Probable source for that subsidy chart

[nancylebov]

Recently, I posted about this chart, and its provenance became an issue. I found the probable source by searching on "Why a salad costs more than a big mac".



It seems to be from Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, which is described as a PETA front.

For what it's worth, it only took me a couple of minutes to find something that I'm pretty sure is nonsense on the PCRM site:

Fatty foods such as meat or cheese dishes and many baked goods thicken our blood which in turn makes us feel tired, even lethargic. This is clearly not a good way to reduce stress! Even just one high-fat meal can increase our risk of a heart attack.

A site which says of the chart that figures are correct, but visual representation is not to scale.

I recommend How to Lie with Statistics.

Comments

[avram]

That PCRM page doesn't explain the asterisk either, so I don't think it's the origin for the image.

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

Ok, I'm taking it to Ask.Metafilter.

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

The missing footnote!.

[dcseain.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[avram]

Yay!

So there's a special subsidy just for apples?

[houseboatonstyx.livejournal.com]

Why a salad costs more? Maybe the same reason that I end up eating meat out of the freezer because the salad greens have wilted in the fridge.

Greens and vegs don't keep their salad-worthy consistency. If you freeze them they lose their texture. It's easier to ship and store meat that's frozen rock-hard, than to ship and store salad greens.

I haven't been following the statistics discussion, but of course government subsidies are a function of congressmen and what the voters have been getting for decades and their lobbies -- political pork. (And they influence the 'food pyramid' too.)

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

I suppose it would be more fair to compare the big mac to a hearty vegetable bean soup.

[houseboatonstyx.livejournal.com]

Depending on what fresh vegetables the soup contained.

[richardthinks.livejournal.com]

do you also know How To Lie With Maps?

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

Yes, and I was delighted by it.