The invention of processed food significantly facilitated our lives, allowing us to spend much less time cooking. However, the technology did not stop and moved further, adding intense flavors to processed food to make it more appealing to the consumers’ taste. The flavor industry has become a real breakthrough in food production, and its influence on people’s minds cannot be underestimated. Nevertheless, it is not always clear what chemical constituents are hidden behind every product. It seems to be a moral duty of food companies to reveal the ingredients they use.
Undoubtedly, people buying any product should know what they are going to consume. Without understanding what this product consists of, they rely solely on the manufacturer’s honesty. However, food companies do not always put the consumers’ welfare in the first place. According to Schlosser (216), the industry’s needs do not coincide with those of consumers. Therefore, if the technology of enhancing the taste cannot be eliminated, the customers should at least have the right to know what they pay for. Conscious consumption was available for people in earlier times when food was obtained mainly from the farms, and contemporary society should not be deprived of this opportunity.
Delicious and elaborate taste of processed food causes overconsumption, today’s burning question. Schlosser (244) highlights that “wherever America’s fast food chains go, waistlines start expanding”. People get addicted to fast food products and tend to eat much more than they need. According to Schlosser, people who got used to eating fast food in their childhood are reluctant to switch to healthier food (Schlosser 243). They are not aware that their brand loyalty is caused not by the feeling of nostalgia but by a combination of volatile chemicals. Fast food chains use this concept of comfort foods to maintain the brand reputation (Schlosser, 129). That is why it is necessary for the consumers to realize what lure they can be trapped into. Considering all constituent parts of a hamburger may prevent a person from obesity and other health issues.
However, others claim that a food company’s image drastically depends on keeping in secret the ingredients of products. Schlosser states that “the secrecy is deemed essential for protecting the reputation of beloved brands” (Schlosser 127). People associate processed foods with something delightful and relaxing. That is why they can be shocked seeing unknown words on the label. Moreover, manufacturers may claim that consumers will not understand them. These odd-sounding, “mystifying as medieval Latin” long chemical words will only confuse a customer (Schlosser 127). Nevertheless, the relationship between those who produce and those who buy should be based on trust. If the manufacturers promote the idea that their additives are close to natural and not harmful for people, they should not be afraid of naming them openly. The rest is up to the customer – to examine every ingredient using scientific sources or to continue buying products without going to the details.
The flavor industry remains a question unexplored by buyers around the world, which results in global health problems. That is why it is urgent to raise the awareness of consumers about the ingredients of their favorite products. Understanding the way food gets its taste should be a part of upbringing and education. The freedom of choice will certainly improve the health situation in the global community, guiding people towards more balanced and healthy nutrition.
Work Cited
Schlosser, Eric. Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2001.