Is it time for change in economic and development policies affecting the food industry?

The increase in the number of Americans who are obese has led to a critical questioning of the food industry’s role, as well as public policies affecting industry. Questions are being asked not only about policies relating to advertising, marketing, and promotion practices but also about broader economic and development policies under which the industry currently operates. Does the obesity problem, with its high potential for excessive human and economic social costs, require new industry policies?

A highly vocal group of consumer activists, hungry trial lawyers, and disheartened health professionals want you to believe that the cause of obesity is quite simple–deception, fraud, and unethical behavior by the food industry. They say the answer is to institute tobacco-like litigation and penalties. Sure, punish and inhibit the industry, and we will all be thin again! Although such strident claims focus our attention on the industry’s role, they also introduce a misleading simple solution.

In their missionary zeal for the quick fix, activists miss the real issue. They are being sidetracked by a few egregious issues (children’s marketing practices). The real issue is far broader, far more inclusive, and far more difficult to deal with.

-James E. Tillotson