Am I what I eat?

Noelle John 

The ethics of food has become an increasingly discussed topic. In our society, we find 

ourselves debating over the effects of processed food and the consequences it takes on the 

environment and people. The big question that is commonly asked is, “Are we desensitized or just 

ignorant?” Considering that the industrial system of our food ordinarily is heavily processed, 

people don’t often take into consideration about the marketing, and targeting that the industrial 

side of food has on our country. Reflecting on how our society handles and contributes to the 

consumption and distribution of processed and sustainable food, I believe that industrial food 

targets families below the poverty line because their products are easily accessible, leading to 

higher obesity rates. That they are apart of the healthy industries marketing to these individuals to 

perpetuate this mindset of individuals ‘unhealthy’ lifestyles being self-inflicted. I don’t believe that 

we are neither desensitized or ignorant but rather both, and it’s not our own fault. 

For my personal food ethic, it doesn’t necessarily pertain to myself, but rather it’s a 

perspective that takes into account my worldview as a whole concerning food. My values include a 

variety of ‘issues’ inflicted by the industrial process, and one of my strong beliefs is that the 

processed industry purposely targets low-income families because the food provided is accessible 

by price. Ideally, everyone would want to eat healthier and live a better lifestyle, but income plays 

a role in determining a family’s financial situation. Processed food has been made a convenience, a 

source that’s accessible to everyone, especially low-income individuals.  

  

A recent study showed that children living under the federal poverty line have an obesity 

rate 2.7 times higher than children living in households exceeding 400 percent of the federal 

poverty line. This alone shows that with a larger income, a family has the resources to obtain 

sustainable, organic food, whereas families in poverty with low income are forced to take what’s 

available: processed food. I don’t believe that this a coincidence but instead an established system 

created by both sustainable and processed food. Whether intentional or not on the side of 

sustainable food, the marketing of processed food targets lower-income communities to profit off 

of their products because they’re accessible, and knock the healthier resources out as an option 

because of the difference in affordability.   

The idea of obesity influenced by the industrial system of food and the lack of availability 

to sustainable food in America has changed the face of Americans. Your first thought of America, 

when brought up, is most likely a country that is driven by an unhealthy lifestyle of its citizens 

constantly consuming fast food. This perspective isn’t entirely wrong, but is it necessarily our own 

fault? Endless messages are regularly shown to consumers , promoting products that are marketed 

for the consumers' appeal. Yes, most people in America don’t live as healthy as they should, but 

with food that’s been heavily processed always being accessible to us, it’s hard to not indulge in 

when it’s been marketed to be a convenience. The people who are influenced by the processed 

food system are enabling these companies to benefit off of their consumption, and from these 

operations derive further negative issues.  

 
 From the stereotypes that follow the health and body images of consumers, outside 

perspectives may believe that because these consumers are in an unhealthy situation they can’t 

complain about the consequences because it’s ‘self-inflicted’. This mindset is a norm in our society, 

and many industries have branched off of the public opinion that shame processed food 

consumers to benefit their own profit. As an example, health industries promote messages to the 

public that with their pills or gym memberships, they can give you a healthier lifestyle compared to 

the unhealthy lifestyle you led before. I don’t believe that processed food is healthier or better, 

these perceptions of processed foods mimic the stigma of ‘unhealthy lifestyles’ that I believe is a 

part of a marketing plan that primarily targets these consumers. Thus a cycle of stereotypes 

regarding unhealthy and healthy is perpetuated. 

To go deeper, I don’t think many people take into account or they refuse to acknowledge 

that these situations that are not self-inflicted, especially when taking into consideration that 

most people in America come from low-income backgrounds. The fact that there is a market that 

targets the images of people’s lifestyles and body image while playing into the scheme of the 

industrial system continues to baffle me as well. Many factors play into obesity besides processed 

food, and I believe it’s connected to a family’s financial stability. Coming from a family that has 

struggled with money, healthier food is the least of our concerns when it comes to paying bills. I 

think that unless a person hasn’t had the misfortune to experience the situation of having to 

budget and look after the necessities first, they aren’t able to connect with the reality that money 

determines what you need, and especially what you eat.  

 
 Regarding myself personally, my ethic is stuck in between. I understand and recognize the 

systematic force that is fought amongst families when it comes to processed food, money, and 

health but I also know that it’s a power that can’t be changed in a course of a few years. I try to 

stay healthy and eat with understanding what processed food goes into my body will have its 

effects, but that doesn’t necessarily mean I don’t enjoy a few of the cheap goods that are 

produced from processed food. There’s a balance to my own lifestyle, but as I’ve stated before, the 

situation of money ultimately dictates choices when it comes to food.  

To ‘counteract’ consuming processed food, I work out to make sure I maintain a healthy 

weight, body image, and overall fitness for my body. I can recognize that society has definitely an 

influence of my views, even if I disagree with them, like the stigma of an ‘unhealthy body image.’ In 

a way, that has changed me to be more conscious of my body, and regard things that possibly 

most people wouldn’t notice. That’s one of my main issues with the public opinion in our country, 

especially when we’re filled with perspectives of women specifically to not be ‘big’, and setting the 

expectations of how a woman should look like be abnormally high while living in a country that 

influences unhealthy food choices.  

Coming from a different cultural background, as a Navajo-Hopi, my food ethic is ruled by 

principles that determine a person’s respect and understanding of food. Like any cultivated people 

with a diverse history, there is a food ethic that is taught and practiced. In the Navajo, we have 

certain dishes we make and eat for ceremonial events that are important, and there are animals 

that we’re not allowed to eat. For example, eating domesticated animals like the cat or dog is seen 
as taboo and highly disrespectful and ignorant because, in our culture, certain animals are to be 

treated as important creatures. We’re also not allowed to eat any reptilians or partake in killing or 

dismembering some animals. Another example is the owl, which is a symbol of bad energy or evil 

in the Navajo culture. These principles and ‘rules’ have affected my daily life, especially in school 

when it comes to science dissections or catered lunch.  

Does the question, “Are we desensitized or just ignorant?” truly encapture an entire 

country and their own personal ethics? I still believe there are both sides of ignorant and the 

desensitized, but will I truly know the truth of each individual's perspective? Most likely not, but I 

do know that through this unit, I have learned to recognize where my food comes from. Perhaps 

my ethic hasn’t changed, but the knowledge I’d gained from learning about both the ups and 

downs of industrial and sustainable food has aided my own ethic by acknowledging the systematic 

force these industries have on this country.