Should the Food Industry be regulated or is one’s Eating Habits a Private Matter?
Introduction
Eating habits are becoming serious concerns for most people in the world. There exist several stories how and what people should eat. Several studies have been done, and articles, books and magazines about eating habits, their effects and what is good for human have been published. Good eating habits are considered healthy and beneficial to humans. Nutritionists mostly advice on adopting good eating habits, for instance, taking breakfast, sticking to the same daily menu, eating small portions but often and drinking water. There is a belief that healthy people are fit and are bound to succeed in everything because of adopting good or healthy eating habits. On the other hand, poor eating habits can cause harmful effects to human health. For example, America’s children enjoy skipping breakfast, eating late at night, emotional or stress eating and food binging are considered unhealthy eating habits and nutritionists advice on stopping these habits. In the first part, “an introductory article for a Time magazine special issue on childhood obesity,” (Alfano and O’Brien 226). Humans have the choice of adopting any of the two habits and the impacts are often experienced by any individual. Lately, eating habits have transformed into what is described unhealthy. Most people are so busy that they embrace the world of fast foods. There is no time to prepare decent meals at home anymore, and the only option to take care of hunger is grabbing fries or hamburgers at the nearest fast food stores, and keeps rolling. Effects of these foods have been seen in many America’s children, and among them include obesity and short life spans (McKeith 220). These impacts have brought up debates on whether to regulate these foods and keep the human race safe. Governments are in discussions, and members of the public are being asked if the food industries should be regulated or eating habits should remain a personal decision. However, personally, I believe that one’s eating habit is a private issue and should not be subject to regulation by any entity.
Regulating Food Industries
However, those, who want the food industry to regulate eating habits, argue that it will promote healthy living and responsibility among people. The issue only includes basic steps like asking the food industries to limit the level of risky ingredients in these foods. This, in turn, means that the taste of foods will change and probably will be not as most people expect. Regulation means the government is concerned and protects its nation, through making sure that there are no harmful choices concerning food. Through this, there is a chance to offer the nation long and healthy lives with reduced incidences of diseases and sufferings caused by certain foods, thus taking care of the belief “you are what you eat,” (McKeith 220). Control of food industries also provides the chance for parents to direct their children in the right path of healthy and good eating habits. Otherwise, children can grow up adopting unhealthy eating habits, which are not beneficial for their health development. Such regulation supporters criticize those people who often run for help to the government in cases of sicknesses due to poor food choices. However, such people do not need the government to offer them healthy ways of eating thus preventing the ailments.
Others reason that, since almost everything is regulated, staring from schooling, pension and even insurance, it is only logical to regulate food industries, as well. They believe that the worst that can happen is making eating habits healthier and rationing of fast foods. Some foods are clearly linked to addiction, illnesses and loss of life, for instance, fast foods. Government intervention will only help bring the eaters back to healthy habits and in turn, bring the lazy, fat and unhealthy nations back on track (McKeith 220).
Eating Habits as Private and Personal Matter: Against Regulation
How one eats is a personal and private issue, and the government or any regulatory entity should not have any say in that. Regulation of food industries will feel like denying humans their rights of freedom of choice. This means going against the constitution, which stresses on every human freedom and civil rights. It is common sense, and everyone has been taught, hence aware that bad eating habits can be dangerous to health. It is an individual’s choice to either go with the common knowledge or neglect it since there is also awareness of necessary consequences. Taking part of human freedom through regulation can cause petty future control situations, and freedom will no longer be practiced (Alfano and O’Brien 227). Countries can turn into communist system through regulation of commonly known practices like eating habits.
Every citizen is expected to practice responsibility and intervening in food industries and eating habits by government means lack of responsibility in part of citizens. A democracy government gives its citizens the opportunity to choose and make own decisions. Hence, what to eat remain the choice of individuals, and not the government through control of food industries. Regulating food industries will not take care of the public. There are several health conditions with regard to foods, for instance, allergy, intolerance and genetic conditions all require consumption of certain foods. Food regulation will give such people hard time of choice and may in some circumstances put their lives at risk. Incidences of food disorders are rampant, but the government should focus on providing awareness on the effects of bad eating habits instead of controlling the food industries. Imposing regulation concerning what people eat is bound to slow the rate of growth and development for both citizens and country. Unemployment can also increase due to this regulatory rule, for example, among the fast food store owners and employees. This will ultimately, lower the country’s economy, a factor quite depressing to the state (McKeith 221). Awareness campaigns and education in healthy eating and foods should be provided to students and the entire public to protest and advice on unhealthy eating practices. It is also essential that schools and colleges offer healthy foods for students instead of fast foods. This will promote the culture of eating healthy among students and youths. However, imposing this regulation is non- democratic and against the impression of freedom.
Some people tend to eat whatever they come across first because they do not have a choice. Eating certain foods almost during every meal or every day is considered unhealthy and harmful. What if such people have no other choice, but simply survive on that same food due to poverty. Lack of enough money can make an individual to eat unhealthy since the healthy foods are unaffordable, or not enough for a family. Therefore, regulation of food industries is bound to leave such people to starvation. They can also opt for activities like robbery and stealing just to get food. This can be avoided by letting citizens have freedom of choosing what to consume. Presently, many people have jobs relating to foods and food industries, which increase the economic development of the country. Impacts of unhealthy foods and eating are advantageous to some of these workers however illogical it might sound. Foods inspectors are in the job market due to food industries, and regulation will mean that every aspect is correct hence no need for inspection. The obese and diabetic patients going for health care services increase the premiums in health care facilities, particularly when costs of such services are raised. The government and the entire country gain from such health care services, which in turn, improves the country’s economy.
The government should also know that not everybody engages in unhealthy eating. People take fast foods and consume what is not in the list of healthy foods, but they are not obese or fat or sick in any way. This is because they eat foods with caution since they know their consequences. It does not imply that these foods are harmful, but they only harm excessive users. Regulation by the government will cause these cautious people serious discomfort by denying their rights. Regulating food industries can cause more harm than solutions to citizens. The choice of what to eat should remain with an individual, and the government or any other regulatory entity should never get involved, since “you are what you eat” (Alfano and O’Brien 228). Freedom of choice is vital for every citizen, and the government has the obligation to focus on economic improvement and growth, and not regulation of the citizens’ decision making process.
Conclusion
Eating habits discussion is increasing with time among many people, and the problem is between good and bad eating habits. Some may call them healthy and unhealthy eating habits, but the decision should be on an individual, not the government. Healthy eating improves lives and is associated with success. On the other hand, bad eating habits causes ailments, which are dangerous for humans. Regulating food industries is, however, not an option since it is clear to everyone that unhealthy eating habit has consequences. Therefore, every person needs to be cautious with foods, and adopt a way that is not harmful. Intervention through regulation of food industries denies the citizens their freedom of choice. It represents a lack of democracy in a democratic country. It means that the government with time will be engaged in controlling every aspect of citizen’s life. At the end, a communist country can be born from this practice. Jobs are also lost with this regulatory decision while a certain portion of the population can be left hungry and with nothing to eat. Opposers to this position prefer regulation of food industries since they believe that control will reduce incidences of ailments like cancer, diabetes and obesity. However, the government has more serious matters to take care of instead of babysitting irresponsible citizens and posing others to rights denial. Food industries should keep raising the country’s economy and how people eat should be a private issue. Awareness campaigns on impacts of unhealthy eating, however, should be promoted throughout the country.
Works Cited
Alfano, Christine L. and O’Brien, Alyssa J. Envision In Depth: Reading, Writing, and
Researching Arguments, 2nd Edition. Boston: Longman, 2011. SBN: 0205000614.
McKeith, Gillian. You Are What You Eat: The Plan That Will Change Your Life: Based on the Celador Production of You Are What You Eat. New York: Plume, 2006. Print.
