Food and Society

Category: Manufacturing

  • 12 Startling Secrets About The Food Industry

    Link to Article: https://www.mashed.com/1535944/startling-secrets-food-industry

    The article posted above by Mashed, written by Samantha Jacobs lists out twelve “secrets” about the food industry, such as store-bought orange juice being more processed than you might think it is, the fake grill marks on your fast food burgers, and the wood pulp being used in shredded cheese to prevent clumping. Personally, I didn’t know that cellulose was basically flour mixed with sawdust. Although some of these facts might have already been exposed or obvious to other consumers, it’s still sociologically impactful. The fact that companies are willing to cut back quality on their products for their capitalistic greed is saddening. Additionally, this shows how the food industry has successfully “constructed” our perception of what “freshness” and “quality” is. To conclude, the misleading labels, the hidden labor, and the deception of the overall product is the food industry’s way of making more money with “only” the risk of our health.

    Question: If other countries such as Japan, France, Korea, and more can prioritize the standards of quality in the manufacturing of their food products, why can’t the U.S.A. do the same?

    Hillary Sujono

  • Tutorial Post 3: Documentary Photos and Screenshots (What You See in the Streets or Online)

    For your weekly posts, you may want to document parts of the food system you observe yourself—on the street, in stores, in restaurants, at markets, while moving through the city, or things you encounter online in everyday life (apps, ads, menus, delivery platforms, Google Street View imagery, social media interfaces, etc.). Your post must include a title (posts without titles cannot be viewed, commented on, or graded), and must begin with an image at the very top of the post. This image should be a photo you took yourself or a screenshot you captured. To add the image, click ➕ Add block, select Image, and upload the photo or insert it using a URL. If the image connects to an online source (for example, a website or platform), include a short clickable link below the image using linked text rather than pasting a long URL.

    After the image, write one short paragraph describing what you observed and why it matters sociologically. Be sure to clearly communicate the context of the image—where it was taken, what is happening, and what drew your attention to it. When documenting people or workplaces, follow basic privacy and ethical best practices: avoid identifying individuals by name, faces, do not photograph people in vulnerable situations, and focus on spaces, practices, signs, interfaces, or patterns rather than individuals whenever possible.

    End with one critical sociological question that invites discussion. Before publishing, select the relevant section tags and click Publish.

    Jacob Rosette