141st APHA Annual Meeting

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291927
Foodopoly: Shifting food and farm policy to protect public health

Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 10:45 AM - 11:00 AM

Wenonah Hauter , Food and Water Watch, Washington, DC
The presenter and author of Foodopoly: the battle over the future of food and farming in America, grew up on a family farm that her husband runs today as a Community Supported Agriculture Project (CSA), which is part of the growing local food movement. Yet, as one of the nation's leading healthy-food advocates, Hauter believes that the local food movement is not enough to solve America's food crisis and the public health debacle it has created. Through this presentation she will explain how the control of food production by a handful of large corporations—backed by political clout—prevents farmers from raising healthy crops, increases environmental pollution and limits the choices that people can make in the grocery store.

Based on her meticulous research, Hauter will describe the little-understood but vital realm of agricultural policy, showing how corporate power has taken precedence over human and environmental health. Once she has explained the status quo, Hauter will outline ways to solve this public health crisis. Solutions will require a complete structural shift—a change that is about politics, not just personal choice. Public health professionals, having fought and won such a battle with tobacco, are essential allies in making this much needed change.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Ethics, professional and legal requirements
Occupational health and safety
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Explain how disproportionate power in the food system impacts health Describe agriculture and food system policies and practices that would support health and how public health Outline how public health can help facilitate such practices and shifts in the corporate arena

Keywords: Occupational Exposure, Nutrition

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Wenonah is the Executive Director of Food & Water Watch. She has worked extensively on food, water, energy and environmental issues at the national, state and local level. Her book Foodopoly examines the corporate consolidation and control over our food system and what it means for farmers and consumers. Experienced in developing policy positions and legislative strategies, she is also a skilled and accomplished organizer, having lobbied and developed grassroots field strategy and action plans.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.