How do public health policies and government regulations influence the food that we eat as a nation? what does cooper mean when she says that the government 'commodifies' food?

Definitely the government regulations influence the food that we eat as a nation. When Ann Cooper talks about "commoditie" food is talking about junk food that sickens people. However, I don't agree with government intervention in things that we eat or drink. I believe there should be more reasonable freedom in what we eat. or drink as long as it is not poison. Lately something happened in Peru and a well-known and respected food company was fined for not putting in the labels that what it was selling was not pure milk but a preparation containing milk although the government gave permission to use that label. As a consequence milk has gone up specially the milk sold by this company. Consumers ended up being harmed. That's why I believe more in the power of consumers deciding what is good or bad for themselves.