The government is legislating trans fats. Schools are trying to get soft drinks and unhealthy snacks banned from vending machines. Obesity and diabetes are two health issues that will cost tax payers millions if not more in the future (another expense to be borne by Gen Y).
Do brands have a duty to offer healthy food? Or is the individual entirely responsible for making good eating choices?
What does Gen Y have to say? Should we hold brands to a higher standard? McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Frito Lay? What do you think?
We've tried giving individuals (specifically families with children) the opportunity to make good eating choices on their own and clearly, it isn't working.
Brands should be held accountable not for only higher health standards, but ecological and social causes as well. The food production system is a disgusting process that our generation will have to clean up someday, and its about time that mainstream audiences were exposed to fair-trade and socially consciously attained goods.
It's a great irony that our poorest individuals are also our most obese and unhealthy. I think that brands such as McDonald's, who are fully aware of the income demographics of their core clientele, have an obligation to keep said clientele alive and reasonably healthy.
…But they've tried! McDonald's has their healthy wrap and salad options. Friday's offers portion-controlled sizes. Subway lets you substitute apples and water instead of chips and soda. Tons of chains are opening up green, organic, and healthy options for consumers.
Our bodies love salt; they love sugar; they're rarities in a hunter/gatherer's diet, so our bodies push us to seek them out. We're like deer to a salt-lick! I think the more valuable lesson to teach is self-control and (psychologically and physically) healthy eating habits.
Choice is the vehicle of the American market system, and we will always have unhealthy choices. It's unproductive to demand that those choices be taken away. Rather, we must learn to choose wisely.
This question gets to the core of society: should individuals be responsible for the choices they make or should the government? Personally, I'm for the individual, but only if he lives in a culture that promotes and values the overall community.
As for brands, well, in my opinion they can choose what they want to be: a wholesale slaughterer of cattle and pillager of the environment (The Mighty Micky D's) or something else. And we as consumers can choose which to support.
What gets my goat about McPizzaKing is that they do not have to shoulder the cost of the pollution they creat and as a result can sell their stuff for a lot less than it's true cost. We as voters should seek to change this but all McPizzaKing has to do is moan how they will have to raise prices. Shame on us!
PS – I'm not Gen Y (too old!)
Brands definitely share the responsibility in consumer health. But it is shared, because at the end of the day, you control what goes into your mouth. Unless you're in prison.
I agree for the most part with Lauren. I do think companies that pursue higher standards in their products and services naturally win out over those that don't (i.e. you will eventually be disrupted, so best to do it to yourself).
I couldn't disagree more with Zamin though. We all have a choice to make for ourselves about how we will live. Good diet isn't rocket science, and it isn't McDonald's job to create healthier meals if their clientele aren't demanding it.
I just avoid fast food altogether and I'm much better off for it.
Just got send this video from Ted. Jamie Oliver on teaching America and kids about food. Food makers, supermarkets, etc. all have responsibility. Check this out if you haven't seen. http://www.ted.com/talks/jamie_oliver.html
I don't necessarily think that brands are required to offer healthy food. However, with the state of America's obesity problem, I think that brands are taking notice and choosing to offer healthier foods because that is what consumers want. There are still companies out there making nothing but unhealthy food. Ultimately, it's our choice to pick what is healthiest for our bodies. We should pick brands that give us those healthy options, but we don't.
I pretty much agree with what everyone's said. McKenzie brings up a good point — brands are going to offer what people want. That's just rule #1 of marketing and advertising. Then again, the point of advertising is to sell the product, good or bad for you. Sure, it'd be nice if they were looking our for our health, but McDonald's (for example) isn't going to sell their product that way.
It's firstly our responsibility — we should be conscientious enough to know when something is bad for us, and take that into account — but it would be nice if brands and advertising weren't pushing fatty, unhealthy foods every chance they get. I keep wanting to draw some comparison to the law against marketing tobacco products to kids (Camel got in huge trouble for using, well, a camel because an animal mascot attracted kids) — maybe there should be some law about when the commercials can air, a law about advertising nutrition facts (NYC does that now, on the big menus) — but I don't really know where I'm going with this.
That is a tough question. I think that it is people's responsibility to educate themselves and make smart decisions about the food they consume. However, brands have the responsibility to be honest with their consumers and tell us what are all the ingredients in the food we consume and in what quantities.
On the other hand, there are people who don't have the luxury to make smart food decisions because they can't afford it. Because of such customers, brands have the responsibility to provide affordable healthy options, not just healthy options.
Lauren and McKenzie: I agree – it's a brand's responsibility to make money by offering products or services customers want. Not to dictate what we should be wanting.
Zamin: I agree that the govt does have SOME responsibility: manufacturers should not be allowed to rely on irresponsible business practices that result in a net harm for society/the environment as a whole. But when the govt legislates individual choices through taxes on soda or laws against trans fats, it starts to play a role in how you live your life every day and I think everyone should have a real problem with that.
Jeff is right in that the trick is a culture shift: placing greater value on healthy, fresh, sustainable, local, whatever foods and services. Brands will follow demand. So it's up to us, Gen Y!