The American food system has a staggering effect on our health. At least one-third of Americans face diet-related issues, including obesity, hypertension, and heart disease. Approximately half of our population either has diabetes or is pre-diabetic. And according to a 2018 study, less than 20 percent of Americans are metabolically healthy.

On the other end of the spectrum, America produces and throws away sickening amounts of food each year but a lack of adequate food continues to wreak havoc on lives. Since the global pandemic began to spread like wildfire, researchers estimate more than 50 million Americans may now face food insecurity, a number that includes 17 million children.

What this suggests is alarming: For the supposedly wealthiest country in the world that has access to most substantial technologies and infrastructure, the basic human right of good health and nutrition is few and far between for copious individuals and households. The average American diet consists of excess saturated fat, sodium, processed grains, and added sugars. This surpasses a mere choice: Adulterated, unhealthy, cheap food is the only means of sustenance within reach for many. Eating organically and wholly isn’t even a choice.

The unstable, unjust, and immoral structure of the American food system is one of the greatest threats to our lives today. Inadequate and unaffordable nutrition is a pre-existing condition that leaves all of us vulnerable to physical, emotional, and mental health issues, most egregiously impacting communities that have been institutionally marginalized. The mid-century proliferation of processed foods, the industrialization of small farms, and the sweeping finalization of human lives have left us all in a position where we have to fight for our right to affordable, fresh, accessible nourishment.

As a brand that focuses on clean eating and wholesome nutrition, we at PrimaFoodie consider the food system every day. We think of it when we produce recipes and when we discuss ways to make clean eating easier for everyone. Questions riddle our minds, such as: How can this advice reach the masses? Why is fresh, organic food so hard to find in certain American neighborhoods? When will eating nutrient dense foods, which the scientific communities prove can have an impact in warding off certain diseases, become something that isn’t doable only for those in certain socioeconomic positions but rather is an immediately and continuously accessible thing for every person everywhere?

Because access to clean, healthy food is a right.

These questions are not limited to those of us who simply care or are curious. These are conversations critical to all of us. That is why you’ll be seeing more about the US (and global) food system on PrimaFoodie. It’s a topic paramount to our founder, Nichole. As she’s traveled the world, she’s made notes, talked to chefs and experts, and seen all the ways we’re doing things wrong here in the US, and all the ways we can be doing better.

If you’re curious to learn more about the inequality and unjust practices in how our food is made and distributed, we’ve compiled some great resources to start. By better understanding our food system, we equip ourselves with the knowledge and inspiration to dismantle it and build it back so it’s strong, equitable, and healthy for all.

 Further Reading:

The Sickness in Our Food Supply by Michael Pollan

The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan

Fair Food: Growing a Healthy Sustainable Food System for All by Oran B Hesterman

Food, Farms, and Communities: Exploring Food Systems by Lisa Chase

A Farm on Every Corner: Reimagining America’s Food System by David. A. Lange