Cheap relies on one other essential factor--a carefully…
““Cheap relies on one other essential factor--a carefully constructed cover-up. In 1991, three golden-fried chicken fillets made at Imperial Food Products along with an order of fries cost $1.99 at Shoney's. This price, however, hid the real costs of the social system that allowed a company like Shoney's to charge so little for heaping plates of calorie-dense foods. Covered up were the costs incurred in farm subsidies and the piles of debt taken on by the chicken growers, some of whom had been turned into "modern-day serfs." The price didn't include the cost of food stamps for the underpaid, road building for transport, the cleanup of waterways polluted by animal factories, or the health care outlays needed in order to address the myriad issues linked to obesity and the litany of other ills associated with chronic overexposure to sugary, salty, and fatty foods. At the same time, the system of cheap never paid a dime for the wanton cruelty it imposed on animals or the injuries suffered by workers while killing ... and processing industrially produced chickens.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Cheap food hides hidden social and environmental costs, including subsidies and exploitation.
In simple terms: Hidden costs of cheap food affect society and environment.
Key Takeaway
Consider true cost of food choices.
Themes
food economics
social justice
environmental impact
health
subsidies
Mood
concerned
critical
informed
Type
food
Food stamps
Health care
Farm Subsidies
Cost Food
Foods Covered
Fries Cost
Shoney Price
When to use this quote
- grocery shopping
- policy advocacy
- dietary changes
- educational campaigns
Key Concepts
externalities
ethical consumption
systemic inequality
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you reduce personal footprint?
- What policies could expose hidden costs?
A Different Perspective
Addressing hidden costs requires systemic change.