Some of my relatives were enjoying a night out at a Cubs game and I decided to ask “Ok Google” what the score was. As I expected Ok Google promptly replied with the score and the inning. What I wasn’t expecting to happen, occurred the very next day. I was in the office and my phone interrupted me with a little chime and told me that I might be interested in knowing that the Cubs were winning halfway through their afternoon game.
This wasn’t my first experience with these skilled marketers. One day I did a little internet searching for a cabin getaway for my family. Later that night my mobile Facebook feeds featured cabin getaways. I also tried out a “savers” card for a particular store, and guess what… the very next month my ads were customized with my usual purchases. Our actions cause reactions, and those in marketing and social media are adding fuel to the fire.
Our information diet is based on our initial interests and the more we click the more we’re fed. Initially, I didn’t think that much about this until I started to see the ramifications of a world that feeds you what you seek.
Do you want to know how Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are killing you? Just google it and you will find 895,000 results in less than one second. Ask the US National Academy of Science and you get this statement “to date, no adverse health effects attributed to genetic engineering have been documented in the human population”.
Gluten making you sick? Ask google and you get 990,000 results. A U.S. News & World Report stated that 30% of shoppers are choosing “gluten-free” options. The reported number of people that need to avoid gluten is actually less than 2% of the population. It makes me wonder what type of information is being consumed by the remaining percentage of gluten free buyers.
Do you pay more for milk and meat that is labeled “antibiotic free” at your local grocery store? The USDA requires ALL beef, pork, poultry and milk destined for grocery stores or restaurants be tested and inspected by the Food Safety Inspection Service to ensure there are no antibiotic residues. If ALL milk and meat products are antibiotic free, why do you see a portion of those products labeled that way?
As consumers you have tough choices to make. Organic, naturally raised, or conventional? Nonfat, Low fat, 2%, or whole milk? Grass fed vs grain fed beef? Fresh, canned, or frozen products? Butter or margarine? The questions go on and on and on, and in many cases there are both positive and negative aspects to each choice.
Every time you make a food purchase you are casting a vote. Your votes have a direct impact on agri-businesses, farmers, food processors, distributors, grocery stores and restaurants. Please do your research and look beyond what you are “fed” to make educated purchases for you, your family, and our food system.
