Portside

A few powerful transnational companies dominate every link of the food supply chain: from seeds and fertilizers to slaughterhouses and supermarkets to cereals and beers.

Nike’s Kaepernick ad continues — and tweaks — the tradition of brands commodifying politics. Kaepernick’s ad, and the message he offers, may illuminate the promise of innovative creative forms, including advertising.

In an era when the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are increasingly compromised, and workers in the American food industry are often poorly paid and under-protected, advocates and commentators must consciously work to dismantle the elitism that so often surrounds cultural discussions about food in the United States.

While the media is packed with material about consumer rights, there is seldom mention of workers’ rights.