Capital and Food Additives

In the GCSE past Science A papers one question asks why a food additive might be added to food. The answer given is that it will sell more of the product.

You would expect in a market where people bought what they wanted freely that people would get what they wany - yet it is fascinating that markets often operate against the consumer.

The bias is caused again by Capital. Businesses make moves not toward the customer but toward protection of Capital. If they can trick the consumer then capital will trick the consumer. So food additives like colours which are officially added for the benefit of the customer may actually harm the customer. Sudan 1 you might have thought would have been thoroughily tested before being "added" yet so great is the capital return of colouring a food that the customer's health was risked instead.

How odd that people accept a system which actually puts them second! That is really quite remarkable!!