Grist - Mythbusting: Cheap food does not equal higher quality of life

By Tom Philpott
December 15, 2010

"For decades, the federal government has watched idly while a few gigantic companies grabbed ever-greater control of the food industry. As big players gobble smaller ones, they concentrate power at the top of the food chain -- and apply relentless pressure to cut costs, giving rise to many of the things I hate about the food system. Workers, farmers, the environment, animals, public health -- all get abused so that mega-retailers like Walmart, meat producers like Smithfield, and corn processors like Cargill can keep costs down while profitably selling cheap food...."

http://www.grist.org/article/food-2010-12-15-cheap-does-not-equal-to-higher-quality-of-life