I was walking around my local supermarket tonight and I noticed...?

Question

That all the special offers such as buy one get one free etc were on "Junk food" Is this a conspiracy subsidised by the government so that we are less likley to live into our 80,s and 90,s (and beyond) therefore less of a drain on the tax system. Think about it people who are oap,s are not "economically viable" Therefore it could be a plan by the Government to reduce life expectancy by having us all overweight and unfit which (as a rule) = shorter life expectancy. Just a thought. Cheers

Also look at the price of fruit and veg. It has gone through the roof in the last couple of years.

Carl P.....If you had a brain you would be dangerous (14th answer down)..

Answer 1

I noticed that too, like sausage rolls and pies and all that really fatty stuff. I think it's because they buy it in cheap and the people that eat that cr*p are well up for a bargain. Not that I'm not up for a bargain but you know what I mean!! :o)

Answer 2

There are just too many holes.

Maybe in your store on this night -- but I've gotten deals and specials on good food -- fruits, vegs, fresh OJ.

The government and stores and suppliers aren't all in cohoots on this, anyway.

Many fresh things are going to be high, since there's been some crazy weather this year (California, the whole Central Valley of which grows all kinds of food, had some severe freezing, for example.)

Sometimes the store gets a deal and passes it on.

Sometimes they bought too much of something, and need to unload it before the expiration date.

But the government doesn't set prices on everything.

Those who make and sell junk do have an interest in keeping us "addicted" to it, so that may be part of what you're seeing.

Bad health would be more expensive to the government than good health.

You live, have no heart attacks or strokes, and die in your sleep at home, never having had to take meds every day.

That's cheap.

Sorry. It may have been a fun thought to have, but no, I don't think your theory holds water.

Too many things don't fit.

Answer 3

Good question. I work for a supermarket, and I'm the evil one who puts all these things on special (well, I gotta pay for my overly expensive fruit and veg somehow). It's not only junk food, but also cosmetics that are frequently on special. I can't think of one Western nation with a govt. intelligent enough to come up with a plan like you've suggested, so I'm running with the big business theory. The fact is, people like convenience. The big businesses know very well that most of us work too much, make too little, and don't have much time on our hands. The solution? Convenience food. It's all about them making the big bucks. Granted, people don't live as long with bad diets and lack of exercise, but if you consider ongoing medical conditions experienced by these people before death (diabetes, heart conditions, etc.), then there's still a drain on the govt. to provide health care for the poor and it's not really advantageous. A healthy guy is more likely to drop dead in the middle of his morning run and not cost much to look after beforehand.

Answer 4

Wow, I can't believe how many people are taking this question at face value. Your amusing observation about a possible conspiracy raises the valid point that healthier food options are over-priced and fatty processed ones are cheap. Indeed, fatty mass produced foods cost less to produce and sadly it will, as usual, be the poor who fund the healthy retirement of those who are better off than themselves, while not living long enough to enjoy their own twilight years! The conspiracy you highlight would be more likely when one considers the appalling school dinners record, meaning a generation of children have been pumped full of chips, burgers and beans, five days a week for many years. Hmmmm, now we may be onto something!

Answer 5

Number one, great question, you may be on to something. You may want to read the book "Fast Food Nation", it is a real eye opener. Especially how the fact that the FDA doesn't require food manufacturers to include 60-70% of additional preservatives that are included in our processed food. The other eye opener? The bleaching process used in making chicken for McDonald's chicken McNuggets, read the book you will never eat fast food or a Swanson TV dinner again.

Answer 6

I doubt that very much, our government isn`t that clever!! It is probably because of all the public information about `eating properly`. Junk food and pre-made foods are what the food manufacturers make most profit on, so if as a nation we have decided to eat sensibly, the sales of junk food must have fallen. This is a way to persuade people to buy it.

Answer 7

I noticed this a few years ago when i read Atkins' book and tried the diet. It is hard to go on a carb free diet when the store has aisle after aisle of mass-produced, carb-based foods. It's not the government as much as the free market, with profits to be made on investments in grain and sugar.

Answer 8

Do you have any hard numbers or studies to back up your assertation? For this to be a government conspiracy, tens of thousands of people would have to be in on it. The idea of a government conspiracy is pretty simple minded, try to think more logically. One theory... Processed foods are pretty cheap to produce relative to fresh food and already have a high mark up. This allows manufactures to put them on "sale" and still make money.

Answer 9

Yah, tell me about it. Maybe you saw all the sale displays when school started--same deal, and it drives me nuts. Then "they" wonder why kids are fat and have ADHD when all they make available to the kids to eat is the crap filled with additives, fat, salt, and preservatives. And God forbid that the parents would get up off their azzs and took a walk, biked, threw or kicked a ball with their kids a few minutes every night. No, just take the easy way out and cram them with fast and processed food and tell them to get out of my face. Sorry for the soap box tirade, but you struck a tender nerve with me. Thanks. Salute.

Answer 10

a very valid point,tescos however do many cut price deals on fruit and veg and fresh meats I suppose you can only fall into the trap thats set if you chose too.We all know what our kids and we all should be eating so let the government play its games while we all make the best choices for our kids