The politics of food

A recent study in the Journal of Preventive Medicine found that people living in poor communities are more likely to be obese than people living in wealthier neighborhoods. People residing in poor neighborhoods who shopped in even poorer neighborhoods were more overweight than those who shopped in grocery stores in wealthier areas, found a recent study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. While some people would surely contend that this clearly indicates that poor people just have crappy eating habits (and deserve everything that happens to them), I think this illustrates the political geography of food. Specifically, fresh foods and produce. For years, researchers have been trying to document a connection between obesity among the poor and the limited selection of healthy foods in their local grocery stores. I live in a low-income, minority neighborhood. When I walk down to my local grocery store I've got approximately five fresh produce items to choose from--and let me assure you that they're just a little less than stellar--but more than three aisles of canned goods. There's little to no organic or natural products and much of what's there has been sitting on the shelf for months, maybe years. For example, I bought some jam last week and only yesterday noticed the "Best by 12/17/2005" date on the bottom. And that's happened way more than once. If I lived five blocks over in a high-income, white hood, I could shop from a range of organic and natural food selection in the numerous grocery and produce markets. But I don't live five blocks over. And I can't really afford that. And I've got a Master's degree, a relatively well-paying gig and no kids. It's not a choice if you've got no options. Poor people and low-income communities deserve choices. Imagine what would happen if fresh produce and organic foods were not priced and distributed for the wealthy only. Imagine if the all the poor families living in urban and rural communities had the same food choices as wealthy families. Imagine the heart attack rates for blacks plummeting because they've got better food choices. Imagine healthy kids doing better in school because they're getting proper nutrients. Imagine community vegetable gardens. Challenge the politics of food.