Students: If you choose to respond on this topic, please use a word processor to write, edit and finalize your thoughts, then use the "Comment" option to post your reflection. Your response should consist of complete sentences that flow from topic to topic in a logical way...start with a sentence that identifies what question you are responding to, then share your thoughts and use evidence from your life or the video to support your responses. Do NOT re-post the questions in your response.
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Guiding Question Sets (from Food Inc Participant Guide)
- In the film, we see that Stonyfield Yogurt is now owned by Groupe Danone, Tom’s of Maine by Colgate, Kashi by Kellogg, and Burt’s Bees by Clorox, which are all large corporations. What kinds of consumers do you think these products are geared for? How do you think those consumers might react to learning that the products are actually made by big corporations?
- As the film suggests, small companies and producers are often bought out or taken over by very big companies. What might be the implications of that—both positive and negative?’ Why might corporations continue marketing the small companies’ products under their original labels, as we saw in the film? What do you think of that practice?
- Walmart’s dairy purchaser says that Walmart and other companies react to what the customers want. How might individual purchases affect Walmart’s dairy offerings? Can you think of any situation where companies should not provide what the customer wants?
- Farmer Joel Salatin in the film says, “We’re willing to subsidize the food system to create the mystique of cheap food when actually it’s very expensive food.” What might he mean by that?
- As portrayed in the film, cost and efficiency drive our current food system. Should price be the most important force behind our food industry? Why or why not? How might our food system change if it was driven by other values, like health or environmental sustainability?
- Some people seek out organic food and some follow a vegetarian or vegan diet. What other examples can you think of where people make food or consumer choices based on their values?
- Yogurt company executive Gary Hirshberg says that Walmart started selling organic yogurt not because of a “moral enlightenment,” but for economic reasons. Do you think economics is a good enough reason by itself for companies to make changes that affect our society? Why or why not?
- What do you think of Gary Hirshberg’s statement that “nobody can challenge the fact that a sale of another million dollars to Walmart helps to save the world”? Do you agree with him? Why or why not?
Matt D. EDA #2 Pelfrey Part 1
ReplyDeleteThe products produced are geared towards consumers who are probably not wanting to contribute to large corporations. They most likely respond how the man who owned Stonyfield Yogurt said his friends reacted when he said he was going into big business. They would most likely stop buying the products and try to look for smaller producers that have not been bought by large corporations. I would also assume that they would claim that the companies that allow themselves to be bought by larger corporations are immoral for doing so.
Small companies being acquired by larger companies is a natural part of a free society. Large mainstream producers acquiring smaller producers can help spread the product to consumers it might not have otherwise reached. The only negative repercussions of this could lead to a monopolizing of industries, which is always a bad thing. However the pros probably outweigh the cons on this particular issue.
Marketing under the small company's original brand is designed to keep the customers the small company already gained loyal to the product. I think it is a fair practice as in most cases the product acquired isn’t altered and may as well be sold under the original label. Knowing that it isn’t an evil brainwashing scheme by corporations is crucial to a better understanding of this issue. Some may believe that this practice is misleading but since the product itself is not changed, the issue of misleading marketing cannot actually be maintained. There are, in my opinion other issues of marketing to look at other than a large company using an acquired company’s label on the same product.
The free market is determined by supply and demand. If consumers demand or reject products, corporations will make the necessary changes to keep the consumer happy. Absolutely individual purchases can affect Walmart’s dairy offerings. The company will always comply with what the consumer needs in order to stay in business. This type of efficiency is commonly found within the private sector. I cannot think of a situation in which companies should not provide what the customer wants. If the customer wants organic, healthy, or any other kind of food, it is the responsibility of the company to deliver it.
Matt D. EDA #2 Pelfrey Part 2
ReplyDeleteJoel Salatin was referring to supposed environmental costs, and moral costs of industrialized farming. I agree with him that government subsidies for food are a bad idea. I believe the best course of action would be to cancel all government subsidies, not to subsidise small farmers. I have different opinions about this subject though, I feel more inclined to agree with the CEO of Stonyfield Yogurt in his ideas that big business can simply change through the will of consumers. However, I think it is interesting to note that maybe these current issues would not be present if the government did not subsidize industrial food. It brings up the time tested idea that tampering with the free market damages society.
If cost and efficiency are what drives companies to produce food to feed millions of people then so be it. That does not mean however, that health and environmental sustainability cannot be priorities. In fact this concept is also portrayed in the movie, that companies will respond to what the consumer wants. If consumers are willing to sacrifice price for health, the companies would obviously make that change in order to stay in business. Also it is important to note that the government purposely subsidizes food to make it so abundantly cheap. The whole food industry is affected by this decision and it is most likely that the industrial food system starting creating so many problems due to this state intervention. In a free market economy, it is the profit driven mentality that forces the companies to comply with consumer needs. If they want to make a profit they need to make the consumers happy, in order to make the consumers happy, they will need to create healthier food if that is what the consumers demand.
Some religions require a regulated diet, others eat according to cost, some to simply the taste of the food. In the concept of all consumer choices, people make those decisions for a wide variety of reasons. Some for cheapness of the product, or if they have more money, for the quality of the product. People make consumer choices for many different reasons. It is of course the right of people as individuals to eat whatever they want or follow any kind of diet they want. No sector private, or public has the right, in a free society, to coerce people to make decisions on what they should eat.
It is my belief that economic prosperity is a good enough reason for companies to make changes to affect our society. Some people opposed to me would be frightened by this concept. They would say that profit driven motivation is not healthy for anyone, especially food producers. But I find the opposite to be true. They simply are not seeing it in the right light. The companies don’t make decisions that will not make them a profit, the consumer satisfaction is what earns them a profit. Their desire to make money is not malicious, but it can be used to the consumer’s advantage. The message that I want to get across is that if the consumers want something the companies will give it to them. This is what happened with Walmart and the organic yogurt. People wanted Walmart to give them organic choices, and Walmart provided it to them. A society that is led by a free market has proven to be a beneficial one. The fear and aggression against food companies and large business in general is not logical in my opinion. Yes monopolies and illegal corporate trusts are bad, yes companies do bad things sometimes, but they are extremely beneficial to society and state intervention is not needed to punish corporations that do not meet consumer satisfaction. The free market will take its course and the company will either change or go out of business. Being driven by profit does not make one immoral, or evil. What it actually means is that they are going to work hard to create products that meet market and consumer demand and hence benefit the public.
Isaac C. EDA per. 2 Pelfrey
ReplyDeleteThe products will be geared for the consumers that buy colgate, kellogg, and clorox products and that the consumers will react in a good way knowing that their products are made by companies that make healthy and organic products.
’ The good implication is that consumers know that the product is made by a big company and will buy the products knowing that their made by the people that already make the stuff they use, but the bad implication is that the company, knowing that the consumer will buy their products, will raise their prices to make more money.
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They might continue marketing under the original labels because they want the consumers to think that theres no difference in the product and will still buy them because they are the same if they make any changes to the product, also the practice that they use in my opinion is a very good practice because no one knows that the product has changed unless they look at the label.
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It might affect. If there is a ban on a food that the customers want ’then companies won’t provide it.
They’re willing to reduce the food system to fat, cheap food but in reality it’s very expensive.
It shouldn’t because if the food is old and gross they shouldn’t have to pay for that. The food system might change if it was driven by health or environmental sustainability by making sure that the food is 100% healthy and spending more time on checking if the food has sickness in it.
Some consumers might be diabetic so they will have to chose other food options.
No because they should have already bought healthy food food for the people who want or need it.
Maddi B. EDA Period 4, Mrs.Carr
ReplyDeleteIn the film, we see that Stonyfield Yogurt is now owned by Groupe Danone,
Tom’s of Maine by Colgate, Kashi by Kellogg, and Burt’s Bees by Clorox,
which are all large corporations. These products are geared for people that like buying products made by the companies with big names, because they can trust their product. Consumers would react by possibly buying a different product because they don’t want that product made by a company that specializes in other, larger products. I think that these products are geared for people that like specialized products.
’ As the film suggests, small companies and producers are often bought out
or taken over by very big companies. The positive implication is that the smaller companies could get more money, having their products sold by the larger companies and getting their products more popular. The negative implication could be that the larger company could completely take their product and sell it under their companies name, abandoning the smaller company.
’ If the larger companies take the name away from the smaller companies, than the smaller companies would take their product away and make it their own again. It is good practice for the smaller companies to get their names out.
’ Walmart’s dairy purchaser says that Walmart and other companies react to
what the customers want. How might individual purchases affect Walmart’s
dairy offerings? The provider should always provide what the customer wants, because if they don’t then they might lose that persons business.
’ Farmer Joel Salatin in the film says, “We’re willing to subsidize the food
system to create the mystique of cheap food when actually it’s very expensive
food.” They are willing to support the food system to help people believe food is very cheap when it’s actually very expensive.
’ As portrayed in the film, cost and efficiency drive our current food system. Price should not be the most important force. Making sure the food is safe for selling should be because if the food is unsafe because they were focused on the price, they might have to recall their food product because it was unsafe. Our food system would improve if it was driven by safety and not price.
’ Some people seek out organic food and some follow a vegetarian or vegan
diet. People buy their food from local farmers’ markets because they are more assured to safe grown vegetables and meats.
’ Yogurt company executive Gary Hirshberg says that Walmart started selling
organic yogurt not because of a “moral enlightenment,” but for economic reasons. Economics is not a good enough reason for companies to make changes that affect our society because it should be based on how healthy the food is for the consumer, and it’s surroundings, not because it is cheaper for the government and economy.
’ I agree with Gary Hirshberg’s statement that “nobody can challenge the fact that a sale of another million dollars to Walmart helps to save the world” because if they are selling organic and healthy grown food, at low costs, then people will stop buying the more expensive, slaughterhouse meats and chemically grown fruits and vegetables.
Danny G. EDA P.4, Mrs.Carr
ReplyDeleteHidden Costs
I do agree with Mr. Hirshberg, about Walmart saves lives. Because Walmart is a great help these days. Walmart has a produce area, Walmart has an outdoors area, Walmart has a electronics area, and house appliances. Most people like Walmart because their prices are low, and stuff at Walmart is real easy to find. People make consumer choices all the time, like if they want to eat healthy, or not healthy. Not all people are vegetarian or vegan. They could be normal eaters and make good consumer choices.The corporations want to be credited, and people might like that product and they might get more money, and that's why small companies go out of business.
Raven Y. EDA #4 Pelfrey
ReplyDeleteThis may attract the healthier and organic consumers, thinking that they are eating something healthy, made by small corporations who take their time with each bottle. Upon learning that the Yogurt was indeed made by a fairly larger corporation then what they thought, it would cause outrage. If I were under the wrong impression on who was making my food, it would cause a serious problem not only because I was under the wrong impression, but because I know nothing about this new corporation who is making my food, which I am consuming.
Raven Y. EDA #4 Pelfrey
ReplyDeleteA positive thing about large companies taking over our smaller ones, would be that one: we can know more about a larger company. They are a well-known name, so it’s easier to look into and see exactly how they are producing our food and what we’re eating. While it might be slightly harder to find out such information with a smaller company, or a company with a not so big name. On the contrary, if a bigger company takes over a smaller one, they are obviously more popular. A more well-known company would try to make their food as quick as they can, becoming sloppy in their work and throwing pesticides in their food to make it faster. But a smaller company, who isn’t getting as much attention, has time to make their food correctly, being healthier for the consumer.
Raven Y. EDA #4 Pelfrey
ReplyDeleteThey will continue to market the small companies’ labels originally because if they continue to do this practice, more people will want to buy it. People like to see familiar brands, even if they don’t know what’s going on behind those big market names. If the small companies sell their products under the original name, people will most likely want to buy it because it is under a name that the buyers are familiar with. I think this practice is smart by the small companies, because it actually makes a lot of sense. It might not be as good for the bigger companies, but maybe it would be just the same.
Raven Y. EDA #4 Pelfrey
ReplyDeleteIf Wal-Mart wants to go dairy on us, so be it. If more people are now leaning towards organic foods because it’s what they been told is better for them, then let companies sell them. They are giving people what they want. But how far should they go to satisfy their buyers? That’s the big question, if they’re legit selling people what they want, then it’s okay. But for instance, if people nowadays are wanting only hamburgers, does that give fast food chains the right to sell fake food? It doesn’t give them a right, but it doesn’t mean that they won’t go to extremes to get money, which they will get because people think that they are getting what they want.
Raven Y. EDA #4 Pelfrey
ReplyDeleteI think he either means one of two things. The first is that maybe they will take a food meal of higher quality, but lower the price so other families will be able to purchase them. Another possibility though, could be the opposite. They could be taking food of a lower quality and raising the prices, because the people buying the product won’t know the difference between the two qualities.
Raven Y. EDA #4 Pelfrey
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes down to it, price is the most important thing. When people are living in poverty, and the only food they afford is cheap, unhealthy food, it’s the only choice they have. When companies make the healthy, organic food much more than they other stuff, who really expects people to buy fifteen dollars just to get some fruit, when you could just go out and get an entire meal for your family with that same fifteen dollars. The bottom line is that people need to eat and feed their families. If all the prices were the same and the only thing put into perspective was health of environmental sustainability, then everything would be a different story. People would be healthier because there wouldn’t be that struggling debate on whether you should spend all your money on only a little bit of healthy food, or spending a little money on a lot of unhealthy food.
Raven Y. EDA #4 Pelfrey
ReplyDeleteI know that some people make choices like being a vegan, vegetarian, or looking for organic food. I also know that others tend to change their diet for their religious practices. Like myself, some people are catholic and follow catholic diet. Also, muslims go through a long period of fasting, and they can’t eat pork. I can’t think of anything else, really. Although, now after watching the video I think being a vegetarian could possibly be a good idea.
ReplyDelete’Raven Y. EDA #4 Pelfrey
I do not think that economic reasoning is a good enough reason, although it is a smart idea. If that’s what the people are looking for and interested in then I don’t see why it should be such a big deal. If the yogurt is actually true to it’s brand, then there isn’t anything wrong with it. But if the change by the companies are affecting our society, then I don’t think that economy is worth it. Whereas selling the yogurt could bring in more money, which could help the society out in economy, which could be a good thing. But if the market is always changing up their produce, how much is it really worth?
’Raven Y. EDA #4 Pelfrey
ReplyDeleteI do agree with him, because it is sadly true. No matter what kind of debate goes on, the majority of the population will still go to these marketing business’ and buy their food, even if it isn’t good for them. If Walmart brings in another million dollars, the fact is that it will help our society out. If they keep changing their market to give the people what they want, it’s obviously going to help us out in some way.
Ashlynn R. EDA 4 Pelfrey Part 1
ReplyDeleteI think the products are more geared towards the more educated people, the ones with more money, and the ones who care about where their food and other basic necessities come from. I think these people would become a little concerned learning something like Clorox owning Burt’s Bees, because Clorox makes bleach. Someone might be concerned about a big corporation owning these products, because they are so big, and they need to produce products fast, and they might be worried about their being harmful substances in the product.
When small companies are bought out by bigger companies, there are both positive and negative effects. One of the positives, is that the bigger company is well known, and many consumers recognize the brand, and they know they can trust the product. Another positive, is that the company would have the money to advertise the product, and make it become well known and a demanding product to have. A negative of this, is that the small company might not have the rights to change or add a product to the line, because the big company has to agree with it and they now own the rights to all the products of the line.
The big corporations who own the smaller companies keep the original labels because they do not want to risk consumers not knowing what the product is, or going against the large company. I think this practice works well for both the small company and the large company, because the small company gets the recognition, and the large company doesn’t risk problems with consumers.
No matter where you buy your food, the organic version will always be more expensive. Because companies purchase dairy products based on the demand for them, the organic choices may become unavailable, or not as many options will be available. An example of when food companies should not provide what the customer wants, is when most of the customers are purchasing the non-organic food. When that happens, the company like Walmart, should but more organic and less non-organic, so then more customers are forced to buy the better choice which the healthier choice.
Ashlynn R. EDA 4 Pelfrey Part 2
ReplyDeleteI think they mean that the are putting cheap ingredients into our food, so it’s easier and cheaper for them to produce, then selling it for more expensive than it really is. Also, he might be referring to the fact that the consumers lives are on the line.
Price should be the most important force behind our food industry, because right now the unhealthy foods are cheap, and the healthy organic foods, are expensive. If there was the opportunity to increase the price of the unhealthy foods, and decrease the price of healthy foods, that would change the food system incredibly. There would of course be the problem of producing this food fast enough, to keep low prices, but it’s not impossible to think of a way. There is a big push for a healthier country and to buy organic. How can we though, when a lot of the country can barely afford the unhealthy cheap food and a house?
One example, is if they can’t eat wheat, dairy, nuts, or have allergic reactions to foods. Another example is if they have to eat a kosher diet, or they just want to go on a diet.
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I think most of the time it is intelligent to make changes for the better because of economic reasons. For example, right now our economy is atrocious, and more and more people are losing jobs, which means they are losing money and most of these people have families to feed. Because they don’t have the money to buy the organic and healthy food, they buy the processed unhealthy food.
I agree with him, because another sale like this, means less pesticides, animals are treated better, workers are treated better, and there is a bigger increase for the demand of organics, because more people will get the idea after seeing the increase in organic product selections at stores.
Czionne Monido
ReplyDeletePeriod 1 EDA
Mrs. Carr
The big companies are trying to appeal to the people who only purchase products from small companies by taking over the small companies and selling their products under their original names. If the consumers of those products were to discover that the products that they are consuming are made by big corporations then they would stop using the product and would start paying more attention to which companies own the products that they are consuming. If big companies take over small companies, the small companies will get some money but lose their job in the process. Plus, the big company will continue taking over other companies and grow even larger, so the smaller companies will have to compete with the very large companies. The only positive thing about this is that the big company can sell their goods for a low price for the customers to purchase. The corporations who continue to market the small companies’ products may be trying to appeal to the people who only support small companies. I believe that the big corporations should leave the small companies and their products alone. Individual purchases affect Walmart’s dairy offerings by seeing what the customer is buying and not buying. If I were to think of any situations where companies should not provide what the customer wants, it would be a situation where the customer wants something really unhealthy, like a jar of fried mayonnaise, and even if the customer offers a lot of money, the company shouldn’t accept it. Joe Salatin might be saying that the food is very expensive because it doesn’t pay off in the long run. You could buy a burger for 1 dollar but you are at risk of e-coli, obesity, medical bills, and many other things that make you at risk of losing health or money, or both. Price should not be the most important force behind our food industry because the lowest price for food is unhealthy. Healthiness should be the most important force behind our food system. If health was the most important force behind our food system, then all of America will be healthier, will live longer lives, and the amount of obesity will severely drop. Much of America makes their consumer choices based off of the price of fast-food, not their health. Some Americans cannot afford healthy food and they turn to unhealthy food. I believe that companies should make changes based off of their customer’s opinions. They should not just focus on whether or not they make the most money that they can. I disagree with Gary Hirshberg’s statement because, although Walmart is selling healthy food, they still sell unhealthy food.
Austin P. EDA Period 1 Pelfry
ReplyDeleteAnswer: Those seeming-to-be smaller/not major corporations were created to sell the product to the consumers who want to buy from small companies to reduce the amount of pesticides they eat in their food, or to buy healthier made food because they think it is a locally grown/made product rather than in a factory with the presence of chemicals. If the consumers knew that those small companies are actually owned by the large corporations they are trying to avoid, they would probably switch their source of buying food to a REAL small company.
Answer: The people who bought things from that smaller store may reduce the amount of things purchased there after the large company took over because they would know that the food quality will change. OR More consumers would use that company as a source of food because prices are lowered. Even if they know that the quality of the food isn't as good, they might like the store more because the prices are lower (from being made faster/cheaper, food is cheaper in stores).
Answer: Large companies would sell the products as the small companies’ to reach more consumers who don't realize the true maker of the food. I personally think this shouldn’t be allowed because it isn’t exactly lying, but its definitely not telling the truth about who is really making the food. I think large companies should put their name on the items’ packaging for everyone to see.
Answer: Individual purchases affect what Walmart sells because if the people buy what they want rather than what they can get, it will show the ‘true colors’ of what consumers actually want to buy, and Walmart does a good job selling people what they want. The only reason why a store should purposefully not provide what the consumer wants is if the consumer wants to buy a known-to-be-bad product. Otherwise, the company should always provide what the consumer wants.
Answer: it means that consumers are willing to support the food system in creating an all-of-the-sudden cheap food that comes out of nowhere, when in reality it is a very expensive food.
Answer: Price shouldn’t be the most important thing when it comes to the food. If the main focus was on health, eventually, once people started buying that healthy food, the price would come down on it. The reason fast food is so cheap is because there is such a high demand for it. If the demand or need for healthy, safe food raised, then the suppliers would be able to lower their prices. Our food system would definitely be better if a small change like this happened because we would have healthier foods, and healthier people at the same low cost. All we need is to get people to start the chain of buying the healthy food even though it is expensive right now.
Answer: Some religions cause people to make certain choices about their food. For example, some religions require that only organic or kosher foods are eaten. This might be the reason behind the healthy eating and the eating of healthy, un-genetically modified foods for those cultures.
’Answer: Absolutely. Whatever we need to do to get that healthier food on the market is a good reason. If economics is the only way we can do that, then so be it. At least we are getting the food that we want. And if what the economics are doing causes the society to change then hopefully it will be in a beneficial way.
Answer: When Walmart spends 1 million dollars on organic foods, which means foods grown without all of the chemicals and pesticides, then it is saving the world, and I agree. 1 million dollars in ORGANIC food equivalates to a whole lot of pesticides that aren't being sprayed on the Earth, into the atmosphere, and on our foods which we later eat. We only have 1 Earth, 1 atmosphere, and 1 body. If we destroy all, or even any of these it will most definitely not be a good thing.
Leah K. Pefrey EDA Period 1 Part 1
ReplyDeleteI think the kinds of consumers that products like Stonyfield Yogurt and Kashi are geared towards those who care about what they eat and are trying to make wise choices. What the consumers probably does not know is that these products are being made by big corporations. I think if the consumers found out, they might question the reliability and good quality of the products.
I think the small companies are being bought out by large companies partially because of the money being offered. Also, if a small company wants to expand or try to reach more consumers they may need help in doing that, where large companies can lend a hand. I think it can be positive because the product will have the opportunity of being consumed by more people. I also think it can be negative in that the large companies may want to lower the cost for a bigger profit by cutting corners and changing to lower cost ingredients.
I think corporations are marketing the small companies’ products under their original labels because the original labels are creditable. Consumers have come to know the small companies’ products as good and honorable sources of food. When a big company buys out a smaller one they may keep the original label so consumers still think that the product is the same and still creditable even when it is being produced by a different company. I personally think that it is unfair for companies to do that because it is keeping information from the consumer. The consumer may not know that the small company was bought out and that the product is now possibly being produced differently.
Companies claim that they react to what the consumers wants, therefore the individual purchases of the consumers can influence the companies offered products. This means for example if at Walmart people are buying many organic and healthy foods, then Walmart will increase their offered organic and healthy foods. The problem with the company’s claim is that if individual consumers buy many unhealthy foods, then the company will provide more unhealthy foods. I think in the case of unhealthy choices companies should provide a limited amount.
Farmer Joel Salatin said, “We’re willing to subsidize the food system to create the mystique of cheap food when actually it’s very expensive food.” I think he means we think the food is cheap because of its cost, but in reality the food’s impact is great. Not only is the food unhealthy, it is changing the way people treat animals and value life. Not all people know how the food is made and the food’s effect on people, animals, and the environment is great, or “expensive.”
Leah K. EDA Pelfrey Period 1 Part 2
ReplyDeleteI think that price should not be the most important force behind the food industry. It is true that inexpensive food is important so that people who do not have much money will not go hungry but the inexpensive food may be harming them, more than helping. Having a food system driven by health or environmental sustainability I think will prove to be more efficient in the long run. I think the well-being of people is a better force behind the food industry rather than inexpensive food.
Many people are making food and consumer choices based off of their values. Some people seek out organic food and some follow a vegetarian or vegan diet. Others choose not to eat meat that is produced within certain companies. People are getting motivated to make healthier choices to help themselves and their bodies. Some go on diets, and others only make their own food. Their values may vary but they have a similar goal in that they want to follow what they believe and strive to be healthy.
I do not think that economics is a good enough reason by itself for companies to make changes that affect our society. In the case with Walmart choosing to start selling organic yogurt it was a good change, but it may not always be. What if Walmart had chosen to start selling more unhealthy and genetically modified products? I think what affects the society is a major decision and it should be made with caution, not just because of economics, but because of the health of the people.
I think Hirshberg is partially right in saying “nobody can challenge the fact that a sale of another million dollars to Walmart helps to save the world.” I think that what Walmart chooses to offer as products is very important to the health of the people in society. I agree in saying that it helps but I do not necessarily think it will save the world. Making healthy and good choices is imperial for Walmart if it wants impact people and their health in a good way. I think that Walmart making a million dollar sale of organic foods helps the society in many ways, but is not so impactful that it changes the world, although I do think it is a start.
Francis.c Pelfrey EDA .3
ReplyDelete1. I think at first the the consumers would start to get angry about it, because they thought it was just a small all natural company. Then they might start to research the product and realize the product is still made the same as it was, but the large corporations just on the rights to it and sell it.
2. Some positive implications are that the company we’ll get its product out there. They will have a bigger market and so that product is more convenient because you could go and get it at a supermarket. Some negative implications are that the company might try to change how they make their products to make less costly. Other small companies might start to shun them because they let a big company by them.
3. So that when you see the product you wanna buy it because its organic and made by a small companies and whatever. If it had the big corporations label because people might not want to buy because they don't trust them.
4. If enough people want a certain kind of dairy product then Wal-Mart will put it in its stock and have a healthier product that people will buy because it is healthy and then they will stop buying the unhealthy product and wal-mart will be supporting a small company.
5. It means that the food industries can make food easily and cheap, but they sell it for double or triple the price it took to make the food.
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6. Price is the most important value behind the food industry because thats where all the money comes from. I think price should be the most important value because if making the product healthy was the most important value than healthy food would be more expensive and people would buy the cheap unhealthy food.
7. Religion, because in some religions you can't eat certain meats.
8. I don't think it really matters whether they're doing it for economic reasons or for moral enlightenment. Just as long as their selling healthy cheap food that is able to replace cheap unhealthy food.
9. No not really. Because Wal-Marts just going to keep that money for itself. Its not like they are going to give the employees a raise or donate it. Whether or not the money came from buying healthy food.
http://www.chron.com/business/article/Again-Wal-Mart-s-reputation-takes-another-beating-3553373.php
ReplyDeleteThis article shows some bias but is an okay article for the cons of Walmart.
http://www.treehugger.com/corporate-responsibility/tyson-foods-may-have-a-sustainability-report-but-it-doesnt-mean-factory-farming-is-ever-sustainable.html
Agian has some bias views but is a good artical on Tyson Foods.
Max W. EDA PERIOD 5
ReplyDeleteYes it does matter to me which food companies produce my food so I know where my food comes from.I want to know where my food comes from so i know its living conditions.If it was living in its own feces all it life I want to know.
The big companies are geared for people that dont realy read the food labels and don't care what they eat as long as it is cheap and affordable.If people knew how there food was made or grew they would probably less likely want to eat it.”Just because something says that it is organic doesn't mean it was grown organically”.
The positive side would be that there would be more mass production of everything but the negative side would be that the companies would have to cram more animals into one place and that means that there is less room for the animals.
I think smaller companies are better because you can watch over the animals better if you only have a few then a ton of animals.Also you can grow the crops more thoroughly and not put as many pesticides.If more people knew if you just paid a little more for a lot better food for you i think a lot of people would do it.
If people are having walmart order their dairy from other places that means that walmart is not getting any profit. No, because the only reason walmart is around is to sell inventory and if the customer doesn't want it they wouldn't buy it.
He is taking expensive animals and clowning them and pumping them with hormones and then killed them for use to eat.One of the ways they said how the animals get fat in the video is that the big companies feeds all the animals corn.Soon later in the video they brought to our attention again that if u feed corn to animals they get a build up of E.coli in there stomach.
No,because i don't want to pay money for something that has the chance of killing me even if it is only a little amount of money.I would rather pay a couple dollars extra for better food that has positive impact on my body then a negative impact on my body.We would be feeding animals all natural foods and not inject them with hormones or feed them corn.Another thing that would change if u had more environmentally friendly aspects you would not have tons of animals stuck and forced into one small remote location.
Something that people do based on their values is go on diets.Some people don't go out to eat they just make home cooked meals.On the other hand there are people that never eat at home hat just always go out to eat.
Yes,because if we don't start to be economically friendly there wont be no walmart or any store for that matter.I think walmart is just trying to get a head of the game and is giving the consumer what they want.
Emma M. EDA #5 Pelfrey
ReplyDeleteThese products manufactured by large companies are mainly geared for people and customers who don’t have a ton of money and like to get their product easily and conveniently. But small companies mostly are geared to people who are very conscientious about what they eat, and how they're food is processed. But, when big companies take-over smaller companies, people will start to react differently. Customers might react differently because when you realize something is made from a large company, all of the stereotypes automatically become present in your mind. And most of the stereotypes could make you not like that product anymore.
There will be a lot of implications while switching from a small and honest company to a million dollar corporation. The customers might react badly, because when you switch from a little corporation over to a big one, a lot of the sincerity and honesty gets lost and the big companies take over. They might not make the product the same way as when the little company had full control. But, some other people might react really well because they don’t have to go through as much trouble to get the special organic brand they like.
Companies are very smart, and there main goal is to sell the most of their product that they can. Also, in the film, a place like Wal-Mart said that they were revising their problems because that is what the customer demands. So, if the customer demands Stonyfield rather than Groupe Danone, the companies will do anything to make the customers happy. I think that the companies know that the consumers will change their minds if they know that it is now a gigantic corporation rather than the family run organization they saw previously. I think that this practice and way of advertising is sneaky. The big corporations are lying to the customers and nobody wants to buy a product when the manufacturers just lied to you intentionally.
As I said before,what customers and clients really want is to not spend as much money for the same product and everybody would like a convenience factor to their products. When Walmart says they will react to what the customers want, they do but they don’t realize that the customer also wants good quality and honesty. They are “reacting” to what the customer wants to an extent. They are also reacting to what the head of that company wants which is to spend as little money as they can and have around the same product. Also, if a customer suspects in any way that this company or store isn’t being fully honest, then the company will lose a consumer. In the end, the companies and corporations can do whatever they please, but the customers decide how well they do. So, if the companies know this, why wouldn’t they produce something that is guaranteed satisfactory for their customers?
He is referring to situations like cows. Cows are not supposed to eat grain, they are supposed to eat grass, and when we force them to eat grains they aren’t healthy. In the film, there was a very disturbing part where they actually showed one of the farmers feeding the cow grain through a hole that has been created in the cows stomach so he can eat the grain. We have been feeding them this way because this is how they get fatter faster and so we can produce more meat in a shorter amount of time then if they were living freely and the right way. But, also, if the cows aren’t supposed to be eating grains and they get infections and illnesses from eating this way, shouldn’t we be worried about what kind of meat these cows are producing? If they are sick, we could get sick from this just as easily.
Emma M. EDA #5 Part 2
ReplyDeleteI think that food should definitely not be based on price. I think it should be focused on more important things like the animals care, or our environment. The way our food industry is, being based on money, will make the quality of our food is go down hill. Our food system would be changed tremendously if we focused on things like environmental sustainability and health. It would also change for the better. We would would have a different outlook on our foods and I believe we would hold a higher standard for our food. If we keep going around and thinking about low- cost, low-cost, then we aren’t going to be looking at the nutrition labels and seeing if our hamburger patties are actually made of pink slime. But, if we held a higher standard and thought, I need food and products that will keep me healthy and that won’t be at an unreasonable amount of money.
The first one that comes to mind when I think of people changing their food choices because of belief is when people who practice Judaism don’t eat pork. This is their belief and there's nothing wrong with what they believe in. This particular example is a little old- fashioned, but another one that is semi-modern is a diet called paleo. It is a diet where you don’t eat grains. My dad is on this diet and he doesn’t mind not eating grains at all. people like my dad believe that there is no reason to eat grains because that is not what we are supposed to be eating. It is not natural for somebody to be guzzling down a Big Mac and a side of fries and a coca cola, which is all made out of corn/grains in some processed way or another. This idea is catching on in bookstores all over there are cookbooks to eat around this specific lifestyle choice.
If the company wants to change their perspective and wants to make more money, that is their choice. But, the consumers are usually willing to pay more knowing that the animals of the workers are treated fairly and humanely. So, I don't think that changing from a small company to a large one is the right thing to do especially for economical reasons but, I also don’t have a family to take care of and a lot of responsibilities that might not be made if I only had 7 cows like Gary Hirshberg had before he started collaborating with Wal-Mart. It also depends on what large company you sell yourself too, because if there was a large company that was purely organic and they bought a small little organic farm, then they're product results would most likely stay the same or similar.
I do agree with him because a small company like Hirshberg’s would help people see that Wal-Mart can go organic so everybody could be happy. Everybody would be happy because they could get organic things for a lower price and with less pesticides because Wal-Mart does have more advanced ways of cleaning then a 7 cow farm. And that is helping the environment and creating more jobs for the small business workers and more organic and customer approved products for the large companies. Lastly, the consumers can get a better quality of product of they know that the customers want something like these small farms.
Kira,T EDA Period 5 Ms.Pelfrey Part 1
ReplyDeletePeople who usually buy product from the larger companies can be introduced to these new products from smaller companies. When a larger company takes over a smaller company it could be a good thing because they will make more money and will be more advertised because of the larger corporations. The customers may check the ingredients if the larger companies have changed the ingredients to make it cheaper. Also they might think why would they do this, because if they became part of a larger company they might have almost got out of business or wanted to just get bigger.
It may be good thing that the smaller company is taken over because the company can sell more product and people will be eating more healthier foods. Usually a small company’s brand is just a small portion in the grocery store, but if a larger company buys their brand then they with be in a larger portion of the grocery store. An example of a larger company taking or a smaller one is the yogurt brand called “Stonyfield.” They started off as a seven cow company and slowly got bigger. Now StonyField is the number three yogurt company and is the most profitable. Sometimes when the companies are bigger they can start bargaining with larger retailers such as Walmart. It may be negative because the larger company may change the ingredients to make the product cheaper, this can be a bad thing because it may not be as healthy as before. It will also create a less diversity in the companies.
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When larger companies take over smaller companies they may want to keep their original labels maybe show that the product is better quality or more healthier than other products that they have sold in the past. If the product is really successful there's a chance that customers will buy other products from the larger corporations. I think its a good idea so the small companies remember where they came from and to show people the food is organic and healthier.
If people don't want to buy ten yogurts when they go to Walmart, Walmart is going to have extra food and nobody is going to buy it mostly if has already expired. If they produce more yogurt than the amount people want, where are the rest of the product going to go? People may not go to Walmart anymore because they don’t have the yogurt they want or maybe because it is more expensive than Vons. Sometimes grocery stores such as Walmart doesn't want to buy organic yogurt because another yogurt brand as a better price and it is more profitable for Walmart. Instead the customer wanted the organic brand, they are not going to get it, because Walmart doesn't carry the yogurt.
Kira,T EDA Period 5 Ms.Pelfrey Part 2
ReplyDeleteThe food that the farmers are trying to produce can be good quality, but because people don’t have money they try to feed the animal with the least expensive food and the smallest amount of land to make the produce not as expensive. Joel is trying to say if you feed the animal what they are suppose to be eating the meat can be worth much more, can be more healthy, and taste better. The cost of fuel, seed and fertilizer has raised so the prices of our food rise.
In my opinion putting pesticides on the food so that people can have more food so the insects don't eat them or even cleaning meat in ammonia is completely disgusting. Farmers these days are trying to use technology to try and minimize the amount of land and try to grow the most food they can.
I don't think that prices should be the most important force behind the food industry, because if you're a family who doesn't have as much then its harder to afford healthy food so you are probably eating unhealthy and it will affect you health. On the other hand if you have a much higher income than it would be easier to have healthier foods. I think its really unfair for not everyone having the access of healthier food. Our economy is really bad right now but if the food values increase, because its healthier than not a lot of people will be very overweight and be unhealthy.
Some people don't eat at fast food restaurant because they know it is really bad for you. They realized maybe the meat was not a hundred percent ground beef, or the food is really high in sodium, or how deeping frying food is unhealthy and fattening. Drinking soda and eating chips is high in sugar and fat so when people are trying to lose weight they usually go far an apple instead.
No, in my opinion I think the company should take over a smaller company be because they think the idea will be a good addition to their other products because it is organic and healthier. Economic reasons should be a part of the reason if they want to make their business bigger and more successful.
I agree with him because selling product is good and can save a company from going out of business but I also think that it doesn't have to be just a big company such as Walmart. In my opinion i think its a good idea to a diversity of grocery stores because they can have different products and also different qualities too.
Rebecca N, EDA Period 5, Pelfrey
ReplyDeletePart 1
These products are geared for consumers that demand products fast and at large amounts. These large corporations are not concerned of the health of their consumers. All that is in their minds is to make a lot of money and meet the demands of the consumers. What matters to them is make the product fast and get it on the shelves as soon as possible. These products are geared for consumers that aren’t really concerned on what is in the product. These consumers just want to the product fast and cheap. I think that if consumers found out what is in their products, they will refuse to buy it and demand a change in the food system. These huge corporations are not honest and people will start to get skeptical about what goes on in the factories.Everyone will start to want answers. If people found out this will most likely hurt the company’s business.
For a small company to be taken over is a negative thing because we are giving the large companies even more power than they already have. I don’t think it’s fair that the large companies are taking over the smaller companies without their permission. Another reason why it’s an negative thing is that we have less honest companies that tell us what is in the products. We are losing all the organic companies to this huge and dishonest companies. There are only 14,540 U.S. farms that are certified as organic. A good thing about this is that our products will possibly be produced more efficiently and was arrive faster on the store shelves. Normal organic farming takes huge amounts of time and effort to produce their product.
I think the companies do that because to make the consumer think that their product is organic and seems fresh. They don’t want to replace the labels because they are much nicer and catch the consumer’s attention. Many consumers go for the products that look like they have an organic friendly looking label. I feel that this practice is dishonest because they are not showing us the truth. These companies are trying their hardest to not let the consumers know what they put in their products. It is important to us the consumers to be well informed, but unfortunately these powerful companies are not doing so. In the film “Food Inc.” several huge companies declined to be interviewed. This shows the consumers that they have something to hide from us. There must be some horrid thing they do that they don’t want us to see. Is it fair? Not in my eyes. It makes me afraid to know what they are doing to our products. They don’t care about our health and only want what they started their company for, money. It’s a shame that this companies lie to us. They shouldn’t be something that they are not.
Consumers impact companies greatly and without consumers the company will go bankrupt. Since Walmart is one the largest company is the United States it needs to get products that consumers want if they still want their business to thrive. If Walmart doesn’t meet the demands of its consumers then it will hurt the business. All purchases are important to keep Walmart alive and thriving. Companies should not always give consumers what they want. Companies should produce what is absolutely necessary for the consumer. I don’t think it is smart to please every single consumer out there. Walmart tries to meet the demands of the consumers because they are very sensitive to their reputation as stated in the film “Food Inc.”.
Rebecca N, EDA Period 5, Pelfrey
ReplyDeletePart 2
Joel Salatin was saying that we the consumers are willing to support the food system that produces food that we don’t have any idea what is in it. He is saying that we don’t really care who produces it and what ingredients are in it. We just want the product on demand and cheap. He also meant to say was eating natural, locally-produced food, costs less than commercially-produced food. “When you add up the environment costs, societal costs, health costs ... the industrial food is not honest food”, Joel Salatin also states. Nothing that comes from these huge corporations are honest.
I don’t think price should be the most important force behind our food industry. I believe that the health of the consumers should be the force. I think that should be the motivation. The consumers should be putting that motivation into action. There needs to be some type of encouragement to help improve our food industries. The health of the consumers such be important to these large companies because they need to produce a good quality product if they want their business to thrive.
Many consumers make choices based on their morals, culture, and religion. People with a specific religion will not eat any type of meat products or very little. It also depends on the type of person and their morals. Sometimes when people find out that animals are mistreated, and don’t have the proper living conditions, they refuse to buy the product. They believe animals have rights to certain living conditions and being respected just like we respect people. They feel that the animals we eat are living things as well as us human beings. The consumers don’t always look at this animals just as their food. We also think about the life we take away from them.
I don’t think economics is a good enough reason by itself for companies to make changes that can affect us all. In our society today everyone wants to make a good living and change what they do for economics, but I don’t think it’s fair to make that huge of a change that can all affects us. I feel that we the people should have a say in what changes are made with companies that produce our food. Laws need to be made for the consumer’s sake. Companies should focus on the health of others for their business to survive. These large companies need to change their way of thinking.
I don’t agree to this statement. “They’ve destroyed the independence of the traditional American farmer and have turned food into a nameless commodity rather than a substance that is, literally, necessary for human survival”. I agree with this quote because farming has lost all meaning in our society today. The large corporations we have today having completely changed the way farming is done. Walmart has taken away jobs from the farms by getting their products made at factories. Walmart is taking away jobs rather than saving the world. They are doing the opposite.
Chloe Y. EDA period 6 Ms. Carr
ReplyDeleteThe smaller more organic and local brands are now starting to be sold off to the bigger companies. The smaller brands are geared towards people who really want to stay healthy and are aware of the things these companies put in there food. I can see why they might be discouraged about the smaller companies giving into the big bucks being thrown around by the companies.
The smaller companies are not able to compete with the larger companies. They sell more items that take longer and more labor to grow why would they not want to sell out? But, people are starting to care more about quality than quantity, it's about time.
The bigger companies can manipulate the smaller brands and their buyers. Larger companies can use different products in the smaller local brands and people will continue to purchase them, because they think that they are getting the same quality from a smaller business.
An individual purchaser has an affect on what products are sold because they are the consumers. Lets say for dairy, if a group of consumers wants cheap yogurt products then the companies will sell the cheap yogurt, but if consumers want less processed and more organic yogurt the companies will do that. Though think about Mcdonalds and how their products have become cheaper for the customer, but are so processed and unhealthy. Its what the customer wants right?
In the film Food Inc.one of the farmers says “We’re willing to subsidize the food
system to create the mystique of cheap food when actually it’s very expensive
food.” By this he means that the food that is being sold so cheap and tasty when actually there are major health consequences.
When most people look at food they think where can I get the fastest and cheapest food. And they almost never think about how damaging it could be to their bodies or what is in it. This is a very dangerous and unhealthy way to consume food just because it's cheap doesn't mean it's healthy it probably means a lot of subsidising. If people started reading the labels and not contributing to the substituting food, companies would act.
Not all people support the quick and easy lifestyle of fast food. Many choose to make healthier choices like organic or free range products. Like my family, my parents are very health oriented we shop at local farmers markets and shop at organic stores like Whole Foods or Lassen’s. We go out to eat rarely only for special occasions.
Many companies have claimed that they make changes in food process for economics. But, why should the companies change their food standards just for the economy food is food you shouldn't have to subsidize it there should always be healthy food available.
Is it really that big of a deal where the money goes? Money is money right? Gary Hirshberg shared about the sale of 1 million to Walmart. I disagree with him, I think that where the money goes is important we should be supporting the fresher local stores than the super sized grocery stores.
Ben S EDA 3 Pelfrey
ReplyDeleteThe big corporations that own the small companies are looking for the adverage American family. The companies are trying to find the best way to package, process, and ship their products. But yet do it in an inexpensive way. I think it depends on the person. I for one don’t have a strong opinion either way but someone who buys a specific brand because it’s a “Small Business” may react in a more unpleasant fashion.
One thing that is good is that if a small company is bought by a bigger company the small company will have a greater amount of money to spend on health, environment, and efficiency tools to aid them in the processing and shipping aspect of the foods journey to the supermarket. However a con with this particular problem would be that not all companies will follow what should be done for the good of the people and will follow what is best of the company. Although companies have a certain responsibility not all of them have kept the integrity of those responsibilities. Another Pro would be fewer companies would mean less companies to boycott if that is the choice you choose.
Companies who advertize under the name of the small businesses that they bought out is just a way of keeping things familiar to the customer. this practice does not bother me a bit however others may have a problem with it. I do try to keep in mind that most companies label on the back of the products that the company is a product of “This company”.
Walmart is very sensitive to the reputation it puts out. I think that if one person makes a choice to not shop there then that can lead to a boycott. In effect Walmart will have to change.
Even though we are told the food is cheap in fact it would cost farmers a lot more to product the food without government help. The government basically pays farmers to produce certain crops.
In the film food is the main topic. People are upset because of the way the animals are treated, packaged, and processed. The efficiency of producing foods is one of the biggest economical asset we have. Everyone needs food so in return many companies are trying to produce all the cheapest, fastest, and most efficient food out there. this can pose as problem because many corners can be cut.
Some people just choose the companies that they buy from. People trust one company so they stick with that company. people have many choices in that they eat. some people only eat vegetables some only fish others everything. It’s just your choice.
Yes I do because if our economy is in bad shape we will have to change. If there is a chance to make the economy better than take it. I feel if you don’t like a place don’t go there. You have the right to go anywhere you want.
I don’t necessarily agree with him however I don’t disagree. America is a capitalist country so the Big companies are somewhat needed unless we want to change our governmental system.
Michael Clement De Grandprey-Vaughan
ReplyDeleteEDA Period 6
Carr
Topic 6: Hidden Costs
I wouldn’t be surprised if people reacted in shock because the big coorperate companies are trying to hide their appearance.
I think that the big companies are obviously going to take over the small companies because it will be an easy job for the marketers. on the negative side, a lot of the producers will lose their job because of it.
I think the corporate companies would market to small companies because the corporate companies like the smaller companies products they just don’t want to show it.
If the customer doesn’t want what s/he sees at the market, the customer has the option to go to another supermarket.
Joel is subsidizing the food system and trying to find a compromise between healthy expensive food, and cheap bad food.
Everyone needs to make money. So, prices are a big deal in healthy food. It shouldn’t be a force because a lot of people get laid off of their jobs and they can only afford cruddy food from mickey D’s or burger king.
As i said before, people get laid off of their jobs so it’s hard for people to buy good veggies to cook for their family.
I know for a fact that our economy is awful right now and obviously everything that’s organic is more expensive because there is no extra hormones put into it. So, walmart needed to sell this organic yogurt to make more money.
I agree with him because the million dollars given to walmart and a lot of people in the US shop at walmart and a lot of people work there. Just imagine how many people would lose their jobs.
Hannah W EDA#6 Mrs. Carr
ReplyDeleteWell, just knowing from the packaging and reputation of these “family run” companies, people who buy their products most likely think they are doing a benefit to these companies. But knowing they are made and operated by mass corporations, then buyers would probably be in quite a shock. But because these companies are own by one big one, they are probably sold in places that the other such products made by the same companies are.
When small companies are taken over by large ones, the positive side of this transition is that they then have the guaranteed right to continue business. They’d most likely do better now that they have the benefits of being run by a huge corporation, and get the perks that come along with that opportunity. However, on the negative side, these old family run businesses will truly go extinct and every ounce of power will go to the mass corporated companies. They (large corporation) will probably limit the creative input from the old owners now that they don’t run it, which is an additional downside.
Corporations that continue to advertise the small companies that are not affiliated with them I think is flat out lying. Honestly it’s just a huge lie to those buyers that think they are helping these small family run corporations. They probably continue doing this because it would be such a shock to the buyers and if everyone knew the truth, some would boycott these companies and not buy from them anymore.
When you check out at the grocery store, and buy whatever, you are supporting or “voting” for that company and manufacturer. So if a lot of people buy the unhealthy products, they are voting for them to continue making them. Whereas when looking at a health food store and noticing everyone buys the healthy foods, then those would be looked upon mass production.
By this he means that the entire food production system could really be less expensive than it already is. The way and costs of food production can be droppped becasue its being sold for more than its worth.
Andrew G EDA 6 Carr Part One
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A product that is made by a trustworthy small company that they can rely on for safety and betterness for us as a society. Products like those are usually made by an honest company and people like that about the products. They would react in a drastic manner if they realized who was making those products, they’d feel as if the product isn’t something that was made for the consumer, that it was just a way to get more money in a world where money is all that seems to matter.
It’s said to have it’s ups and downs because it can either skyrocket the sale of the product and spread the honesty of the product that was made for the consumer, or it can just be bought out for money and get mass produced in a way that is unsafe and cheap. The products are masked by a sort of truth, and partially a lie when kept under the same name label. This is because then the consumer won’t know that the products may be getting mass produced just for the money. Big companies fear that if their label is on the product consumers will figure out what they’re really doing to make said product. I think this is very deceitful and shouldn’t be done. If you’re going to buy a smaller company and you own it, then it should have your name on it too.
If consumers tend to buy one brand more than the other then that product will have to be more in stock for others to get. It’s like follow the leader, if one person does it, tells others that it’s good, then they’ll start to do the same. This could go horribly wrong in my opinion though. Say there’s one brand of milk that everybody has been buying and demand for it has increased. The companies will start trying to speed up the process in which they obtain the milk possibly doing it inhumane and dangerous. It could cause that brand of milk to go awry in an order and get recalled, which will then cost the company a lot of money.
While the price of the food is cheap, the cost in making it probably costs A LOT of money. What I mean by that is think about all the money they put into trying to find ways to make the animals grow faster and fatter. The company is spending our money that goes towards chemical and bioengineering that can be completely unsafe and for what? Just to keep competition out of the way and to make a quick buck. This behavior just seems childish to me and completely unnecessary. Plus with all the recalls that’s costing the companies even more money and we gain nothing but horribly treated food out of it.
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Andrew G EDA 6 Carr Part Two
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The price of the food shouldn’t be the main concern of our food industry. We’re already in a bad debt as it is and this will only make it worse. Our primary concern should be our health, the healthier we are the more we can work and get better jobs, it would cost less in the long run. Efficiency can go either way, as long as everything we produce is actually healthy, safe, and doesn’t ruin the environment. It could pollute the environment and worsen global warming.
The most common reason for a change in diet and not eating certain foods is because of religious beliefs. For example kosher products are required by Jewish beliefs. Even getting the healthier option of food is common among those who wish to stay healthy and eat produce they trust. A common replacement of healthier choice is getting soymilk instead of regular milk. Soymilk comes from a bean, while obviously regular milk comes from cows. This is possibly a factor to switching to soy for vegetarians and vegans. It’s also said that soymilk doesn’t have as much calcium, but is packed with vitamins B1, B2, B6 and E.
This could go either way, but my first thought was against it being good. Although it may be economically good to start selling organic products, what happens when the economy starts to fail and we’re forced to switch to even cheaper food that is worse for us than food already is? If we get forced to start selling super unhealthy food for really cheap that will really affect society and cause even more health problems for us. E Coli strains could worsen which would cause a lot of recalls and money being spent further, and obesity will continue to consume america causing an all time high for overall obesity that’s worse than our current obesity problem.
That will all depend on what WalMart is spending the 1 million dollars on, be it organic food which could potentially help the environment, or they could fall to the system and buy food that harms our environment, peoples, and animals. If it is spent on nothing but organics then that would save the world, less use of dangerous pesticides and other harmful chemicals is good for the environment. If it’s spent on solely large company-based products just think of how much of that money is going towards making our food faster, cheaper, and even more unsafe with all the experimenting done. My final conclusion on this however is against it. After all, who can we really trust?
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Adrinna E. EDA P.5 Mrs.Pelfrey
ReplyDeleteThey're geared for consumers who are people who maybe really enjoyed the company and want to stick with that company. I think people will react differently some might not care as much as long as the price does not go up or the product changes. Other people might switch brands, because they don't like the change and think it will change . As long as the product or price doesn't change though I don't think there will be much of a reaction.
A positive implication of this may be that the big companies that are taking over want to really further the small company they will mass produce. A negative is that the small business will be put out of business for good leaving it all to the big corporation.
I think it might get more products to be sold ,because people already know that this
brands really good and that they really like their products. In general they're just simply using the small company products with their labels to boost more sellings , but then again as I said in the first question as long as the products value or price does not get change I don't think there will be a huge reaction.
It will get them to sell more products for individual purchases they're meeting the consumers demands. There's now more offerings and they're now attracting a whole new kind of consumers with their organic products.I remember in the film they talked about how almost everything is made of subsidies, and people love all these foods, suppose people want something with no subsidies in it at all. This can definitely hurt them, since subsidies are so easy and cheap to make, and now they want more expensive healthy food.
He could be talking about how in general yes you pay in cash for cheap unhealthy food,
but maybe the food is expensive in meaning its costly what it can do to your body. Say you aren't fit at all and you're obese what would happen if you got diabetes. You would have to pay a lot of money for the hospital and getting insulin. Think if you would still eat cheap unhealthy food if you knew soon, because of it that you would get diabetes from it.
Yes people want their products cheap and they want it when they want it. Cost however is a big factor especially now with the economy nowadays and a bunch of low income families. Maybe it would change by the obesity epidemic decreasing hopefully.
I know a friend who has a disorder where she cannot eat meat, dairy, or grain products and that plays a big role in what she chooses to go buy and eat. She says its very hard to enjoy eating knowing there are so many things she can't eat ,that she doesn't have a good variety at all. She was born with this disorder and tells me she often gets sick more than others, since she doesn't eat all of the main food groups our body needs.
I do think that it is a good enough reason its not hurting anyone for them to do this and theyre basically just fulfilling the consumers needs doing no harm. They're giving them what they want and thats all that matters as long as they keep it up.
I think that his whole concept is pretty amazing and true. He’s stating how when Walmart buys organic goods it really helps everyone out it makes the animals not have to suffer, less pesticides, and most importantly it’s a lot more healthy for the people who consume the food.I do agree with him, because it every little bit helps and with Walmart a huge food industry to have organic foods is a big leap into a more healthy type of world.
Adrinna E. EDA P.5 Mrs.Pelfrey
ReplyDeleteThey're geared for consumers who are people who maybe really enjoyed the company and want to stick with that company. I think people will react differently some might not care as much as long as the price does not go up or the product changes. Other people might switch brands, because they don't like the change and think it will change . As long as the product or price doesn't change though I don't think there will be much of a reaction.
A positive implication of this may be that the big companies that are taking over want to really further the small company they will mass produce. A negative is that the small business will be put out of business for good leaving it all to the big corporation.
I think it might get more products to be sold ,because people already know that this
brands really good and that they really like their products. In general they're just simply using the small company products with their labels to boost more sellings , but then again as I said in the first question as long as the products value or price does not get change I don't think there will be a huge reaction.
It will get them to sell more products for individual purchases they're meeting the consumers demands. There's now more offerings and they're now attracting a whole new kind of consumers with their organic products.I remember in the film they talked about how almost everything is made of subsidies, and people love all these foods, suppose people want something with no subsidies in it at all. This can definitely hurt them, since subsidies are so easy and cheap to make, and now they want more expensive healthy food.
He could be talking about how in general yes you pay in cash for cheap unhealthy food,
but maybe the food is expensive in meaning its costly what it can do to your body. Say you aren't fit at all and you're obese what would happen if you got diabetes. You would have to pay a lot of money for the hospital and getting insulin. Think if you would still eat cheap unhealthy food if you knew soon, because of it that you would get diabetes from it.
Yes people want their products cheap and they want it when they want it. Cost however is a big factor especially now with the economy nowadays and a bunch of low income families. Maybe it would change by the obesity epidemic decreasing hopefully.
I know a friend who has a disorder where she cannot eat meat, dairy, or grain products and that plays a big role in what she chooses to go buy and eat. She says its very hard to enjoy eating knowing there are so many things she can't eat ,that she doesn't have a good variety at all. She was born with this disorder and tells me she often gets sick more than others, since she doesn't eat all of the main food groups our body needs.
I do think that it is a good enough reason its not hurting anyone for them to do this and theyre basically just fulfilling the consumers needs doing no harm. They're giving them what they want and thats all that matters as long as they keep it up.
I think that his whole concept is pretty amazing and true. He’s stating how when Walmart buys organic goods it really helps everyone out it makes the animals not have to suffer, less pesticides, and most importantly it’s a lot more healthy for the people who consume the food.I do agree with him, because it every little bit helps and with Walmart a huge food industry to have organic foods is a big leap into a more healthy type of world.
Gabriela Rrivas
ReplyDeleteEDA period 5 Pelfrey
i think these products are made for those who want really good quality products and don't want to buy things that are so expensive. I People were to know that burts bee’s is form clorox they would suprised because they wouldn't have expected Burt’s Bees comes from that company. I think People would be surprised and also would buy more of that certain product knowing that the product comes from a big company that many people buy things from a company that is well known.
The negative side would be that you are making a big risk and selling your company to another company. The positive side would be that if you sell it to a bigger company that company would most likely sell your product and the product would be bought by more people. The corporations might be selling the product under the original label because if something goes wrong with that product they won't know that it was under their responsibility
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It will affect walmart because if customers keep on buying a certain type of dairy product walmart has to keep on buying that product to make the customers happy. A situation where wal-mart should not keep on buying that product might if the company they are buying it from are treating their cows really bad. IF it is something they can harm people they should not doing it.
What he means by it is that the government is buying the food for them because they are lying about the food saying it is cheap but it is actually expensive.
I think cost should be one of the most important things because usually the most expensive food is the best and sometimes the healthiest. Our food system would change by a lot the cost of food also my rise or it may lower . Our food would most likely be much more healthier and taken care of more carefully.
Other people choose to eat things that don't have strong textures or sweet, sour things. People also choose to eat things that are much healthier for you like vegetables and fruits.
I think it is a good reason but not a good enough reason at the same time. There has to be more to the story than just economic reasons. I think people can challenge thats statement but it takes a lot of courage to because he has people that support him. I don't agree with him because how does a sale of 1 million dollars to walmart help save the world all it does is give walmart more power and money to do what they want with it.
Olivia K. EDA 4 Period Pelfrey
ReplyDeleteI believe that some people are glad that big companies are going organic, and believe there will be a brighter future for all food companies if they continue to buy these little organic businesses. There are also the people who do not want the big companies, like Dannon, to buy these small businesses because they want their money to go straight the people who started their business, the small companies.
Well, I believe its a good thing that the big companies are buying out the small companies because the small companies product are now known, then they will make more money and it makes the big companies look good because they are buying a small organic company, which is good for their image. It could also be a negative thing for the fact that the small companies do not have control of their business anymore so if the big company wanted to make changes, the small company will not have a say in it.
I believe that the companies will continue to produce the small companies under their label because they do not want to have a bad reputation so they buy the small organic companies and say, “Hey look at us”. I also believe they just want to over take as much companies as possible so they can become the one main company that everyone relies on, and they also want more money.
If Walmart see’s there customers purchasing the organic foods instead of the processed “mainstream” foods like, Dorritos, Cheetos, Snack Pack, etc. they will most likely produce more organic foods. If a company does not produce what a company wants they probably have signed some sort of an agreement that says you can only sell this one thing and one thing only.
He means that the food that companies spend the most money on are the cheaper foods, and then make it inexpensive so more people will buy it, because it is cheap, and they will make a better profit. More people will buy the cheaper food to save a quick buck, but for the majority of the time the cheaper food is the least healthy item. That is strictly because more ingredients go into it and more time so if they make it cheap more people will buy it then they will make more money off the product
The price should be most important behind our food industry because the low income families can only afford cheap food but most of the cheap food is unhealthy because they food companies put more into them and it takes more time, so if they make it cheap it will sell more. If the food industry was driven by health sustainability, they would probably have healthy food cost less and we would not have the problem of obesity in our country.
If some people are allergic to something like things, like gluten, they will look for foods that are gluten free. Or if someone is lactose intolerant, then they will buy lactose free products. Or if your religion will not let you eat something like pork or bread, like jewish people, they will purchase kosher food.