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WARNING... this is hard to watch. Proceed with caution. It's produced by the Humane Society, which means the footage is shocking.

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Undercover at Smithfield Foods (2012 Webby Award Winner)

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Feeding cows cotton, ethanol waste, sawdust, etc. that is made into food to feed cows. They are selling it as "protein."

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University of Nebraska faculty and students share insights on the importance of the feedlot sector -- and how feedlots recycle nutrients such as distillers grains and crop residues to convert these things into great-tasting beef. Visit www.angus.org for more information.

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Cattle farmers mass produce cows for slaughter.

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What Is In A Beef Feedlot? - Dinner Starts Here (Farm 26)

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From California to Iowa to Michigan, factory farming has blown up in the past 5-10 years. A new interactive map on this topic created by Food & Water Watch "illustrates the geographic shift in where and how food is raised in the U.S. and allows anyone to quickly search for the highest concentration of animals by region, state and county."

Using U.S. Department of Agriculture Census data from 1997, 2002, and 2007 (the last year in which it is available), Food & Water Watch found an increase of more than 20% in the total number of livestock on factory farms from 2002 to 2007.

The number of broiler chickens and dairy cows nearly doubled in that time.

"While more and more light is being shed on the ways our food system is broken and consumers are increasingly interested in knowing where their food comes from, there is still a lot of information that's hidden from public view," said Wenonah Hauter, Food & Water Watch's executive director. "The purpose of the Factory Farm Map is to provide an easy-to-use tool that anyone can access to learn more about where our food is really coming from."

The number if factory farms has increased and the largest factory farms have gotten even larger in the past 10 years, while the total number of farms on which livestock are raised has decreased.

In California, livestock on factory farms grew by 15% in 5 years.

In Iowa, Food & Water Watch found that elimination of the local control of counties contributed to a rapid rise in factory farming.

In Michigan, the study found that the number of livestock on factory farms increased by nearly 40% in 5 years.

Here are some more key findings:

In five years, total animals on factory farms grew by 5 million, or more than 20 percent.

Cows on factory dairy farms nearly doubled from 2.5 million cows in 1997 to 4.9 million in 2007. Factory dairy farms growth in western states like Idaho, California, New Mexico and Texas shifted the dairy industry away from traditional states like Wisconsin, New York and Michigan.

Beef cattle on industrial feedlots rose 17 percent from 2002 to 2007 - adding about 1,100 beef cattle to feedlots every day for five years.

Nationally, about 5,000 hogs were added to factory farms every day for the past decade.

The growth of industrial broiler chicken production added 5,800 chickens every hour over the past decade.

Egg laying hens on factory farms increased by one-quarter over the decade.

The average size of factory farms increased by 9 percent in five years, cramming more animals into each operation.

In 2007, the average factory-farmed dairy held nearly 1,500 cows and the average beef feedlot held 3,800 beef cattle.

The average size of hog factory farms increased by 42 percent over a decade.

Five states with the largest broiler chicken operations average more than 200,000 birds per factory farm.

Over a decade, average-sized layer chicken operations have grown by 53.7 percent to 614,000 in 2007.

If anyone in the U.S. thinks they aren't eating foods from factory farms, they must be vegans, extremely careful about all the food they eat, or crazy.

Do you know where your food comes from?

Image Credit: Screenshot of Interactive Factory Farming Map

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Unprecedented Growth in Factory Farming in U.S.

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From California to Iowa to Michigan, factory farming has blown up in the past 5-10 years. A new interactive map on this topic created by Food & Water Watch "illustrates the geographic shift in where and how food is raised in the U.S.

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This is how corn is harvested and put into bins to sell at industrial markets.

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Case IH 305 Magnum unloading corn from Kinze 1050 Grain Cart 11-5-13

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Warning, this is gross.

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AgweekTV: Hole-y Cow! Steer serves as research and teaching tool

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The Truth About Factory Farms Infographic

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The Truth About Factory Farms Infographic

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Embed this infographic on your website:

Click on the code area and press CTRL + C (for Windows) / CMD + C (for Macintosh) to copy the code. If you're on a mobile device, tap on the code, drag the markers to highlight the entire text, and select "Copy."

Embedding this infographic will generate a link to our page. You are free to remove the link or edit the link text, but not to replace it with another one.
Download High-Res Version
The vast majority of the food produced in the United States comes from industrial-sized confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs). Ironically, there's a good chance you haven't seen one - they are typically hidden from public view, and their operators don't want you to see what's really going on out of fear that you would turn away in disgust at the thought of eating their "food".

But it doesn't take much to see that the modern industrial system of meat and poultry production exerts serious toll on animal welfare, the environment, and human health. If these things don't merit a prompt call to action, then I don't know what will.

The First Victim: Livestock

In this infographic, I've provided a picture of what happens to chickens, pigs, and cattle in factory farms under factory-farm conditions. For starters, hundreds of millions of male chicks are killed each year upon hatching because they will not grow up to lay eggs!

Disease is rampant among these CAFO animals: they live in cramped and unsanitary living conditions, a natural consequence of raising animals in unbelievable numbers.

It is just as highly disturbing how CAFO animals are routinely administered a variety of drugs, including antibiotics. They're given drugs whether they're sick or well, because it's important to keep as many of them as possible alive until it's time for slaughter.

And what is the result of routinely giving antibiotic to the animals? Significant growth boosts, a purely a financial motive - larger fatter animals equal higher profits.

Waste and Pollution on a Massive Scale

Raising tens of thousands of animals in one facility translates to a load of waste. Animal manure is traditionally regarded as an important fertilizer when produced on a much smaller scale, but it has become one of the most polluting substances in the country.

When this waste is produced in massive quantities, it becomes hazardous. But another irony lies here: federal legislature forbids animal waste from being defined as "hazardous."

According to a report of the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production (IFAP), the annual production of manure produced by CAFOs exceeds that produced by humans by at least three times. Animal waste in such volumes may go beyond the capacity of the land to absorb the nutrients and attenuate pathogens.

Factory farm runoff also carries the following:

Hormones and antibiotics such as Tylosin, a widely used antibiotic for disease treatment and growth promotion in swine, beef cattle, and poultry production. Tylosin decays rapidly in the environment but can still be found in surface waters of agricultural watersheds

Heavy metals, especially zinc and copper, added as micronutrients to the animal diet

Pesticides, which are used to control insect infestations and fungal growth

Typically stored in massive "lagoons," the waste often converts to rivers of waste that flow from CAFOs to the surrounding environment. This infographic will show you specific cases of environmental pollution and damage brought about by waste from factory farms.

The Adverse Effects on Human Health

CAFOs serve as breeding grounds for disease not just among animals, but also the farm workers and the rest of us. Feeding livestock continuous, low-dose antibiotics creates an environment conducive to widespread disease proliferation.

Antibiotic-resistant disease is particularly concerning. Among the many resistant pathogens today is Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA, which has so far been responsible for more than 94,000 infections and 18,000 deaths in the US each year.

A lesser-known issue is the antibiotic-laden manure from CAFOs contaminating the rest of your food supply. This means that even your lettuce may contain antibiotics.

Move Toward Organically Raised, Drug-Free, Grass-Fed or Pastured Animal Products

It is likely that these grim realities of the food supply will continue for a long time, as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) refuses to impose stricter regulations on CAFOs. What the FDA simply does is ask food producers to voluntarily limit their use of certain antibiotics.

Don't let yourself, the animals, and the environment bear the brunt.

The best possible way to avoid CAFO products is to support small family farms in your area, specifically organic farms that respect the laws of nature and create synergistic, self-supporting, non-polluting, non-GMO ecosystems.

This infographic will also let you in on organizations you can go to if you want to know more about this cause.

It's time for you to decide on what type of food system you're willing to support. After all, knowing the source of your food is a critical aspect of taking control of your health.

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The Truth About Factory Farms Infographic

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Embed this infographic on your website: Click on the code area and press CTRL + C (for Windows) / CMD + C (for Macintosh) to copy the code. If you're on a mobile device, tap on the code, drag the markers to highlight the entire text, and select "Copy."

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Where our food comes from, how we eat it, and what we drink to wash it down

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An article that highlights starvation issues world wide.

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Mother always says "Eat your vegetables!" and will spend countless days bargaining and begging her kid(s) to eat food that will keep them healthy. Children spend years avoiding many veggies because they don't taste yummy or sweet. Well, children in developed countries, that is. It's nothing new. Too many children in impoverished and undeveloped countries don't have this luxury. These children lack proper food, clean water, and sanitation. This needs to end.

Like I stated in my last blog, not eating enough of the right foods can damage a child over days, months, and even years. There are immune issues, development issues, cognitive delays and many other related illnesses that are completely preventable if everyone had proper nutrition and good food. It may seem like there is not much we can do oversees, but there is plenty we can accomplish, at least at a local level. As far as America goes, there are food banks that receive donations of pantry foods that are then distributed to people living on a low income or are otherwise unable to purchase food on a regular basis. Food stamps is a government program in which the card owner can purchase food at almost every grocery store. A country wide program called Feed America First also aims to provide meals to people in need. The effort is there, but the fight is not over, even in America.

But how did hunger and malnutrition become such a worldwide issue, you ask? In developed countries, I believe that a major contributor is low wages and increasing prices of quality food. Corporate greed plays a role in the consistently low wages and high prices of many items on store shelves. The few corporations that own the majority of food in America receive government subsidies, which influences the prices of food. This is evident everywhere we look. McDonalds burgers are very cheap, but their salads are more expensive. The highly processed foods with low nutritional value on store shelves are between $1-$3 per item. Produce, on the other hand, is $1-$5/lb. Depending on the fruit or vegetable you are looking at, that is $1-$5/serving. It is financially better to buy the cheap food, since there are more servings. But in the long-run, health is sacrificed.

In developing and impoverished countries, the situation is different. Many food crops are sold to developed countries to feed farm animals so that the people of those countries can eat meat. This creates a food deficiency in the poorer countries. It takes 10lbs of grain to produce 1lb of meat. Yes, 10:1. And it isn't the impoverished countries getting that pound of meat. It's the countries that eat meat on a regular basis: many European countries and North America are on the top of the list.

Not only are we losing out on valuable grains, we also lose clean water. Eating one hamburger costs the same as six months of showers, in terms of water usage. Water is used to grow the food and animals, then in cleaning the meat and in transportation. Also, certain regions of the world lack clean water and electricity for various reasons. The electricity issue can be fixed with machines already in use: solar panels, wind turbines and power lines are just three. Clean water can be shipped in and driven to areas where it's needed most until water-cleaning machines can be utilized.

I believe that if people and big companies put their money and hearts where their mouths are, the world would be a much different place.

This link takes you to a website page containing more information on this topic. People living in hunger, malnutrition and disease is horrifying and devastating to the planet. There's photos, videos and information about what "low income" and malnutrition is like in other countries around the world. With more awareness and correct information on this topic, hopefully it will be overcome.

To donate to the World Food Programme or for more information, visit here.

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Mother always says "Eat your vegetables!" and will spend countless days bargaining and begging her kid(s) to eat food that will keep them healthy. Children spend years avoiding many veggies because they don't taste yummy or sweet. Well, children in developed countries, that is. It's nothing new.

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What is a food desert?

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Think fast: How close do you live to your local grocery store? Most of us don't know. As long as it's close to home, it's not a problem. But when you don't have a local grocery store, or you have one but it's too far away to get to without transportation, figuring out how you'll buy your groceries becomes a big problem.

For the past decade, Americans have driven an average of 6 miles (9 kilometers) between home and their closest grocery store. For rural Americans, especially those in the South, the trip can be much longer -- for example, in the food landscape of the Lower Mississippi Delta, you'll likely find one supermarket serving a 190.5-square-mile (493-square-kilometer) area. There, residents could expect to drive 30 miles (48 kilometers) or more from home to store [source: Hinrichs]. This phenomenon is called a food desert.

The term dates back at least a decade when it was used to describe how urban supermarkets in the United Kingdom were receding into the suburbs. But since the imbalance of food choices isn't limited to one region of the world, the expression is now used to describe the occurrence around the globe, including areas of North America, Latin America, Asia and Australia.

Defining a food desert isn't an absolute science -- factors such as location, race, socioeconomics and access to transportation are all part of the equation. Food deserts are large geographic areas where mainstream grocery stores are scarce or missing. They are found predominantly in low-income areas, although not everyone living in a food desert is poor. They can be in urban, suburban or rural communities. But where the definition gets fuzzy is in the details. For example, how far is too far to travel to shop for healthy foods? The answer to that depends on each community's makeup: Do people have access to public transportation? Do they rely on cars? Do they have to walk? Ten miles may be too far, or just one mile -- it's specific to the neighborhood.

Food deserts aren't mere inconveniences to the people who live within one; they're an example of food insecurity and they negatively affect public health. Let's look more deeply at these problems, as well as the proposed ways of getting fresh foods into underserved communities.

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Thi­nk fast: How cl­ose­ do you live to your local grocery store? Most of us don't know. As long as it's close to home, it's not a problem. But when you don't have a local grocery store, or you have one but it's too far away to get to without transportation, figuring out how you'll buy your groceries becomes a big problem.

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An infographic that shows the relationship between food distribution and where people live.

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With a swelling global population, these 4 key food technologies will be vital for the future of food. We’ll get more food with fewer resources.

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An interactive Ted Ed video that shows a Cause and Effect relationship between the food we eat and our brains.

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Your brain is like a machine that needs specific materials to function well. This website breaks down the different nutritional parts that are necessary, and how they interact with the brain. Take a look and learn about some brain food.
Glucose is the brain's fuel. Interested in the interaction between our mental performance and the amount of glucose we have? How about the effects of extreme dips in glucose, like during starvation? What effect does this have on our mental functioning? Find out more here: Glucose and mental performance.
Those amino acids are essential for brain function too. Click here for the dummy's list of essential amino acids and which foods are best for getting them. Have you thought about changing your diet a bit? How can proteins help?
Don't forget about those micronutrients! What exactly does the brain do with micronutrients? Does it matter if we get enough of them?
What happens if our brains, specifically young, growing brains, don't get the nutrition they need? Food insecurity at a young age can have direct effects on early brain functioning.
Interested in learning more about the brain? TED Ed has several lessons! Start with these:
How sugar affects the brain - Nicole Avena
How stress affects your brain - Madhumita Murgia
What percentage of your brain do you use? - Richard E. Cytowic

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How the food you eat affects your brain - Mia Nacamulli

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When it comes to what you bite, chew and swallow, your choices have a direct and long-lasting effect on the most powerful organ in your body: your brain. So which foods cause you to feel so tired after lunch? Or so restless at night? Mia Nacamulli takes you into the brain to find out.

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Fed Up: The Ethics of the American Food Industry 

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Fed Up: The Ethics of the American Food Industry 

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An opinion article highlighting the rapidly rising obesity rate in the United States.

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Whether you're rich or poor, black or white, or a dog or cat person, every human has the common need for food to survive; everyone eats. Some have restrictions due to allergies or preference. People are paleo, vegan, and gluten free, but everyone consumes food. In America, since food is readily available, it's easy to be unaware of certain aspects that go along with the purchasing and eating of food.

While food is a simple concept, it affects our health, economy, environment, and our world. Our food is also affected by certain systems in our country. The fact that America is a capitalist country with many competing food corporations should be taken into account when we make choices about what to put into our bodies. In a capitalist economy, consumer's dollars are equivalent to votes for products they want to continue being produced. The first part of casting a vote is having the information to be able to make a decision. In America, food is often an afterthought, but in order to improve the system, we need to be informed.

It's easy to forget that the food you buy comes from companies whose main goal is to make a profit, which they will go to lengths to do. Companies often add unnecessary ingredients (such as sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and chemicals) to products that decrease the nutritional value of the food. Food is often stripped of important nutrients like fiber and vitamins when manufactured ( The U.S. Food Industry, FDA, and USDA are Highly Corrupt to Protect Profits, Not People) and metabolic disrupters are added to the foods (for example hydrogenated oils, aspartame, & sodium nitrate). The food is left with more calories and less nutrients, and consuming causes greater risk of disease. The food is also cheap and addictive, making it a perfect option for low income families who can't afford higher priced produce and organic foods, explaining why towns with lower socioeconomic status are more likely to be affected by the obesity epidemic ( Weight of Our Nation). Making foods cheap and available at the cost of health helps food corporations make money.

Food companies also attempt to make profit with marketing strategies. Walking through the grocery store, you see foods that are labeled as "natural" or "healthy." However, these health claims are meaningless, as there are no FDA regulations regarding making these claims. We like to believe that we aren't affected by these claims anyways, but who doesn't feel good buying "healthy" and "natural" food? We also like to believe that commercials and other marketing of foods don't influence our decisions. The food industry spends more than $36 billion annually on marketing, so it's hard to believe they aren't receiving business in return ( Food Politics). Fast food restaurants come up with new promotions to compete with each other: Wendy's 4 for $4, Subway's $5 footlong, the dollar menu at McDonald's, and the list goes on. Consumers like to get a good deal and these promotions provide that sense of a good deal. The promotions are also convenient and accessible, again specifically for lower income families. Are these fast food companies exploiting these poor families or simply supplying what is demanded?

The point of a capitalist economy is that the consumers demand the products and in turn the products are supplied. Maybe the companies simply see a need for nutritionally deplete food in society. After all, people buy it. Maybe it's up to the consumers to have self control and avoid the food.... But then again maybe not. It is a common thought that people are obese because they lack personal responsibility and self control, but maybe it goes deeper than that. Biologically, humans are programed to eat as much as possible in order to survive. While this helped in times of scarce food, now with McDonald's on every block, it backfires. Our world has changed and there is a disconnect from the old world of hunting and gathering, and today's world of cars and desk jobs ( The Weight of Our Nation).

Alongside the biologically urge to eat, is capitalism, which also encourages overeating. Food and beverages that have been heavily marketed can easily be bought. Capitalism and over consumption go hand and hand. And it's scientifically proven that the children of obese people are predisposed to obesity themselves, perpetuating the cycle (Capitalism). But then again, isn't it the "free market?" Isn't that the beauty of capitalism? In a sense, yes, but the choices are clouded with marketing, addictive added sugar, and price restrictions that alter your decisions.

So if all of this is true, then why does no one stop it? Big food companies are tied to the government. The committee who wrote the Dietary Guidelines for Americans had financial ties to multiple companies such as McDonald's. This creates bias as the government is protecting this companies for financial reasons and not providing accurate nutrition information to the public ( How Big Food Companies Affect Nutrition Policy). Historically, those who have attempted to honor research in these committees by encouraging plant based diets with decreased consumption of animal products have been punished. Food corporations pay the American Dietetic Association $20,000 to take part in drafting the nutrition sheets that are published.

Information about food is secret in America. The government and medical profession are too tied up with food corporations to provide unbiased information. Most medical students aren't even required to take one nutrition class in their schooling ( How Big Food Companies Affect Nutrition Policy). Currently 69% of Americans are obese or overweight ( The Weight of Our Nation), especially from poorer communities. So what can we do when institutions that should be helping us with these problems are part of it? While capitalism has contributed to the problem, it can also help solve it. You are a consumer. Change comes from the bottom up. It comes from the demand of the consumers and if we stop consuming products from food companies who only care about money and not health, they can not make a profit. Food corporations value money over people, yet fail to realize that without the people, there is no money. You hold the power to change the system. Cast your vote wisely.
References
Berreby, David. "Is Capitalism To Blame For Worldwide Obesity?". Big Think. N.p., 2017. Web. 23 Mar. 2017.

"Films: Challenges". Theweightofthenation.hbo.com. N.p., 2017. Web. 23 Mar. 2017.

"Food Politics | Eat Drink Politics". Eatdrinkpolitics.com. N.p., 2017. Web. 23 Mar. 2017.

Michael Greger, MD. "Follow The Money: How The Food Industry Affects Nutrition Policy". Forks Over Knives. N.p., 2017. Web. 23 Mar. 2017.

"The U.S. Food Industry, FDA And USDA Are Highly Corrupt To Protect Profits, Not People". NaturalNews. N.p., 2017. Web. 23 Mar. 2017.

Images:
http://i.imgur.com/pJnkW0d.png https://d6u22qyv3ngwz.cloudfront.net/ad/A7d5/wendys-4-for-4-meal-deal-feels-like-a-meal-large-10.jpg http://www.veganshift.org/images-resources/american-dietetic-association.jpg

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Fed Up: The Ethics of the American Food Industry - Voices - Medium

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Whether you're rich or poor, black or white, or a dog or cat person, every human has the common need for food to survive; everyone eats. Some have restrictions due to allergies or preference. People are paleo, vegan, and gluten free, but everyone consumes food.

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According to the American Nutrition Association, food deserts are geographical areas that lack sufficient supply of fresh vegetables, fruits, and healthful, affordable whole foods. Food deserts are generally impoverished areas and they are viewed as a national crisis. Fortunately, nonprofit organizations and government initiatives are in place to provide relief for affected Americans.

Earn your online MSW from Tulane's School of Social work and find out how you can help fight food deserts.

Food Desert Statistics

As of 2009, about 2.3 million Americans did not own a car and lived over one mile from a supermarket. This figure consists 2.2% of the total households in the U.S. In a 2006 survey, about 500,000 city residents in Chicago were living in food deserts. In New York, a 2009 survey revealed that 750,000 Americans lived in areas where access to healthy food options was difficult.

Challenges Facing People Living in Food Deserts

There are difficulties that affect individuals who live in areas classified as food deserts. Due to the lack of availability of certain foods, many people are unable to satisfy their need to enjoy culturally appropriate food. People who suffer from conditions such as gluten allergies and lactose intolerance also have limited meal options. Healthy, whole foods tend to be more expensive than unhealthful fare. Often small supermarkets and grocery stores in food deserts may show a price variance that makes healthy food less desirable for people who cannot afford them. The time and travel cost of finding healthful food also make fast food a preferable option over prepared meals.

How Food Deserts Affect Health

According to a National Center for Biotechnology Information article, studies show that people who live in neighborhoods where availability of healthy food is lowest are 55% less likely to enjoy good-quality diet compared to those who have better access to healthful food. People who live in neighborhoods availability of healthy food is greater have a 45% reduced incidence of diabetes over a five-year period. The economic environment also affects health. Families that move to non-poor neighborhoods show a significantly reduced body mass index (BMI).

Demographics of People Living in Food Deserts

According to a press release by the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service, a food desert is an area where 20% of individuals have an income that is at the federal level of poverty or lower in terms of family size or an area where 80% of the median income of the family is at 80% of the median level set for family income of the surrounding area or lower.

Eating in a Food Desert

The SNAP or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program offers an average of $29 worth of food per week. According to studies, the prices of food are affected by the type and availability of stores in the area. The price of milk, for example, is notably lower at supermarkets than stores that offer limited services. Smaller stores also sell items at higher prices than supermarkets do. Isolated, smaller stores sell at higher prices than non-isolated stores.

These factors impact the buying decisions of individuals since the price is one of the most important considerations when choosing where to buy staple food. For individuals who do not own a car, distance is also a factor. Distance adds to the cost of acquiring food as well - the transportation from a food desert to a supermarket can cost from $5 to $7.

Government Initiatives for Improving Nutrition in Food Deserts

The Healthy Food Financing Initiative was announced in 2010. The goal is to make grocery stores and retailers selling healthy food more accessible to underserved urban and rural areas across America. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, small retailers, farmer's markets, corner stores, and grocery stores that sell health food will be equipped for this effort.

The Let's Move! campaign, also launched in 2010 by former first lady Michelle Obama, aims to provide healthier fare for young children. Salad Bars to Schools, for example, provided a salad bar to 3 million students and the Health, Hunger-Free Kids Act has increased funding for school meals and snacks to feed more than 50 million kids.

Nonprofit organizations such as Fresh Express has also made healthful food more accessible. Fresh Express is a mobile food truck operated by Discovery Triangle. It purchases food directly from farmers at wholesale, then sells it at no profit. It is essentially a grocery store on wheels that sells fresh fruits and vegetables to communities including schools, apartment complexes, senior centers, and health clinics across Phoenix and Tampa, Arizona. The operational costs of nonprofits such as Fresh Express are made possible through grants, donations, and sponsorships.

Another such initiative is the Twin Cities Mobile Market, a program of the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation. This grocery store on wheels serves under-resourced areas in Minnesota. A $29 worth of purchase from the Mobile Market offers a wider array of healthful food choices than the same amount at a convenience store.

Resources for Creating Nutritious and Affordable Meals

The Choose My Plate program is supported by the United States Department of Agriculture. Choose My Plate is a reminder to maintain healthy eating habits by providing an easy-to-follow meal structure.

Choose My Plate's Tips to Healthy Eating

The program encourages communities to choose foods and beverages that contain less sodium, saturated fat, and added sugars. It also recommends implementing small changes to help people build healthier eating styles.

There are also several online tools that individuals may use. SuperTracker, for example, helps plan, analyze, and track diet and physical activity. It also offers groups to motivate users to complete various challenges. What's Cooking? is a searchable database that contains healthy recipes that offer users options to build a cookbook, print recipe cards, and share recipes through social media. Portion Distortion offers a link to quizzes on recommended food portions on the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) website. Daily Checklist offers information on what and how much to eat based on one's age, gender, height, weight, and physical activity. Quizzes test knowledge of dairy, fruit, grains, protein, and vegetables. BMI Calculator offers links to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Fighting Food Deserts

The number of tools and resources that Americans across the U.S. can use will hopefully help eradicate the problem of food deserts. In the meantime, nonprofits and government organizations will continue working with social workers to address the concerns that food deserts pose. Wide-ranging efforts that include education, advocacy, and raising awareness will be useful in helping individuals living in food deserts to make better food choices and ultimately enjoy healthier, happier lives.

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According to the American Nutrition Association, food deserts are geographical areas that lack sufficient supply of fresh vegetables, fruits, and healthful, affordable whole foods. Food deserts are generally impoverished areas and they are viewed as a national crisis. Fortunately, nonprofit organizations and government initiatives are in place to provide relief for affected Americans.

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Artificial intelligence helps farmers grow more, while wasting less. An advertisement from Microsoft.

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Watch stories of inspiring people and the Microsoft technology they use to create a better world.

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This video shows how calves are trained how to eat corn.

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See how a manure lagoon works and why farmers want to build even more of them

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Wall Street Journal video about how cattle are being fed.

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ABC News, 2012

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Thank you, Atticus!

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How Bacteria Rule Over Your Body – The Microbiome

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Again, if you have a weak stomach...better not.

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WATCH: The Video the Rotten Egg Industry Doesn’t Want You to See

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What is VALUE ADDED? What does VALUE ADDED mean? VALUE ADDED meaning, definition & explanation