Introduction
Note: This article is not one of my usual Science Made Simple posts, but a commentary regarding an interaction that occurred on social media.
Yesterday, I posted a photo on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter of some fresh chicken that I had bought and prepared. Real food is a perfectly normal topic for a Dietitian to write about, right? The photo simply showed the chicken before and after I had cut it into legs and breasts. The caption indicated that real food shouldn’t look foreign; real chicken comes with a head, feet, and bones, in contrast to the pre-cut, plastic-wrapped versions found in supermarket Styrofoam trays.
Censorship of Real Food
Presumably, someone found this photo of chicken to be offensive and reported it to Instagram. While I wasn’t notified of the censorship, several followers informed me that the photo was blurred out and deemed to contain “sensitive content.” A physician colleague commented on the absurdity of the situation: “I cannot believe a photo of food is blurred as ‘sensitive content.’ It is absolutely mind-boggling. But it’s totally fine to be constantly inundated with ads for crap that make us feel bad about ourselves, making us buy junk we don’t need.”
What is Truly Offensive?
There is a profound difference between real food and the processed food-like substances we are encouraged to consume. If a photo of whole chicken is considered “disturbing,” we must ask what we should actually be offended by. I find it offensive when individuals face amputations due to uncontrolled diabetes. I find it disturbing when people struggle to lose weight because of insatiable cravings for engineered processed foods. I find it disturbing that many children now view “chicken” only as something boneless, deep-fried, and served with sweetened dipping sauces.
Ultra-Processed vs. Whole Food
I find the use of industrial seed oils, methylcellulose, and pea protein isolates masquerading as “meat” to be offensive. While I support vegetarians and vegans having plant-based options, these products should not be marketed as “better” than meat. An ultra-processed mixture of refined coconut oil, potato starch, maltodextrin, and various gums is not preferable to a whole, real food with a single ingredient: “beef.”
The Right to Choose
Individuals have the right to choose what they eat without judgment. There is no one-size-fits-all diet, and those who choose to eat meat, fish, or poultry should not be vilified or censored. We should focus our concern on the health consequences of ultra-processed diets rather than the sight of actual, whole ingredients.
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Joy
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Joy is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and owner of BetterByDesign Nutrition Ltd. She has a postgraduate degree in Human Nutrition, is a published mental health nutrition researcher, and has been supporting clients’ needs since 2008. Joy is licensed in BC, Alberta, and Ontario, and her areas of expertise range from routine health, chronic disease management, and digestive health to therapeutic diets. Joy is passionate about helping people feel better and believes that Nutrition is BetterByDesign©.