Food Day is also about food justice
by: Priscilla Gonzalez
posted on Friday, November 04, 2011
The Center for Science in the Public Health Interest launched last Monday its first annual Food Day to promote healthy eating, equitable practices and access to healthy foods. All around the country, communities and organizations hosted events to celebrate and bring attention to food day. One of the goals of food day is to “promote health by curbing junk-food marketing to kids.”
The food and beverage industry’s deceptive and unhealthy marketing practices contribute to the high rates of obesity that our communities of color face, not only in the United States but also internationally. Just last week, Mexico reported the alarming prevalence of obesity: 70% of its population is obese and 4 million of kids aged five or younger are overweight or obese.
Food day offers an opportunity to mobilize various communities committed to food justice and to speak out against the food and beverage industry’s deceptive and unhealthy marketing practices. The industry’s predatory marketing of fast foods and sugary beverages is especially unjust when it is directed at groups and children who are already experiencing more health problems and inequities. At the core of food day is food justice because all families should have access to healthy, affordable foods. A version of this blog is also available in Spanish.