Top of the Food Chain 2: Bang for the Buck
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 11. 5.07
Christine asked "Why does a salad cost more than a Big Mac?" and noted that subsidies to farmers growing feed make a hamburger cheaper. But those subsidies have another effect: they make unhealthy food the most cost-effective way of delivering calories to poorer families. Michael Pollan notes that "the most reliable predictor of obesity in America today is a person’s wealth." -the rich can afford less calorie-dense foods.
As an example, this tub of lard costs about twenty-five bucks, contains 105,000 calories of food energy and 11,200 grams of saturated fat. That is enough food energy to feed a person for almost two months; a dollar buys you 4200 calories. A study quoted by Michael Pollan found that a dollar buys you 1200 calories in potato chips, but only 250 calories of carrots.
People aren't stupid; if you have to feed your family, you go for the cheap, calorie dense subsidized stuff. Lard idea from ::Rural Vegan
During the Great Depression my Grandma would bring a lard sandwich to school and sometimes share it with the less fortunate kids.
Lard is actually very good for you - as long as it is not hydrogenated and comes from healthy pigs not given growth hormones and antibiotics and such. :)
check out westonaprice.org
People aren't stupid? Wow, I learn something new everyday...
Your story implies that lard is cheep because it is Subsidized. Lard is cheep because it is a waste product. Lard is not a good example for the point you are trying to make.
Your story implies that lard is cheep because it is Subsidized. Lard is cheep because it is a waste product. Lard is not a good example for the point you are trying to make.