The problem with “Globalised Diet”

12 Mar

“ …although cheap food is good politics, it turns out there are significant costs—to the environment, to public health, to the public purse, even to the culture… “ Michael Pollan

Traditional foods were always composed of mostly fresh and minimally processed foods and are based on a diversity of edible plant species; but, taking their place in a “globalised diet” are Ultra-processed foods.

Ultra processed foods are packaged ready to eat foods that are made mostly from just a few high-yielding plant species ( gmo maize, wheat, soy and oil seed crops such as palm oil), what’s more - these fake foods are also full of sugar, salt, fat, and artificial colours, flavouring additives and preservatives.

Because they are highly processed, these fake food products are devoid of the nutrients that are found in whole foods, making them highly unhealthy for us and damaging to our already polluted world because of packaging waste, industrial pollution and monoculture agriculture damage - contributing to biodiversity loss, and loss of wildlife habitat. .

(2020 study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32630022/ )

We are seeing a reality of “Globalised Diet” which is a well oiled business plan; Selling cheap foods with printed slogans and tempting colourful designs, using marketing tactics to tempt us while damaging our health.

Creating cheap convenience food is stripping our society not just of health but also from our food-culture by taking away the mindful eating and sharing of food, the process of cooking and preparing a meal, the ceremony of setting a table to having a meal with family and community.

We must go back to the kitchen and re-learn our traditional foods, to cook simple seasonal meals that are nourishing. The simple act of cooking real food will enable us to regain good health for us and the planet.

To regain connection to our food we can join a community garden, grow our own seasonal veggies and fruit, shop local for our bread and artisan products such as spreads, dips, chutneys and jams. Pick up simple recipes from neighbours and family and enjoy spending time in the kitchen experimenting and learning.

Michael Pollan, a well known food writer (author of “The Omnivore's Dilemma”, “Cooked” and more ) says:

“.. Cheap food has become an indispensable pillar of the modern economy. But it is no longer an invisible or uncontested one. One of the most interesting social movements to emerge in the last few years is the “food movement,”or perhaps I should say “movements,” since it is unified as yet by little more than the recognition that industrial food production is in need of reform because its social/environmental/public health/animal welfare/gastronomic costs are too high... The food movement has set out to foster new forms of civil society...the food movement opposes the dominance of corporations and their tendency to insinuate themselves into any aspect of our lives from which they can profit… The corporatization of something as basic and intimate as eating is, for many of us today, a good place to draw the line.“ https://michaelpollan.com/articles-archive/the-food-movement-rising/

Here are some links and information for local food in Dunedin:

Dunedin Bakeries:

Side-On 326 Moray Place / Spelt Bakery 481 Highgate, Maori Hill / Danish Delights 604 Hillside Road, South Dunedin / Body of the Year Bakery https://bodyoftheyearbakery.nz/

(available from Taste Nature131 High Street) / Pane Ora (gluten free bakery) https://paneora.company.site/

Good Food Dunedin: - a resource for gardening guide and local food

https://www.dunedinnz.com/live-and-work/good-food-dunedin

Community gardens in dunedin :

(only a few are on the list - check with your neighbours if there is one in your area):

Green Island Community Garden Shand Street, Green Island, https://www.facebook.com/GreenIslandCommunityGarden/

Shetland Street Community Garden, Shetland Street Reserve, Kaikorai Valley

https://dunedinenvironmentcentre.nz/shetland-street-community-gardens/

NEV Community Garden NEV School upper field, North Rd

https://www.northeastvalley.org/directory/12/north-east-valley-community-gardens

Resources https://www.dunedinnz.com/live-and-work/good-food-dunedin/good-food-for-locals

SEA Community Garden University of Otago 139 Dundas St