Big Agri and the foodie feedback loop

Chicago

BIG Agriculture is stuck in a foodie feedback loop. Chipotle Mexican Grill's decision to phase out genetically modified foods, Panera Bread's ban on 150 artificial ingredients and a recent move by McDonald's to stop buying chickens fed with human antibiotics are part of the same trend. Consumers are revolting against industrial agriculture and demanding a return to more authentic fare. There's the risk of a snowball effect as others follow suit.

The backlash is real, but intellectually muddled. While scientists worry that fattening livestock with human medicines poses risks to health, genetically modified (GM) foods are widely considered safe. Artificial preservatives might be hard to pronounce, but they also cut food waste and help prevent food poisoning - benefits that often get lost in the debate over what counts as "wholesome".