The latest capitulations
to food terrorism
It gives me no pleasure to follow up on my prior post about capitulating to or capitalizing on unfounded food fears. Taco Bell and Pizza Hut have just joined the ranks of food purveyors falling to uninformed, dumb demand.
How I wish that consumers would trust science rather than uniformed, misinformed, or downright dishonest food-fear mongers who make their living needlessly alarming the masses with words like “chemical,” “additive,” and “artificial.”
News flash: Water, oxygen, fruits, and vegetables are all made out of chemicals. So are you. And “artificial” is a slippery term that really doesn’t mean anything at all. Once again, I commend those who would rather be knowledgeable than frightened to seek out informed sources. I suggest starting with the excellent post “The GMO Controversy” by neurologist Steven Novella.
How I wish that consumers would trust science rather than uniformed, misinformed, or downright dishonest food-fear mongers who make their living needlessly alarming the masses with words like “chemical,” “additive,” and “artificial.”
News flash: Water, oxygen, fruits, and vegetables are all made out of chemicals. So are you. And “artificial” is a slippery term that really doesn’t mean anything at all. Once again, I commend those who would rather be knowledgeable than frightened to seek out informed sources. I suggest starting with the excellent post “The GMO Controversy” by neurologist Steven Novella.
This is not as simple as the actions of “just a few fast food chains.” When chains of this size make decisions, there is widespread economic effect, from their suppliers, to other businesses that the suppliers supply, to those businesses’ respective consumers, and so forth. Not to be overlooked is the downward spiral of growing fear as the public mistakes capitulation for validation.
Not is it harmless. If the trend continues, expect no resultant improvement in overall health—while food prices rise and world hunger worsens. Just as we’re figuring out how to feed more people in more places, we are in danger of letting fear mongers force progress to a grinding halt.
All because people would rather listen to hacks with pseudoscience than to experts with real science. Not that that’s anything new.
Not is it harmless. If the trend continues, expect no resultant improvement in overall health—while food prices rise and world hunger worsens. Just as we’re figuring out how to feed more people in more places, we are in danger of letting fear mongers force progress to a grinding halt.
All because people would rather listen to hacks with pseudoscience than to experts with real science. Not that that’s anything new.
—Steve Cuno
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