Fashion Designer: 'If You Can't Afford Organic Food, Eat Less'

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British designer Vivienne Westwood is not one for subtle activism, but her recent comments during a protest came off more tone deaf than anything else. While participating in a petition against genetically modified food, a BBC press member asked her about solutions for people who can't afford to buy organic, non-genetically modified food due to how expensive it is. In response, she said that those people should "eat less."

She goes on to explain herself, a little. "You've got all these processed foods, which is the main reason people are getting fat," Westwood said. "They're not actually good for you—they don't give you strength, they give you weight. I eat vegetables and fruit. I don't eat meat. I believe meat is bad for me—I don't eat it. It's also bad for the animals. But if there was a movement to produce more organic food and less of the horrible food, then organic food would obviously be a good value price, wouldn't it?" The supply and demand argument would probably be more effective, though, without saying non-organic eaters should stop eating so much.
· Westwood Advises: "Eat Less" [Vogue UK]
· Vivienne Westwood Showers for PETA and the Environment [Racked]
· Model Elettra Weidemann Struggles With Healthy Eating, Just Like a Normal [Racked]