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Kassfy, Jamileh

Intro: In the United States, obesity is an issue on the rise. Is the cause of obesity the availability
of healthier foods, or the lack of affordability? Researchers have conducted different studies,
some proving there is no difference between organic and conventional foods and others
providing us with a foundation proving organic foods can help lower the rising issue. Aside from
the research, the availability of unhealthy processed foods is at an all-time high (Balko, R.) and
the availability of healthy organic foods is an all-time low. With all the GMOs and fast food
industries, obesity is rising. I believe the availability and affordability of healthier, more natural
and organic foods would cause the issue of obesity to decline. People would be healthier with the
equal convenience of healthy foods to unhealthy foods.

1) Anastasiadis, F. F., & van Dam, Y. K. (2014). Consumer driven supply chains: the case of
Dutch organic tomato. Agricultural Engineering International: CIGR Journal, 1621-30.
Summary: Two studies were conducted in the Netherlands to determine what values and motives
drive consumers to organic products. The results were: the importance of how natural and
environmental friendly something is takes a great toll on the consumer, also, how healthy and
tasty are some important motives. The most important motive/value was related to social and
ethical principles.
Analysis: The information in the article seems reliable. Although conducted in a different
country than the US, I agree that what helps shape the organic community is the social and
ethical principles of it. Rather than bashing producers for not having as organic products as
possible, it shows society would rather eat other things.
Evaluation: It ties into obesity and the lack of organic foods because sometimes the organic food
is available, but due to social beliefs consumers wont choose it. If a group of teenagers want
Burger King, they wont pass up a Whopper for a local farmers market. It ties into my argument
because sometimes the option is there, but people wont take it.

2) Balko, R. (2004, May 23). What You Eat Is Your Business. Cato Institute. Retrieved June 30,
2014, from http://www.cato.org
Summary: The author argues people dont take care of their body because they dont have to. If
they become obese health care and the government will take care of them. The government is
making obesity to be something that is okay, when its not.
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Analysis: The source is extremely helpful. The source is to educate people that obesity is
becoming an excuse. Its becoming okay. The source is completely biased towards the fact that
obesity is a problem and nobody is taking it seriously. If we had to pay for the consequences of
obesity, things would be different.
Evaluation: The source is very helpful and fits my argument, obesity is a problem. People are
paying taxes to give those diagnosed with obesity medication to take care of the problem as
opposed to having the person pay for it. Someone is paying for an obese persons medication
while the obese person continues to eat at McDonalds every day. It did alter my thoughts on
obesity a little bit. Now I think more natural and organic foods NEED to become available.
Instead of paying for someone to eat a Mcdouble every day, I would rather pay for someone to
get healthier and buy broccoli every day.

3) Haywood, W. (2010, July 12). Kentucky town of Manchester illustrates national obesity crisis.
Washington Post. Retrieved June 30, 2014, from http://www.washingtonpost.com
Summary: The town of Manchester is a small town in Kentucky, with a rising obesity problem.
There is a lack of organic and natural healthy foods, but the convenience of fast food and
unhealthy junk food and snacks. The people of the town are ignorant towards the topic of
obesity. They refuse to accept it is a problem.
Analysis: I used to believe obesity was a problem people couldnt help fix, but after reading this
story I realized I was wrong. The article really shaped my thoughts on obesity and healthy foods.
Evaluation: This story is the reason I chose obesity and the lack of healthy foods. The goal of the
source is to prove obesity is another excuse. The inconvenience of healthy foods really takes a
toll on the small town.

4) Heeres, H., de Jong, A., Hbner, F., & Wassink, G. (2013). "Natural" Ingredients and Foods:
A Practical Approach for Qualification. European Food & Feed Law Review, 8(5), 297
307
Summary: As time has passed, and more GMOs are being used, the terms natural and
organic have been twisted and turned. These terms are regulated by the FDA here in the US;
some countries have no sort of regulation. The authors of this article find ways for manufacturers
to label what is really natural in their attempt to educate consumers on what goes in their food.
Analysis: This article fits into my research paper because it supports my opinion when it comes
to the labialization of natural/organic foods. Since the term natural is regulated by the FDA
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many consumers believe their processed products filled with GMOs are natural. The article
also supports my opinion; people are unaware of what they eat.
Evaluation: Being a scholarly article, the authors and article seem credible. Its a bit biased
because it claims consumers are ignorant to what is going on in the food industry. People
underestimate the power of labels. I think that it shows that people need to become aware of how
natural their food is. Maybe also, producers should re-label their products according to what is
natural and organic.

5) Honorato, L. A., Machado Filho, L. P., Barbosa Silveira, I. D., & Htzel, M. J. (2014).
Strategies used by dairy family farmers in the south of Brazil to comply with organic
regulations. Journal Of Dairy Science, 97(3), 1319-1327. doi:10.3168/jds.2012-6532
Summary: Comparing and contrasting two dairy farms in south Brazil, one organic and one
conventional, the results were as I expected. There were many positive differences the organic
farms had over the conventional ones. Although, low in milk production in organic dairy farms
had better cow health, better pasture conditions, and used less concentrated feeds. The
production of organic milk stays low because the product is a bit more expensive.
Analysis: With the price of milk already being high, organic milk prices are even higher. The
source is very useful because it defends the argument organic foods availability is a bit more
challenging to find than that of conventional food. Regardless of the quality of the product,
cheaper is more convenient at times.
Evaluation: The source is a bit biased because it does argue organic milk is better but is
purchased less. The goal of the source is to show the difference between conventional milk and
their dairy farms versus organic milk and dairy farms.

6) Russo, V. M. (2013). The Editor's FieldOrganic Food Is . International Journal Of
Vegetable Science, 19(1), 1-3. doi:10.1080/19315260.2013.737186
Summary: The author of this article argues there is no nutritional difference between organically
grown vegetables and conventionally grown vegetables. People merely believe theyre
purchasing something healthier because they pay more for it. The only reason conventionally
grown vegetables are better is because they last longer.
Analysis: The authors argument is that conventional vegetables are better because they last
longer. This source is useful because it rises the is it true question?, but contradicts my
argument. Its objecting my opinion of organic foods being healthier than conventional foods.
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Evaluation: The author conducts and experiment and the results are credible. Contrary to my
primary belief this article helps my research. It contradicts it, but in a healthy manner.

7) Williams, L. K., Abbott, G., Thornton, L. E., Worsley, A., Ball, K., & Crawford, D. (2014).
Improving perceptions of healthy food affordability: results from a pilot intervention.
International Journal Of Behavioral Nutrition & Physical Activity, 11(1), 1-5.
doi:10.1186/1479-5868-11-33
Summary: Mothers in low socioeconomic suburbs were given a slideshow that provided
healthier replacement snacks that were affordable and it changed their perspective. Three other
groups of people were given a slideshow that provided healthier affordable snacks. The mothers
perceived healthier foods now more affordable than the other groups.
Analysis: The source suits my paper because obesity is blamed on the convenience and
affordability of unhealthy snacks and meals. Mothers finding an affordable alternate to unhealthy
snacks, lowers the risk of their child being over-weight and obese. Parents dont know they can
afford healthier foods. Educating these parents with common healthy snack foods and educating
them in food budgeting, can really help the rising obesity rate.
Evaluation: Other sources argue about the availability of healthier foods, but maybe thats not
the problem. The source is useful because it defends my argument about obesity and healthier
foods. Although, it does also bring another point it. Further changing my thoughts on the topic,
maybe the problem isnt the availability of organic and natural foods, it could possibly be
ignorance.