1. Why we eat what we eat The Farm Bill Food additives
Critique of nutritionism
The individual and the commons

2. The Farm Bill Response to Great Depression
Since 1932, protects farmers and land
Since 1960s, protects poor & children
Food stamps: from welfare to nutrition program
New bill every 5 years
2008 bill expired in 2013
Direct payments for major commodities
Programs: nutrition, research, conservation, etc.
Biofuels: subsidizes 46¢/gallon
2014 bill cut SNAP, conservation funding

3. Elements of the Farm Bill
Primary subsidies to:
Meat, dairy, wheat, sugar
Mostly GE crops
Includes foreign food aid
Must come from US & be “monetized”
Positive aspects
Increases yields
Can stabilize prices
Includes some conservation

5. Eliminates food stamps for college students & undocumented immigrants; eliminates research funding on pollinators; cut conservation funding

6. Processed foods Convenience, transportability, storability
Mass production
Process over 1000 “product units” per hour in a continual flow
Food Additives
Processing aid
Aesthetic
Improve taste, color or texture
Especially sweeteners
Increase shelf-life
Nutraceuticals

7. Common food additives Preservatives: sulfites, BHT
Colors: red, blue, yellow dyes, beetroot red
Emulsifiers & stabilisers: carboxymethylcellulose, locust bean gum, carrageenan
Flavorings: smoke extracts, “nature identical fruit flavors
Flavor enhancers: monosodium glutamate, hydrolyzed vegetable protein
Sweeteners: maltodextrin, saccharin, aspartame
Antioxidants: L-ascorbic acid and ascorbyl palmitate
Miscellaneous: propellants, anti-caking agents, anti-foaming agents, acidifiers, buffers, firming agents etc

8. Antioxidant Positioning by Top-5 Markets

9. US Food Additive Regulation
GRAS = generally recognized as safe Image source:

10. Test your knowledge about food additives
Confectionery that is said to be tooth friendly should contain very little acid or sugar. Sweetness can be obtained by the use of a bulk sweetener such as _______________.
Consumers concerned about their bone health can buy products with added _______________, for example, fortified soy drinks.
Food products that contain added soluble fibers and specialized proteins (with a low _______________) are said to be useful in boosting feelings of satiety useful for those trying to control their _______________.
Those who want to boost their immune system can choose foods rich in
antioxidant extracts of fruits, for example apricots or pomegranates, but often like to consume _______________ products such as yogurts.
TERMS:
antioxidants weight glycemic index
probiotic calcium esters
Xylitol

11. Collective Critique of Nutritionism
Benefits
Problems
Can we minimize the problems and sustain the benefits? How?

12. The Individual and the Commons
What we want
Status, power
Beauty, attractiveness
Health & longevity
What we will degrade in order to get what we want?
Shadow ecologies of the affluent diet
Can we consume our way to safety? Sustainability?