Chan’s wife Ms. Tran immigrated to the States just a few years. She shares what she’d seen and heard in the States, as well as her perspectives on American society, particularly the food industry. It was she who inspired a group of us to form a company to design, manufacture, and sell some of the best healthy native Vietnamese and Chinese meals online, helping busy Americans easily access various healthy, ready-to-eat food options to improve their health.
Tran was surprised by what she saw in the American food industry. This contrast with Vietnam gave her her own perspective, which can be summarized into four points:
- The prevalence of obesity or overweight in the U.S. is primarily due to the long-term dietary patterns and eating habits. Most Americans consume excessive amounts of Ultra-processed and highly processed foods, along with their additives and preservatives, and consume relatively few fresh, diverse fruits and vegetables, whole foods, organic foods, and minimally processed, artisanal foods.
- The high degree of monopoly in the industry of restaurants and eateries is a reflection of the fact that the nation’s economy, across all sectors, is controlled and monopolized by a tiny minority of “Big Capital and Conglomerates.” These large chain businesses and franchises indirectly determine what people buy and what people eat, as they are the ultimate food suppliers. Simply put, only those super rich conglomerates have the right to speak and be heard, or to speak with authority — the power to lead and guide debate, or to set the parameters of acceptable discourse. This is what is known as American-style “Capitalism,” “Capital Supremacy,” or “Money Rules.”
- It is becoming increasingly difficult for many anonymous folk masters with outstanding culinary skills, conscientious and caring small businesses in the private sector to join the food industry and compete fairly. Many of these small business owners are sincerely willing to help this country and its people to improve its food structure and quality, but because they are too small, they lack Big Capital and funds and most of them are unable to afford those skyrocketing marketing expenses. As a result, many new and good foods and meals that are beneficial to health are unable to be made, promoted and popularized on a large scale in the market.
- For a long time, the American’s dietary habits and perspectives have been deeply ingrained, making Americans difficult to awaken or change fast. To achieve this, extensive online and offline education programs on dietary and food science and health care, media and personal outreach, the introduction of healthy foreign foods and cooking techniques to this country, and the integration of Eastern and Western influences are needed, drawing on the strengths of both East and West to overcome their weaknesses. The public needs to develop independent thinking and analytical skills, and cultivate an open, practical, flexible mindset and perspective that distinguishes right from wrong to address the current poor dietary and health conditions.
So, can the above be changed somewhat? Can it be achieved in certain period? Seriously, this issue concerns the health of our generation and even future generations, as well as the fate of our nation!
