Why we need to focus on eating as pleasure if we want to start eating healthier
From a commercial viewpoint there is already a lucrative market of people who want to eat healthier. Image: Shutterstock
Much has been written about the negative impact of the food system on the health of the planet and people, from the harmful effect that intensive agricultural practices have on the natural environment to the looming global health crisis resulting from unhealthy eating habits.
Many people believe that the food industry can do more to tackle the problems with food production, such as incentivising suppliers to adopt regenerative agricultural practices, but that it is the responsibility of governments and lawmakers to promote healthier eating habits.
However, based on extensive research into eating habits and food marketing, I would argue that there are practices that the food industry can adopt to change mindsets and help consumers make more positive dietary choices.
Food industry players know that they need to react to growing pressure from different stakeholders, be they governments, environmental groups or consumers, to change their business operations if they don’t want to lose out financially.
This is especially true in the Global South, where governments have more leverage over businesses and also face a much more pressing need to respond to the health crisis in the absence of robust healthcare infrastructure.
[This article is republished courtesy of INSEAD Knowledge, the portal to the latest business insights and views of The Business School of the World. Copyright INSEAD 2024]