Corn Subsidies

Almost everything Americans eat contains corn. Eating and growing corn are not bad in and of themselves, but producing too much corn has negative effects. High fructose corn syrup, corn fed meat, and corn based processed food are without a doubt always included in American’s modern diet. But of course, the most common use of corn is to make HFCS (high fructose corn syrup), a sweetener made by changing the sugar in corn to fructose. Since the price of HFCS is low, it is used in almost everything we eat and drink which is causing the over consumption of sugar and therefore causing American’s health to be affected. The problem is that the government knows how unhealthy this is for us and is still subsidizing high-fructose corn syrup at a time when rates of obesity and diabetes among Americans are very high.

United States subsidies have been the direction of food consumption patterns among Americans. According to Michael Pollan, “most researches trace America’s rising rates of obesity to the 1970’s” which was when high fructose corn syrup started being primarily used in the United States (“The consumer: A republic of fat,” 102-103). Around the same time, the U.S government began imposing tariffs on imported sugar and put into effect sugar quotas on the amount of domestic sugar that could be grown. As a result, producers were able to obtain this new corn sweetener known as HFCS much cheaper than sugar and they began to use it to sweeten food products. This is why the reason American’s heartland is now covered with endless swaths of corn because since government subsidies have kept corn prices low, farmers need to plant much more corn to make money. Therefore, corn-based ingredients such as HFCS are in a great majority of processed food products. (Conceived US corn subsidies make "liquid Satan" high-fructose corn syrup a cheap ingredient by E. Huff).

Over the years, HFCS has become very popular in American’s diet because as mentioned before it’s cheaper than sugar, easy to transport and keeps food in good condition for a longer period of time. Since HFCS became a substitution for sugar, we can find it in almost everything we eat and drink daily such as ketchup, mayonnaise, cookies, cereal, chocolate, soda, yogurt and even our bread, just to name a few. If you start reading the labels at the supermarket, you'll be surprised at how often high fructose corn syrup appears as an ingredient. In other words, since HFCS is cheap, our food products are mostly made with cheap ingredients and therefore, these products will be extremely cheap as well. As a result, people are more likely to buy and eat more of these products since it’s affordable. However, people who consume HFCS are not able to distinguish when they are full, leading to overeating and therefore, causing diseases such as obesity and diabetes.

In 1983, the U.S food and Drug Administration (FDA) listed that HFCS is “safe for use in food” and reaffirmed that decision in 1996. Their argument is that since sugar is composed of 50 percent fructose and 50 percent glucose, and HFCS is composed of either 42 percent or 55 percent fructose, with the remaining sugars being primarily glucose and higher sugars, there isn’t a difference between these two sweeteners and therefore it’s not dangerous for people’s health. However, according to his article “Does high-fructose corn syrup make you fatter?” John Timmer explains how a recent study made by Princeton University has demonstrated that all sweeteners are not equal when it comes to weight gain. Rats with access to high-fructose corn syrup gained significantly more weight than those with access to table sugar, even when their overall caloric intake was the same. So although the FDA had claimed that high fructose corn syrup is no different than other sweeteners when it comes to weight gain and obesity, the results of this research makes it clear that this claim is completely false.

In a study made by the American Society for Clinical Nutrition they analyzed food consumption patterns by using US Department of Agriculture food consumption tables from 1967 to 2000. As a result, they found out that the increased use of HFCS in the United States also reflects the rapid increase in obesity. The study shows that the consumption of HFCS increased more than 1000% between 1970 and 1990. Also, that HFCS now represents more 40% of caloric sweeteners added to foods and beverages and is the sole caloric sweetener in soft drinks in the United States. Although the government is aware of this situation, it’s very amusing how they are now trying to tax us on sweetened beverages including soda for what Governor David Paterson says will help fight against obesity and diabetes. Meanwhile, they are still encouraging such diseases by subsidizing corn and allowing it to be one essential ingredient of almost all our food products.

Michael Pollan mentions that “when food is abundant and cheap, people will eat more of it and get fat” which is obviously what happened in the U.S since HFCS was invented The Consumer: A Republic of Fat. 102). Three of every five Americans are overweight and one of every five is obese. Although diseases such as obesity and diabetes were only found among adults, it now frequently affects children and it is known as Type II diabetes. This means that today’s children will turn out to be the first generation of Americans who will live shorter period of time compare to their parents (102). Although obesity has been affecting our country for many years, it is very sad to see that it is now actually affecting our children. This clearly shows that the government doesn’t care for anyone’s health, the only thing that seems to matter to them is to save money and make money.

Now the question is, why is HFCS a lot cheaper than sugar after it’s been proven that it affects our health? The answer to that is because the government simply wants it that way. According to Kate Hopkins, two ways in which the Federal Government accomplishes this is by sugar tariffs as well corn and sugar subsidies. Hopkins explains how this is all very complicated to understand and that’s why many people give up worrying about it. However, it is very important that we all inform ourselves about this situation since it is our health being risked. She says that this would not exist if it wasn’t for the complicity between the Sugar Industry, the Corn Industry and the United States Department of Agriculture. The Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) is a big player in the Corn Industry. The ADM is who makes HFCS and us as consumers are who pay for it with the taxes we pay to the U.S government. The government spent $41.9 billion on corn subsides from 1995 to 2004; this money of course was given to the ADM. The ADM buys 12 percent of the nation’s corn at a subsidized price from farmers and turns it into HFCS. And of course, we can’t forget about sugar tariffs which are put in place by the law and enforced by the USDA. First, the USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation lends money each year to sugar cane processors but the loans must be repaid with interest after nine months. The processors use this money to operate their factories and to pay sugar growers for the cane that they deliver to the mills. However, the sugar processing companies are allowed to forfeit their sugar instead of repaying the loan. The government then manipulates the market to keep prices higher than the price at which the sugar companies would forfeit their product. If not, the government will be losing the money they lent and still have sugar to distribute. In order to manipulate the market, the USDA first estimates how much sugar Americans will consume throughout the year and how much sugar U.S growers will send to market to meet consumers’ demands. Then, the USDA establishes a quota for foreign countries such as Brazil, Dominican Republic, Philippines and Australia causing just enough sugar in to the country so that it won’t affect the already high prices (Tariffs and Subsidies - The Literal Cost of High Fructose Corn Syrup). In other words, the U.S government inflates the cost of sugar and lowers the cost of corn. Then, the ADM buys an exaggerated amount of corn at a very low cost in order to make HFCS. So if the USDA and corn as well as sugar industries would not work together, it is certain that the tariffs and subsidies most likely will go away.

In conclusion, it is obvious that the government subsidies and therefore, the overproduction of corn led to a fatal change in what Americans eat. Although they say to be so concerned for our health and try to make us fight against obesity by inventing taxes, the government is only contradicting itself by strengthening the chances of these diseases to grow from the start. Without subsidies the rate of obesity and diabetes will be a lot lower obviously because better food would lead to better health.


Work Cited

• Chevat, Richie, and Michael Pollan. “The consumer: A Republic of Fat.” The Omnivore’s Dilemma: The Secrets Behind What You Eat. New York: Dial, 2009. 100-108. Print.
• Bray, George A., Samara J. Nielsen, and Barry M. Popkin. "Consumption of High-fructose Corn Syrup in Beverages May Play a Role in the Epidemic of Obesity -- Bray Et Al. 79 (4): 537." American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Apr. 2004. Web. June 2010. .

• Timmer, John. "Does High-fructose Corn Syrup Make You Fatter?" Ars Technica. Apr. 2010. Web. June 2010. .

• Huff, E. "Ill-conceived US Corn Subsidies Make "liquid Satan" High-fructose Corn Syrup a Cheap Ingredient." Independent News on Natural Health, Nutrition and More. 28 Nov. 2009. Web. June 2010. .

• Hopkins, Kate. "Tariffs and Subsidies - The Literal Cost of High Fructose Corn Syrup." Accidental Hedonist. 24 Jan. 2006. Web. June 2010. .

Annotated Bibliography #2

Porter, Doug. "How the Government Encourages Obesity: The High Fructose Corn Syrup Story." 13 Jan. 2009. Web.

This article helps people understand a little bit more about corn subsidizing. It explains some background information and then goes on explaining the problem with corn now, which is how it helps us get fatter. It also explains how the rush to corn is also causing an environmental toll and also gives reasons why people should be informed about corn subsidies.



Chameides, Bill. "Corn Subsidies: How Congress Is Shortchanging Our Health.” 28 Apr. 2008. Web.

This article talks about how the government encourages obesity by subsidizing corn. How they use Ads on TV and spend more than 20 million dollars and sometimes more to send us a “safe message” about corn syrup. Also, how the corn syrup industry has always vigorously defended its territory for obvious reasons but how a few brave scientists noticed what seemed to be a relationship between the increases in obesity and corn syrup’s increasingly sweet market share and finally decided to say something. It explains how this also has a negative effect in our environment.



Hopkins, Kate. "Tariffs and Subsidies - The Literal Cost of High Fructose Corn Syrup." Web log post. Www.accidentalhedonist.com. Web. 24 Jan. 2006.

In this article, the author talks about the reasons why companies use HFCS and why HFCS is cheaper than sugar. He explains what is subsidy and makes it easy for the readers understand it. He explains what Archer Daniels Midland Corporation (ADM); a big player in the corn industry is and how it works.


BARRIONUEVO, ALEXEI. "Mountains of Corn and a Sea of Farm Subsidies." The New York Times 09 Nov. 2005. Print

This article is about the largest corn crop in history in 2005. This was too much of a good thing, drawing attention to what critics called a contradiction of the government farm subsidy program: America's efficient farmers were encouraged to produce far more than the country can use, depressing prices and raising subsidy payments. In other words, because the government wants to help America's farmers, it essentially ends up paying them both when they produce too much and when their crop prices are too low. It also gives amounts of how much the government pays on corn subsidies from 1995-2004.


Pollan, Michael. "Weed It and Reap." The New York Times [New York City] 04 Nov. 2007. Print.

An article written by Michael Pollan where he explains that in the year 2007, people finally began to ask themselves why the government keeps subsidizing corn if America is facing an obesity and diabetes epidemic. “For the first time, the public health community has raised its voice in support of overturning farm policies that subsidize precisely the wrong kind of calories”.

draft #2 essay 1

Fast food is famous all around America not only because is good tasting, quick, and convenient but mostly because it’s extremely cheap. It is very popular because with less than $5.00, you can get a filling meal. You can come across a fast food restaurant anywhere you go and it is always full with people. However, fast food is made with cheap ingredients such as high fat meat, refined grains, and added sugar and fats, instead of nutritious foods such as lean meats, fresh fruits, and vegetables. This is why as we all know, America is facing an obesity epidemic, specially children. The fast food chain use children as their main target for adverting anywhere possible but what is very aggravating is the fact that even schools are now serving and promoting fast food even though they know it‘s very unhealthy.

The Fast food industry has grown enormously over the years due to its advertising strategies. In chapter 2, “Your Trusted Friends” from his book Fast food Nation, Eric Schlosser makes the reader become aware of techniques fast food restaurants such as McDonald’s use to advertise their products. He explains why children have become the main target for advertising. “The aim of most children’s advertising is straightforward: get kids to nag their parents and nag them well” (pg43). He makes it very clear that the reason why advertisers go after children is because parents will buy anything for their kids as long as they stop nagging. Another reason why kids are its main target is because children are easily influenced by commercials on TV or ads they see on the street so kids are more likely to be tempted and ask their parents for that certain product being advertise.

“Not satisfied with marketing to children through playgrounds, toys, cartoons, movies, videos, charities, and amusements parks, through contests, sweepstakes, games, and clubs, via television, radio, magazines, and the Internet” (pg.51) says Eric Schlosser, fast food chains are now even advertise and served in most public schools. Fast food should not be advertised or served in schools because this will only confuse the kids and make them think eating fast food is right since they are told by their parents that school is safe place where they go to learn good things that will help them in their future. So if they see an ad of a hamburger with French fries around the hallways they will be given a good image of fast food. What the kids don‘t know is that as good tasting as it may be, this type of food ruins their health. Parents send their kids to school every morning trusting the school with their kids’ safety but what doesn’t cross their mind is that they should also be concerned about what their kids are being served for lunch.

I decided to take a trip to my cousin’s middle-school and see what she was eating for lunch myself. As soon as I walked in the lunchroom, I came across 3 vending machines. Two were full of junk food and the other one contained every type of soda brand including Coca Cola, Sprite, Pepsi and a few others. The menu for that day was cheeseburger, chicken nuggets, or pizza. The children have the option to pick one of these and it’s served along with French Fries including a little bag with mayonnaise and ketchup. Is it very upsetting to see that although most children consider school to be their second home, they are being fed food that will damage their health system. Instead of serving and helping advertise fast food, schools need be teaching the children why eating healthy food is important and how unhealthy and dangerous the consequences of eating fast food can be. Perhaps a health class where the children can learn ways to have a healthy lifestyle such as exercising, eating a balanced diet, taking vitamins etc. will help prevent children from eating as much junk food. Or better yet, the schools can simply stop selling, serving and advertising junk food.
Now a days, obesity in children is a massive problem. The main cause of obesity is obviously the unhealthy life-style children carry. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that “some very obese children have high blood pressure and cholesterol. And Kaiser experts treat some teens with Type 2 diabetes, a weight-linked disease that normally hits adults older than 40” says Andy Dworkin in his article Health Every Period. It is very dangerous and life-risking for children to have these type of diseases and if advertising for fast food in schools continue, this will only increase the amount of obese children. Isn’t incredible to think that if children keep on eating processed food, their lives will be shorter than their own parents?.

In conclusion, There is a place and time for everything and school is simply not the right place for fast food adverting. School shouldn’t have ads or serve fast food to the children because this is only making the obesity rate increase. Kids spend half their day in school and should be learning stuff that will be for their own benefit instead of being served food that is putting them in risk of suffering from diseases that can cause their own death.






Dworkin, Andy. "Health Every Period." Editorial. 24 Mar. 2010. Web.
Schlosser, Eric. “Your Trusted Friends.” Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2001. 31-58. Print.

Soda Tax Response

New York governor David Paterson included a proposal soda tax in his budget plan last year and it was rejected. However, he brought up the soda tax proposal again this year on January, 2010. The state of New York will have to pay one more penny per once on soda and other sweetened beverages. He says that the tax is necessary to fight obesity, especially on children. According to studies, this will help reduce soda consumption by 15% and will help raise around $24 billion in four years to help health reforms.

Although this soda tax proposal doesn't sound like a bad idea, it would not make much of a difference on soda consumption but will certainly increase the governments budget. Americans should be free to make their own decisions on what they want to eat, whether its healthy. It’s not the government’s responsibility to try and fix our diet. "Taxes are not going to teach our children how to have a healthy lifestyle," said Susan Neely, president of the American Beverage Association. This in fact is true, taxes are not going to make people healthy just because soda will cost a couple of cents more. States that are already paying such tax also show high obesity rates so taxing soda is simply another way of raising revenue. The government knows this tax wouldn't stop people from consuming soda and this is the reason why they insist it goes through. As long as they have their money, that's all it matters. If the government cared so much about our children’s health, why only tax soda if it's not the only product in the market causing obesity?. Taxing soda is not going to reduce obesity, it will only increase consumption of other high calorie drinks.

Advertisement Should Not Be Allowed In Schools!

Fast food is famous all around America not only because is good tasting, quick, and convenient but mostly because it’s extremely cheap. It is very popular because with less than $5.00, you can get a filling meal. You can come across a fast food restaurant anywhere you go and it is always full with people. However, fast food is made with cheap ingredients such as high fat meat, refined grains, and added sugar and fats, instead of nutritious foods such as lean meats, fresh fruits, and vegetables. This is why as we all know, America is facing an obesity epidemic, specially children. The fast food chain use children as their main target for adverting anywhere possible but what is very aggravating is the fact that even schools are now serving and promoting fast food even though they know it‘s very unhealthy.

The Fast food industry has grown enormously over the years due to its advertising strategies. In chapter 2, “Your Trusted Friends” from his book Fast food Nation, Eric Schlosser makes the reader become aware of techniques fast food restaurants such as McDonald’s use to advertise their products. He explains why children have become the main target for advertising. “The aim of most children’s advertising is straightforward: get kids to nag their parents and nag them well” (43). He makes it very clear that the reason why advertisers go after children is because parents will buy anything for their kids as long as they stop nagging. Another reason why kids are its main target is because children are easily influenced by commercials on TV or ads they see on the street so kids are more likely to be tempted and ask their parents for that certain product being advertise.

“Not satisfied with marketing to children through playgrounds, toys, cartoons, movies, videos, charities, and amusements parks, through contests, sweepstakes, games, and clubs, via television, radio, magazines, and the Internet” (51) says Eric Schlosser, fast food chains are now even advertise and served in most public schools. School is suppose to be a place where children learn good things that will help them in their future but if they see ads of a hamburger with French fries around the hallways, they will be given a good image of fast food and will also be tempted to eat it. Fast food should not be advertised or served in schools because this will only confuse the kids and make them think it is okay to eat it but what they don’t know is that as good tasting as it may be, it ruins their health. Parents send their kids to school every morning thinking school is a “safe learning place” but what doesn’t cross their mind is that they should also be concerned about what their kids are being served for lunch.

I decided to take a trip to my cousin’s middle-school and see what she was eating for lunch myself. As soon as I walked in the lunchroom, I came across 3 vending machines. Two were full of junk food and the other one contained every type of soda brand including Coca Cola, Sprite, Pepsi and a few others. The menu for that day was cheeseburger, chicken nuggets, or pizza. The children have the option to pick one of these and it’s served along with French Fries including a little bag with mayonnaise and ketchup. Is it very upsetting to see that although most children consider school to be their second home, they are being fed food that will damage their health system. Instead of serving and helping advertise fast food, schools need be teaching the children why eating healthy food is important and how unhealthy and dangerous the consequences of eating fast food can be. Perhaps a health class where the children can learn ways to have a healthy lifestyle such as exercising, eating a balanced diet, taking vitamins etc. will help prevent children from eating as much junk food. Or better yet, the schools can simply stop selling, serving and advertising junk food.

Now a days, obesity in children is a massive problem. The main cause of obesity is obviously the unhealthy life-style children carry. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that “some very obese children have high blood pressure and cholesterol. And Kaiser experts treat some teens with Type 2 diabetes, a weight-linked disease that normally hits adults older than 40. In fact, the group of U.S. residents at highest risk for diabetes is Latino girls: More than half the Latino girls born in 2000 will develop diabetes unless the nation's eating and exercise patterns change” says Andy Dworkin in his article Health Every Period. It is very dangerous and life-risking for children to have these type of diseases and if advertising for fast food in schools continue, this will only increase the amount of obese children. Isn’t incredible to think that if children keep on eating processed food, their lives will be shorter than their own parents?.

However, the problem of children eating so much fast food isn’t only schools. Parents should also be well informed of what they are feeding their kids. In some cases, parents who please their children because they feel guilty they don’t spend much time with their kids are the ones who usually think that taking them to McDonald’s or perhaps buying them what they want is a way to make up for it. Then, there’s those parents who take their kids to McDonald’s, Burger king or any other fast food restaurant that attract kids as way of rewarding their children for good behavior or getting good grades at school. In other cases, it is simply because as we all know, fast food is way cheaper than healthy food. What ever the case might be, we should keep in mind that parents are a big influence on kids and if the parents are unhealthy, there is a big possibility that the children will be unhealthy as well.

In conclusion, There is a place and time for everything and school is simply not the right place for fast food adverting. Kids spend half their day in school and should be learning stuff that will be for their own benefit not being served food that is putting them in risk of suffering from diseases that can cause their own death.




Dworkin, Andy. "Health Every Period." Editorial. 24 Mar. 2010. Web.
Schlosser, Eric. “Your Trusted Friends.” Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2001. 31-58. Print.

Outline Essay #1

Thesis: Fast food should not be allowed in public schools.

Body Paragraph 1: Fast food is unhealthy therefore; it shouldn't be advertised in schools.

Body Paragraph 2: Kids are the main target for advertisement this is why fast food is advertise in schools.

Body Paragraph 3: Fast food increases the risk of kids suffers from obesity.

Body Paragraph 4: Children are now suffering from adult illness such as diabetes type 2 and this is all consequences of eating fast food.



Fast food contains many different types of chemicals causing children's health system to get weak and produce many illnesses. Schools should be a safe place for students and serving fast food to them shows they don't care for the children. Schools need to explain to students why eating healthy food is important and teach them ways to have a healthy lifestyle. Fast food should not be advertised in public schools because it only makes the children think that is good for them meanwhile it only ruins their health.

Now a day, obesity in children is a massive problem. The main cause of obesity is the unhealthy life style children carry. Not only are kids suffering from obesity but now they are also suffering from adult illness such as Diabetes Type 2, High cholesterol and many others. Fast food only keeps making the number of obese children increase and it should not be allowed in any school.

MLA Annotated Bibliography

“SPRINGER; Eat, drink and be merry?” NewsRx Science. May17, 2009.
Expanded Reporting; pg. 80

An article explaining the relationship between fast food and soft drink consumptions and children’s happiness. It includes a study of the effects in children’s body weight and their mood according to what they eat. In result of this study, they noticed that children who came from a lower income household are the ones who are more likely to be obese or overweight. According to the people who made this study, “children who ate fast food and drank soft drinks were more likely to be overweight, but they were also less likely to be unhappy.”



“Linking Fast Food Proximity To Obesity” State News Service. March 4, 2009

An article showing studies by the University of California- Berkeley on how fast food restaurants are mainly located near schools, being the major cause for children’s obesity . They also analyzed a weight gain on pregnant mothers and their proximity to fast food outlets. This article shows percentages of fast food restaurants located around high schools in California. The more fast food restaurants being located, the more the percentage of obesity among children’s will increase.



Pettus, Emily Wagster. "Fattest State's Lawmakers Shed Pounds,fried Stuff." The Associated Press Domestic News March24, 2010.

An article which was recently published in the news explaining that the main reason why people in the U.S are overweight is because they are eating fast food. It doesn’t matter the career or how educated people are, even law markers eat fast food. This article shows that regardless how educated one can be or who we are, everyone can be overweight if unhealthy food is being eaten.


McClellan, Cornell. "Getting Kids in Shape Is a Family Affair; Commit to Healthy Eating Habits and Keep Everyone Active." Chicago Sun Times 03 Mar. 2010. Web

In this article the author briefly explains obesity and the different types of diseases that can also be caused from eating fast food. After, the author gives many tips and ideas on how to prevent obesity such as cooking at home, carrying a healthy lifestyle, not using food as a reward to encourage good behavior and many other interesting tips. He also recommends to exercise because having a healthy diet is not enough.



JALONICK, MARY CLARE. "Corn farmers say Food Inc. shouldn't win Oscar." Associated Press Online, Entertainment News. 05 Mar. 2010.

An article explaining the reasons why Farmers are protesting against Food Inc. and it's oscar award nomination. The author briefly gives a summary of the film. Although the film not only shows a negative side, the farmers are complaining becuase they say that after that flim, their reputation would suffer significally.