SOAS Research Online

A Free Database of the Latest Research by SOAS Academics and PhD Students

[skip to content]

Bayliss, Kate and Fine, Ben (2021) 'Food, Diet and the Pandemic.' Theory and Struggle, 122 (1). pp. 46-57.

[img]
Preview
Text - Accepted Version
Download (257kB) | Preview

Abstract

This article is concerned with the ways that diet-related health outcomes (including increased incidence and severity of Covid-19) are linked to the system of provision for food. Worldwide obesity has tripled in the past three decades, creating an immense strain on health services, with poor diet associated with 22 per cent of global deaths in 2017. We show that neoliberal and financialised global systems of food production have intensified dysfunctional practices such as land grabs and price speculation. Moreover, capitalist expansion of production inevitably creates pressures to increase consumption such that malnutrition from overeating runs neck and neck with undernutrition on a global scale. It is shown how food corporates (producers, retailers, and so on) are instrumental in creating avenues to affect our diets in ways that are far more effective than government campaigns to promote healthy eating. It is these powerful systemic corporate interests that need to be addressed in order to improve diets and consequent health outcomes.

Item Type: Journal Article
SOAS Departments & Centres: Departments and Subunits > Department of Economics
ISSN: 20570988
Copyright Statement: This is the version of the article/chapter accepted for publication in Theory and Struggle, 122 (1). pp. 46-57 published by Liverpool University Press. https://doi.org/10.3828/ts.2021.6 Re-use is subject to the publisher’s terms and conditions
DOI (Digital Object Identifier): https://doi.org/10.3828/ts.2021.6
Date Deposited: 30 Aug 2021 12:52
URI: https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/id/eprint/35477

Altmetric Data

Statistics

Download activity - last 12 monthsShow export options
Downloads since deposit
6 month trend
111Downloads
6 month trend
183Hits
Accesses by country - last 12 monthsShow export options
Accesses by referrer - last 12 monthsShow export options

Repository staff only

Edit Item Edit Item