Senses

 "Acquired Tastes" going extinct thanks to capitalism

Capitalism has seeped into every aspect of decision-making, stunting the developmental growth associated with the progression into adulthood, especially in dietary choices. Today, the bitter tastes our grandparents loved because of low prices are becoming a relic of the past as adults cling to their childish love for sweets and aversions to less biologically-incentivized flavors.  Fruit and vegetable sales are falling, forcing companies to genetically modify them into sweeter versions and coffee is rarely seen without milk and sugar today; why? Humans naturally crave sweet, oily, carb-heavy foods because they contain the most energy--an evolutionary benefit--but the high prices that forced older generations to adopt healthier diets are reversed today.  Per calorie, sugar-loaded foods are infinitely cheaper than produce, so the majority of lower-income adults in developed nations opt for childhood favorites instead of switching to black coffee and salads, meaning that these classic cult flavors may fall to the wayside in the near future.  

I think this is a major issue and likely due to the convenience of fast food.  In these nations, obesity is a growing concern, primarily amongst the lowest socio-economic levels, and this seems to be a positive feedback loop that will continuously eat away at overall health indexes.  Because humans have a natural appreciation for fatty foods, corporations prey on the poor and market their products as cheap and addictive to increase profit yields.  This is predatory and cruel, requiring immediate action on the legislative side to cap healthy food prices and maintain the acquired taste we love.