Here at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, we as a student body have the choice of a multitude of culinary tastes, ranging anywhere from classy Italian restaurants to barely-edible burger joints.
Some selections over the years have earned particular reputations. When I found out that Taco Bell wasn’t actually serving real Mexican food I wasn’t surprised (trust me, I know Mexican food – look at my name). But when I found out Taco Bell was about to have a class-action lawsuit brought against them by an Alabama law firm, I wanted to know more.
The statement from Beasley Allen law firm reads, “According to standards established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the meat filling in Taco Bell’s products does not meet the minimum standard requirement to be labeled and advertised as ‘beef,’ seasoned or otherwise. The substantial majority of the filling is comprised of substances other than beef, and is required to be labeled and advertised as ‘taco meat filing.'” Turns out that what makes up Taco Bell meat products is only 35 percent beef and a multitude of binders and fillers, as found by Beasley Allen firm tests.
I am angered at the release of this information, not because I eat at Taco Bell – thankfully I haven’t tested my intestines with their products in years – but rather because of what has caused our food to become Frankenstein’s next creation.
There is a triad of culminating influence that has caused our food system to represent nothing more than a moldy, stale cheese curd stuck between the seats of your mom’s minivan. So who makes up this triad? The influences to blame are the multitude of food companies, the USDA/FDA and you, the consumer.
Let us start with these food companies – behind every one of their catchy slogans lies the bottom line of how to enhance profit margins. Over the years there have been enough food scandals that the only logical conclusion is that most of these companies do not care about our health.
Just observe McDonalds’ french fries and tell me something strange isn’t going on. As Morgan Spurlock from “Supersize Me” fame found out during a controlled decay threshold experiment, the fries are able to go ten weeks or more without even showing a speck of mold. I’m betting you could probably embalm a body with whatever preserves those fries.
Even when they jump on the reform bandwagon, McDonald’s cuts corners. The company’s new healthy menu still packs copious calorie and sugar amounts, and their new oatmeal lacks any real maple syrup.
The food companies are not solely responsible for our food epidemic. Our own government can be held just as accountable. I have a problem with USDA beef regulations. Time magazine reported that only 40 percent of a beef product actually has to be fresh meat, according to USDA guidelines.
This is a failing grade when our country is facing rampant obesity and the associated health risks. It’s time they establish harsher penalties for exposing people to harmful food substances. I would never advocate force-feeding the creators of these fake foods their own products, unless of course, it brings about catharsis in them.
It is also the responsibility of the public to pay attention to what they eat. On the other hand, most of us do not have time to become nutritional experts able to test every ingredient in a product, and not all of us have the financial means to purchase pricey organic food all of the time. It then falls to the government to help its citizens when they are unable to help themselves.
You, the consumer, are also responsible. I know we have all at one time made bad nutritional choices. After a long night of drinking, we have all taken home things at bar time that leave both regret and a bad taste in the morning. But we have the power of choice, and your other best asset as a consumer is your cash. In a free market the consumer votes with his wallet.
So, let’s vote with head and gut. Stop eating at the State Street forum of fast food and go to the grocery store. When you get a chance, you should shop organic, buy local and take a trip to the farmer’s market on the Square. We are at this university to become more intelligent individuals – time to act like it. It is time to show these food barons that we can resist their products, or risk the freshman 15 becoming the freshman 50.
Cruz Ramirez ([email protected]) is a senior majoring in English