Grocery store baskets

(Siobhan) #41

I sort of work in one (not food related), though not a huge one and not as a seller/whatever (tech support). The thing we try our hardest to get is customer feedback because knowing what our clients want, and how we’re doing to reach that is some of the most valuable stuff we can get our hands on.
It’s exactly why stores/taco bell/etc have surveys on the receipt where you can win coupons and free sides and so on. It’s so they can get the upper hand on changing markets.
That and keeping an eye on general market trends (for food it’s vegetable oil and margarines and sugar going down, and full fat dairy on the rise), and focus group studies (this is why soup has so much sugar in it - they test on people to see how much sweetness is needed to reach bliss point)

Now I’m definitely not saying businesses are angels and out to cater to our every need - they aren’t. As said, their # 1 motive is always to make money and stay relevant. But they have to do that by catering to what the majority of people want. Right now that’s low fat, high fiber, etc. But market trends are indicating that is reversing and people are trying to avoid sugar more and more, especially people in their 20s.

Basically: They’re just trying to make money, but if the way to do that is to add sugar they will do it. But if the way to do that is to AVOID sugar they will do that too. They will also do sneaky stuff like listing 50 different names for sugar so sugar is not the number 1 ingredient on the list. Definitely not benevolent, but I think they can be manipulated by their market to do some decent stuff.

(Todd Allen) #42

One other factor to consider is the government heavily subsidizes grain production insuring a large supply of cheap corn, wheat, rice and soy. “Food manufacturers” come up with infinite ways to turn HFCS, flours, corn starch, soy and corn oils into “food” because the cheaper the ingredients the better the profit margins.

This also leads to the perversion that most US livestock is grain fed for reasons of convenience and cost degrading the healthfulness of much of the supply of meat, dairy and eggs, etc.

(Arlene) #43

According to much information that has been made available regarding food policy, Big Food doesn’t just react to the policies issued by the governing authorities; they are in on all the policy making, and largely present on their decision making boards. You presume the food industry is just reacting to the demand, but in fact the food manufacturers are the ones that orchestrated the demand in the first place. FYI, you mentioned McDonalds, but I’m referring to the actual food manufacturers, like Kellogs, General MIlls, etc.

#44

I confess. I do look at other people’s carts and at them to see what kind of correlation there is. Some people clearly eat things that no sane person would consider healthy, while others are eating “healthy” granolas and juices and other processed things. Like I used to. Makes me sad. Very high rate of obesity in my area.

(Cathrine Helle) #45

I don’t think I mentioned Mc Donald’s, but never mind. You are surely right, and I think the point @siobhan made elaborate well on this. The companies that deal with a single product like grains or corn probably will try to influence decision makers as they really can’t adjust their product to meet different demands.

#46

Gary Taubes wrote a book: Good Calorie, Bad Calorie that elaborates on the “how” fat became the villan and sugar became the angel. He reports on the nature of the physicians turned researchers, most of whom never ever saw a patient clinically, and who were also quite bad at researching. It is a good read about the issues raised in this thread.

(Clare) #47

I’m sure other people look at my shopping on the conveyor belt at the supermarket and think it’s really unhealthy. I grow most of my own salads, veg & berries, & we get eggs from our own hens in the garden. My shopping usually consists of cheese, cream, full fat greek yogurt, butter & red wine. We supplement that with meat from a local butcher & meat from a company which supplies grass fed & free range meat/poultry.

When I see others shopping with their high sugar, low fat, unsatisfying food I feel sorry for them.

(Arlene) #48

I feel sorry for them too, because I used to be them; never satisfied with the junk food habit, yet I was certain I couldn’t live without it, given all the stress in my life at the time. I thought my carb drugs were the only thing that got me through. I will be forever grateful to have learned the truth about carb addiction. Now I HOPE someone stares at my cart full of yummy fatty things like full-fat cheeses, cream, etc. Just maybe one more person will be curious enough to seek out a better way of living.

#49

I never pay attention to other carts in the store. I might have felt self-conscious at times in the past about my bad food choices, but now that I know I’m on the right track I don’t give a flying flip what anyone else thinks about my food choices.

#50

You speak the truth!
It’s so difficult not to project sometimes.
Or when people eat carb heavy meals at lunch and then complain about being tired afterwards and then hungry a little later. I wouldn’t say that I judge these events so much as I notice them. If that makes any sense.