New research shows that a few large businesses control roughly 80% of the market for dozens of food items used by normal Americans.
The Guardian and Food and Water Watch concluded that consumer choice is mostly an illusion, despite supermarket shelves and fridges full of brands.
A few big global firms control the whole food supply chain, from seeds and fertilizers to slaughterhouses, supermarkets, cereals, and breweries.
Political lobbying and lax regulation allowed unfettered mergers and acquisitions, which increased these mega firms' size, influence, and profits.
These mega-companies' size and influence allow them to decide what America's 2 million farmers cultivate ,,,
and how much they are paid, what customers eat, and how much groceries cost.
At least half of the 10 lowest-paid positions are in the food industry, meaning people who harvest, pack, and sell our food have the least power.
Meat processing industries and farms are among the most dangerous and exploitative workplaces.
Farmers receive barely 15 cents of every supermarket dollar. The rest goes to food processing and marketing.
The Guardian and Food and Water Watch found that the top companies control 64% of sales for 61 major grocery items.
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