Chapter 4-5 Reflection

In these last two chapters, Patel explores the hidden truths behind the global food system; what you enjoy eating every day can be taken for granted. If you did not recognize what went into the banana that you’re eating, or all of the drama that was ensued in order for you to be able to drink a nice cup of tea, feel blessed and be grateful.
Patel defines this struggle between the United States and various other countries when he reveals the power gained by companies when consolidation occurs—corporations gain “the ability to change the rules of the game” (107). When companies consolidate and join forces, one will become very powerful, obviously, while other competitors will perish and fall victim. The same ideal goes along with country versus another country, and the gain of food and agricultural freedom. Patel discusses this subject more in detail with the complicity of the United Fruit Company in Central America. In previous years, Central America, in this case, would provide much of the world, especially the United States with fruits and other various foods. With providing this, much impoverishment entailed as more food would be shipped at the cost of the workers and shippers was spent. These “Banana Republics,” as Patel refers them, are hiding the “history of rapacity and violence...” while emphasizing the “...comically inept regimes installed by the export corporations” (101). The United States’ food quality is worsening along with the many third-world countries that are suffering--producing way too much for the United States without any thanks or return in food quality. Corporations are consolidating and working these countries only so far to bring business up “not for any wider social goal, but for profit” (105). This type of corporate ideal, only bring business and relationships further down then they may already be. Producing too much profit sounds like a good thing, but too much can be too bad, and can ensue in a war.
This war could very well be between consumer and corporation, or rather country versus country, or even food versus person. Many more people in this world are becoming poor and without food, as food quality goes down, and the global food battle that continues today. Patel conveys a list of worries that Cecil John Rhodes brings about with the increase in corporation and increase in the trouble with the food battle system. Rhodes worries that “(1) The poor are many, and growing in number; (2) There isn’t enough food to feed them all; (3) If there isn’t enough food to feed them, they will go hungry; (4) If they go hungry, there will be civil war; (5) Other countries have enough food to feed them” (84). Rhodes sums up Patel’s main point of Chapter 4, in this small list. As the food battle continues, food quality will continue to go down—people that can afford food will eat the high sugars, become obese, while those that cannot afford the food become poor and starve. Patel describes this decrease in food quality with expresisng tea that has “become a central part of the working class diet” (79) and has been used as “the original Jolt” (81). People drink it because it is easy, cheap, and fast, much as the world enjoys their food today. With this type of lifestyle of comfort and quickness all in one, food becomes simple and can be eaten anywhere.
Something needs to change in the current global food system. The world needs a wake up call before this economic and food quality decrease becomes worse. Rhodes’ advice needs to be taken seriously and food needs to be appreciated, especially in gratefulness to the countries that produce it. Consolidation needs to make a new stand as countries join together to stop the food battle against those corporations.