NEW DOCUMENTARY EXPOSES ULTRA-PROCESSED FOOD LIES WHILE CITIES IGNORE WORKFORCE HEALTH ECONOMICS
A new documentary called “Food Lies” exposes how ultra-processed foods contribute to chronic diseases, highlighting an economic development factor most cities completely ignore: workforce health directly impacts business attraction and retention.
Companies increasingly consider employee health metrics when selecting locations because healthcare costs, sick leave, and productivity losses from diet-related illnesses affect their bottom lines. Communities with high rates of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity struggle to attract employers who understand these costs, while cities with healthier populations gain competitive advantages in business recruitment.
The documentary’s findings about food industry marketing deception should prompt cities to examine their own food policy decisions: Do zoning laws make healthy food access easier or harder? Are economic development incentives supporting businesses that contribute to community health or undermine it? How do local food systems affect workforce productivity and healthcare costs?
Cities that treat food policy as separate from economic development miss crucial connections between community health and business competitiveness. The communities that understand these relationships and act on them will capture businesses and residents who prioritize health-conscious environments.
