Part 2: Illicit Activity at the Datura Farmers Market

Make sure to read Part 1!

It had been a rough few years since the ban was instituted. Although most reserves of sugar, oil and salt (SOS) had been confiscated, some people had managed to hide their stash and/or sell the coveted commodities on the black market. For a few years, Nell had been called to assist forces in the eastern states to crack down on people who were still trying to run maple syrup or honey-harvesting operations. Once the domestic SOS supply ran out, the international smuggling skyrocketed. Nell’s team had shut down 30+ leaks on the Mexican border, but now there appeared to be a new source.

Of course there had been a huge industry backlash. The processed food and beverage companies had poured billions of dollars into advertising campaigns in an attempt to squash the mountains of scientific findings that condemned SOS consumption as the worst hazard to human health in modern times. But several prominent consumer advocacy groups and a few good people in the government had prevailed, arguing that human health trumps corporate greed, and banning SOS had the potential of saving hundreds of thousands of lives every year in the U.S. alone.

The ban made an incredible ripple effect on the entire economy. Just within the following year, the rates of chronic disease had plummeted so greatly that hospitals and pharmaceutical companies had downsized and some even had to close their doors. Movie theaters were mostly shut down as well, since most of their revenue had come from selling soda, candy and popcorn. Clothing retailers that specialized in XX- and XXX-large clothing had no market. Weight loss supplement companies and the fad diet industry were hurting dearly.

But some local businesses were flourishing. Local agriculture, farmers markets and real food restaurants were doing very well. Nell initially struggled in her kitchen with trying to make food taste good without SOS, but she got creative with herbs and spices and her kids actually started liking their vegetables. It was amazing how their taste buds actually seemed to change after just a few weeks without SOS. Suddenly they could taste the delicate sweetness in nuts and cucumbers and the saltiness in melons and celery. She hadn’t realized how much they all really hadn’t been tasting their food when it had been smothered in SOS.

As Nell waded through the crowds at Datura Farmers Market, she moved purposefully towards the southwest corner. She identified Trenton without a problem, remembering him from high school days as the fat kid from the corner bakery. Thinking of old time bakery smells, she shuddered at the thought of all the apple pies and chocolate chip cookies her own mother had baked. How could we not have known any better? The information had been publicized for decades prior to the ban, but it got lost amidst all the USDA and food company propaganda. Unfortunately, the ban had come too late for her folks. Mom died of a stroke and dad of a heart attack.

In her 30s, Nell began struggling with her weight and tried one fad diet or exercise program after the next. But somehow she always gained back more than she’d lost. After the ban, it was incredible how her fat just melted away. She hadn’t realized how much of a part of her diet SOS had been. But there was some at every meal: in the sugar, oil, and salt in the salad dressing, oil and salt in the stir fry, sugar and salt in the tomato sauce, butter and syrup on her pancakes…good grief, the thought of all the crap she used to eat made her nauseous now. After a year without it, she wore the same pants size that she had in high school!

Nell watched Trenton for a moment as he wandered towards a table covered with a brightly-colored assortment of fruits and veggies. He exchanged a few words with the vendor, and she reached under the table for a filled brown paper sack. She passed it to Trenton as he handed her an envelope. Nell pulled out her tablet and worked at it for a minute. This was going to be too easy, with all these people milling about. After she pressed ‘send’, several bystanders in the vicinity stopped, pulled out their mobile devices, scrutinized them for a second, then looked around and spotted Trenton.

As the small crowd of folks closed in on him with outstretched arms and wide smiles, Trenton looked up and gasped in horror, “Oh god, not a CGH!” There was no escape. The group imprisoned him in a tightly woven Citizens’ Group Hug. Nell strolled over to the table, drew out her handcuffs and said, “Trenton, you’re under arrest. O.K., folks, thanks for your help. I’ll take him from here.” She nodded at the vendor. “And thank you, Johanna.”

“Goddamn you, Nell, you pig!” Trenton blurted from the smothering tangle of limbs. “You can’t get in my way of this. I can’t live without it!”

Several in the group rubbed his shoulders sympathetically. One of the men said consolingly, “Look, I know it’s hard to give it up, but the other side of addiction is so beautiful, you have no idea.”

“O.K., Trenton, let’s go,” Nell said, “The staff at the detox center are expecting you.”

Thanks for reading! Look for delicious SOS-free recipes in upcoming posts. 🍓

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References:

• Greger, Michael, M.D., with Gene Stone. (2015). How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease. New York, NY: Flatiron Books.
• Moss, Michael. (2013). Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us. New York, NY: Random House.

Images: Sourced from Pixabay, no attribution required

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About @InnerLight: I am a whole food plant based eater, scientific thinker, naturalist and student of life. Come along with me as I explore these topics and share science-based info and awesome recipes!