Big Food is making its move into the "digital health space" as grocery chain giant Albertsons announced the roll-out of its "Sincerely Health" platform along with a new app where customers "can connect data from wearables, integrate prescriptions, design their diet and make telehealth or vaccination appointments."
Albertsons, which includes other mega grocery chains such as Safeway, Vons, Shaw’s, Jewel-Osco, Acme and Tom Thumb, among others, is currently in talks to merger with Kroger, another mega grocery chain, which would give them 36% control over the grocery supermarket business in the United States.
Walmart, the largest grocery chain in the U.S., offers something similar, as they recently teamed up with Avanlee Care, which offers caregivers a similar platform integrated with Walmart shopping lists and pharmacy tools.
Your grocery purchasing habits have been considered very valuable data for decades now, with most major supermarkets offering things like "loyalty" cards that give discounts on grocery products.
But now, Big Food wants to merge that with your Big Pharma purchases as well, which would include prescription drug purchases as well as vaccines.
It's not difficult then to see just how Big Food can now potentially use this data against you.
These apps that combine your drug, vaccine, food, and doctor appointment purchases could easily be used in the future to prevent you from accessing these purchases if you do not comply with their requirements, such as being up-to-date on your vaccines.
Those who receive government aid, such as food stamps, Section 8 housing, Medicare/Medicaid, etc., could all be tied into the information you provide on these apps.
Don't do it! It is not worth the rebates or food coupon discounts you receive if you have to surrender your personal data to receive such "benefits."
