Human Geo Test

48/50= 96%

Human Geo Test

Practice Test Score

I got 29/50 on the map (58%).

Reflection Essay

Kristen Kohles

10/15/10

After watching the videos in class and discussing how the distribution of food has changed not only in just the United States, but all over the world, my outlook on the food I eat has been completely altered. The videos were a wakeup call for me, as they should be for most people, because I learned exactly how the food I consume is produced. Because the videos were very realistic, it caused some negative reactions from me and my peers. The class discussions that were held were very helpful because it was good to hear everyone’s input and opinion on how they feel about this “secretive” food production system. I consider it “secretive” because companies all over the world do not want their consumers to know the truth of how and where their products are actually made. But now that some of us have a better understanding, I hope others will join me in making changes in the way I eat.

The image of a farm was once seen as a large or small piece of land, lush in plenty of grass, crops, and animals. Now a days, this scene no longer exists in many places. Many farms currently are not very “green” anymore and have made some other major changes. One of these changes includes what they feed the animals. Cows, in our old image of an average farm, would feed on grass and grow and “get big” naturally. Today, many farmers are feeding their cows corn. This seems very not normal but the farmers’ motive for doing this is to save money. Corn is a major crop grown nationally and is in abundance. Since there is so much corn, the demand for it decreases, resulting in a very cheap price to pay for it. Yes, in a way, this does make sense for farmers to do this, but it does not benefit the cow. While they can always provide their cows and cattle with plenty of it, the corn doesn’t not give them the same nutrients as grass. The grass also provides the cow with all the natural minerals and vitamins it needs to live. Because the cows are lacking in all of these, their diet is not as good as it could be. Without even being given an option, the farmers continue to feed their animals corn. To get all the same effects of the grass, the cows are injected with chemicals and steroids. The steroids obviously increase the cow’s growth, resulting in more “useful” meat. Also, artificial minerals and vitamins are mixed into their food. I personally would rather eat meat from cows grown and fed naturally, but that’s just my opinion. Maybe other people are okay with knowing their food has been injected with hormones and chemicals.

Another point of the videos that caught my attention was how easily food poisoning and viruses such as e coli and salmonella are spread. I don’t go to fast food restaurants much, but when I do, I am not one to order a burger. I have always known that it’s not real beef, only about 20% of the burger is actually beef, and the videos just proved and enforced my point. I usually will order a salad, but even the chicken on my salad, was injected with steroids and chemicals to help to chicken “get bigger.” But the thing that is really important and makes me never want to eat fast food again, is how dirty the kitchen is. Employees need to wash their hands thoroughly, wear gloves and hair nets, and separate the different foods and utensils. This means that they need to be careful not to use the same knife to cut into meat as they do to cut up a tomato. This is because the meat could contain e coli, then would be spread to the tomato that easily. There have been many cases of people getting some form of food poisoning each day, and will continue to be more if the health regulations are not changed. Also it is extremely important for people to make sure they wash their fruits and vegetables before eating them. This is because the food is dirty. It has been through many factories and on many trucks. Something such as grapes, need to be washed because they most likely have preservatives, fertilizers, and other chemicals still on them. The factories and people handling the food aren’t clean and this is a contributing factor for people getting food borne illnesses.  There are many people out there, telling their personal stories, or stories of others, trying to convince and teach people about the truth behind their food. More people need to listen and become more educated about this, even if it’s just watching videos in class.

Something as simple as a little kid drinking a glass of milk could now be considered dangerous. This is because the milk also contains many hormones and steroids, causing children to develop earlier than normal. This is just one other reason why many people today are starting to buy organic. I think it’s a good idea and want to start going organic. Organic food is naturally grown with no added hormones or other chemicals. This just helps you know that the food you eat is more safe and natural. You can feel safe about what you eat when you go organic, because the organic food has to be certified by the USDA and needs to pass all the regulations to be considered an organic food. Organic food also takes people back to that image we used to know as an average farm, a farm with grass and animals actually eating the grass. More people should consider buying more organic products or even becoming a vegetarian. After watching some of the scenes in the videos, I know that thought crossed my mind more than once. My mom and I only eat veggie or turkey burgers, showing that we are aware of and care about what is put into our food. I understand that it is cheaper to produce food in other countries, but after hearing all these facts and facing the reality of our food, I hope more people will be smart and buy locally.

I was most surprised at how careless people can be sometimes. For your health and the health of others, people need to be more cautious with what they buy. Employees need to take charge and make sure the kitchens are clean, and kept that way. The videos we watched in class really showed all the hidden information companies don’t want us to know. I’m going to try my best to change my diet and the diet of my family too. I will read labels, wash food more thoroughly, and only order/eat something that I know is considered “real food.”

Food Distribution Map

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=109265955270225738222.0004925888f51020537cf&ll=38.272689,-105.117187&spn=102.420428,296.71875&z=2

New Jersey to Maryland- 129 miles
Connecticut to Maryland- about 300 miles
Idaho to Maryland- about 2,450 miles
California to Maryland- about 2,820 miles
Nebraska to Maryland- about 1,400 miles
Oregon/Washington to Maryland- about 2,750 miles
Minneapolis to Maryland- about 1,200 miles
Michigan to Maryland- about 750 miles
Texas to Maryland- about 1,600 miles
Missouri to Maryland- about 950 miles
Florida to Maryland- about 1,000 miles
Illinois to Maryland- about 800 miles
New York to Maryland- about 200 miles
Ohio to Maryland- about 430 miles
Pennsylvania to Maryland- about 200 miles


Just in the United States, my food travels a total of about 16, 979 miles.
The delivery trucks that get about 10 miles per gallon, would use about 1,698 gallons of gas.
The price of gas is $2.75 per gallon so the total cost for all this gas would be $4,669.23

Food Journal

Monday:
       Dinner

• Meatloaf (ground beef- Safeway brand, eggs- Lucerne, bread crumbs- Progresso, onion, bbq sauce-Kraft, salt- Morton, pepper- McCormick, milk- Lucerne)
• Apple Cinnamon Bread (flour- Gold, sugar- Safeway brand, baking soda- Arm & Hammer, vanilla- McCormick, vinegar- America's Choice, cinnamon- McCormick, eggs- Lucerne, vegetable oil- Wesson, Apples- Imported from New York)
• Water- Shop Rite Spring water

     Snacks

• Doritos- Frito Lay
• Apple Juice- Safeway brand

Tuesday:
        Breakfast:

• English muffin- Thomas, with butter- Countrycrock
• Orange juice- Tropicana

       Lunch:

• Turkey and cheese sandwich (turkey breast- Primtaglio, cheese- Kraft, mayo- Kraft, mustard- French's, bread- Pepperidge Farm)
• Banana- Chiquita
• Water- Shop Rite Spring Water

     Dinner:

• Lasagna- Stoffers
• Grape juice- Safeway brand
• Toast- Pepperidge Farm

     Snacks:

• Granola bar- Quaker

Wednesday:
             Breakfast:

• Honey Bunches Of Oats Cereal- Post
• Milk- Lucerne
• Orange Juice- Tropicana

           Lunch:

• Pb & J sandwich ( Bread- Pepperidge Farm, penut butter- Jif, jelly- Smucker's)
• Banana- Chiquita
• Goldfish- Pepperidge Farm

        Dinner:

• Mashed Potatoes- Countrycrock
• Chicken- Safeway brand
• Apple juice- Safeway brand
• Ketchup- Heinz

       Snacks:

• Sushi- Fujisan
• Party mix- Utz

Thursday:
         Breakfast:

• Honey Bunches of Oats Cereal- Post
• Orange juice- Tropicana
• Milk- Lucerne

      Lunch:

• Turkey and cheese sandwich (turkey breast- Primtaglio, cheese- Kraft, mayo- Kraft, mustard- French's, bread- Pepperidge Farm)
• Banana- Chiquita
• Cheese Crackers- Keebler

     Dinner:

• Grilled Cheese Sandwich- (Bread- Schmidt's Old Tyme, cheese- Kraft, butter- Countrycrock)
• Ketchup- Heinz
• Tomato Soup- Campbell's
• Milk- Lucerne

    Snacks:

• Goldfish- Pepperidge Farm
• Party mix- Utz

Bananas (Chiquita) imported from Costa Rica.
Apples imported from New york.


* Each day i also drank John Carroll's tap water for soccer practice.