask and who are these stakeholders? You will not be surprised to find, as Ms. Davis points out, they include “nutritionist, dietitians, industry representatives, educators, communication experts and government scientist” (n.a.). Notice on the list is a conscious absence of food consumers and medical professionals. Once a governmental agency has laid down a policy it will fight any effort to overturn it. It is no secret that the government, the food producers and the food industry are in bed together. They will fight any effort to do away with the pyramid. Kim Severson insists that the pyramid is nothing but a marketing tool for the food industry (n.a.) and she quotes Margo Wootan of the Center for Science in the Public Interest: “The USDA seems to have bent over backwards to avoid upsetting
We are what we eat, but the federal government believes we are a bunch of jackasses who will eat what they deemed healthful. We are bombarded daily with the food industries lies and deceit and it is rational for the average person to seek guidance. Most people turn to the USDA’s Food pyramid, but time has shown that the federal government interference in the food guidance, with the issuing of the pyramids, has been a dangerous failure. According to Kim Severson in her article “The Government Pyramid Scheme” people just don’t pay attention to the pyramid. The very government agency that produced the pyramid (USDA) stated while 80% are aware of it, “only …show more content…
Pollan states that this was the first time the Federal Government intervened in to the area of attempting to change the American diet (28). The Dietary Goals that Pollan cites as a major event in the evolution of the concept of nutrition, can be traced back to the Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs (chaired by Senator George McGovern). (22) This however, was not the very first time the government got into issuing food advice. According to Carole Davis, in her article about the future of the pyramid, in 1916 a food guild was published by the USDA (n.a.). Governmental intervention was necessary in certain times in our history. Kim Severson in her New York Times article stressed that “dietary guidelines helped Americans eat economically during the Depression, and later navigate rationing through World War 11” (n.p.). Now is the time to put all that …show more content…
Sub-population groups as well as those interested in the cultural aspect of food consumption have design the soul food pyramid and the Mediterranean diet pyramid. This appears to be the future if the pyramid is to survive. However, as always, Carole Davis points out, “Achterberg et al cautioned that adapting the original Pyramid in hopes of improving it could sacrifice clarity, consistency and credibility to the public” (n.a.). The warming continue when Davis points out that a reassessment of the pyramid is forthcoming and that it will be “gathering input from stakeholders”(n.a). One might ask and who are these stakeholders? You will not be surprised to find, as Ms. Davis points out, they include “nutritionist, dietitians, industry representatives, educators, communication experts and government scientist” (n.a.). Notice on the list is a conscious absence of food consumers and medical professionals. Once a governmental agency has laid down a policy it will fight any effort to overturn it. It is no secret that the government, the food producers and the food industry are in bed together. They will fight any effort to do away with the pyramid. Kim Severson insists that the pyramid is nothing but a marketing tool for the food industry (n.a.) and she quotes Margo Wootan of the Center for Science in the Public Interest: “The USDA seems to have bent over backwards to avoid upsetting