Nutrition and $

[Externet]

Hi. To be able to function, feed the body, perform properly,
what differentiates between eating a $1/lb plain beef steak
and a $ 8/lb NewYork steak ?

And a plain lettuce, compared with the fanciest and pricey
one; chicken compared to pheasant; what are the nutritive
differences?

A common cheap bean, compared to expensive kinds; tilapia
fillet compared to yellowfin tuna fillet; peanuts compared
to brasilian nuts... Do they really deserve the price
because of nutritive content or is it all about taste or
nearly only taste ?

Miguel

[Tc]

Externet wrote:
> Hi. To be able to function, feed the body, perform properly,
> what differentiates between eating a $1/lb plain beef steak
> and a $ 8/lb NewYork steak ?
>
> And a plain lettuce, compared with the fanciest and pricey
> one; chicken compared to pheasant; what are the nutritive
> differences?
>
> A common cheap bean, compared to expensive kinds; tilapia
> fillet compared to yellowfin tuna fillet; peanuts compared
> to brasilian nuts... Do they really deserve the price
> because of nutritive content or is it all about taste or
> nearly only taste ?
>
> Miguel

Supply and demand drives prices. If demand exists for any
reason, valid or not, reality-based or not, and the demand
exceeds the supply by even a small margin, price will rise
significantly. Demand could be high due to the silliest
reasons and rarely, or ever, is it related to true nutritional
value. Caviar is not an essential food product nor is it any
more or less nutritious than other fish roe, yet some brands
are thousands of dollars a lb. Kobe beef is no more nutritious
than any other well-raised beef, but the mystique around it
makes it expensive. Same with some mushrooms. In these cases
taste is a factor, but mystique and rarity of the product is
also a significant factor in the price. The better tasting the
food and the lower the supply, and the more mystique and
exoticism (ie. buzz), the higher the price will be.

TC

[Externet]

Thanks TC.

I disagree with "supply and demand" being the reason for
prices; but that is subject for another forum (to me, it is
pure speculation and not a bit of anything else)

I take it as yes; the nutritional value of food is unrelated
to its price. Shame. Miguel

[Jim Chinni]

"Externet" <externet@inorbit.com> wrote in part:

>Thanks TC.
>
>I disagree with "supply and demand" being the reason for
>prices; but that is subject for another forum (to me, it is
>pure speculation and not a bit of anything else)
>
>I take it as yes; the nutritional value of food is unrelated
>to its price. Shame. Miguel

Nutritional value increases cost in many cases. Examples are
grass-fed meats, organic produce, and the like. Foods made
with oils rather than trans-fat are more perishable and
hence more expensive, but more "nutritious." Highly
processed flours and their products are cheaper than similar
flours and products made from whole grains or whole kernels
because they have higher shelf-lives and can be shipped and
stored more cheaply.

I'd say that in general whole foods cost more than processed
ones. Orange juice from a concentrate is cheap; the same
amount of oranges is much more expensive unless you are at
the grove.

That's across single product lines. When it comes to comparing
across products, such as caviar vs chocolate or black beans,
supply and demand of course still control the price, but
comparisons get more complex.
--
Jim Chinnis Warrenton, Virginia, USA jchinnis@alum.mit.edu

[George Che]

"Externet" <externet@inorbit.com> wrote in message
news:1150822443.793666.271420@g10g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> Thanks TC.
>
> I disagree with "supply and demand" being the reason for
> prices; but that is subject for another forum (to me, it is
> pure speculation and not a bit of anything else)
>
> I take it as yes; the nutritional value of food is unrelated
> to its price. Shame.

Completely unrelated???!!! Shame.