Freshman 15 – a phenomenon that many college students fret about but do little to avoid. Nutrition seems to be a rising issue across people of all ages, with obesity at the forefront of the problem.
In a way, freshman 15 is a stepping-stone towards obesity. College students’ seemingly never-ending appetites make us the perfect targets of various food-selling agencies, like the conveniently located vending machines and Starbucks.
This poses the question: are consumers themselves to blame for the increasing obesity rate, or should the food industry hold responsibility?
Like most other private businesses, food manufacturers strive for maximum profits. However, this does not promote desirable “social” ends, as many food manufacturers produce relatively cheap and unhealthy foods. The largest food manufacturers in the world, such as Kraft Foods, Inc. and the Coca-Cola Company, not only sell food and beverages, they shape the environment in which consumers make choices. As such, they hold the responsibility promote healthy eating.
Funded by several charitable organizations, the ATNI was established earlier this year to incentivise food manufacturers in the private sector to help tackle obesity. This non-profit organization provides important information to all stakeholders, and encourages multinational food corporations to ethically create a more positive ‘consumption environment’.
While corporations in the food industry should engage in corporate social responsibility by marketing healthier dietary options, in the end, we as consumers hold the power to decide what we eat.
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