1. It became such a larger process to the modern diet because, white powder was nutritionally worthless. The history of refining whole food has been a history of figuring out ways not just make them more durable and portable, but also how to concentrate their energy and, in sense, speed them up. This acceleration took a great leap forward with the introduction in Europe around 1870 of rollers (made from iron, steel, or porcelain) for grinding grain. A great deal of modern industrial food can be seen as an extension and intensification of this practice as food processors find ways to deliver glucose ‐ the brain’s preferred fuel ‐ ever more swiftly and efficiently. Refining grains extends the shelf life (precisely because they are less nutritious …show more content…
People have been using refining cereal grains since at least the Industrial Revolution, favoring white flour and white rice over brown, even at the price of lost nutrients. Part of the reason was prestige: because for many years only the wealthy could afford refined grains, they acquired a certain glamour. Viewed from this perspective, the history of refining whole foods has been a history of figuring out ways just to make them more durable and portable, but also how to concentrate their energy and, in a sense, speed them up. Refining grains extends the shelf life and it makes it easier to digest by removing the fiber that ordinarily slow the release of their …show more content…
A central purpose from the book is to inform the reader about the biases of the “real world.” One event that illustrates Pollan’s argument is the McGovern fiasco, in which senator McGovern in his report, in the second senate hearing of 1977, advised the American public to “reduce consumption of meat” (Pollan 23). After hearing this, companies of the food/medical industry sought a way to counter and influence McGovern’s claim; they hired lobbyist. Due to lobbying, McGovern’s third term ends and is not re-elected for a fourth term. This sent a clear warning to all those who would oppose the American diet, as described by Pollan, “…the National Academy of Sciences… was careful to frame its recommendations… to avoid offending any powerful interests” (Pollan 25). This is the bias to which Pollan refers. It also proves to be a central purpose to the
Pollan goes on to suggest that there are many different approaches to the food movement, and although the movement seems splintered and “sometimes the various factions […] work at cross purposes,” the author uses some highly credible sources to show that despite its many offshoots, a cohesion of the masses has taken root in the food movement (par.11). The author uses big names like Troy Duster, who is a renowned research sociologist from Northwestern University, to help clarify his point. Troy duster states that “viewed from a middle distance, then, the food movement coalesces around the recognition that todays food and farming economy is unsustainable, […] that it can’t go on in its current form much longer without courting a breakdown of some kind.” (Par. 13). The author then clarifies his point but stating that “the food system consumes more fossil fuel energy than we can count on in the future […] and emits more greenhouse gases than we can afford to emit.” (Par. 14). Pollan uses his sources as an ethical appeal to the readers, which effectively connects the reader to the article and its
The passage from "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan examines the complicated nature of eating choices in today's culture. The portion of the article emphasizes how food choices have shifted dramatically and how the public's views and eating habits have been shaped by a number of variables, such as diet trends, research from scientists, and discourse in the media. He goes over what Americans ought to be eating and what ought not to be consumed. Fruits and vegetables are good sources of nutrients that we should be eating. He also discusses how knowing the production process of the food we eat may lead to a change in our eating patterns.
In concision, this controversial topic has many different conceptions in virtue, utilitarian, biblical perspectives. From a virtue ethicist view, Pollan’s recommendation is helping to rethink wisely about our eating habits and how it is making a big impact on the environment and on the global starvation. A utilitarian ethicist will view this issue from the point that by eating too much meat, the global starvation is going to increase and the results won’t be the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people and in this case Pollan’s recommendation is the best solution to decrease the global starvation and make more people happy. Christian ethicist will combine virtue and utilitarianism ethics, because it is the whole absolute truth,
In the Omnivore’s Dilemma, Michael Pollan addresses a wide variety of issues concerning America’s food culture and the single, foundational ingredient; corn. The overproduction and overabundance of corn in America presents an array of issues, the least of these being the ethical implications of such an inflated surplus.
He probes them to learn the what, where, and how of dinner – knowing what is going into the body, knowing where that food came from, and knowing how that food was made. By first knowing what is being consumed, people can make better informed decisions about their purchases. Nutrition, or lack thereof, is a key component in the battle against obesity. Food giants are hoping to hide the often unnecessary filler present in their products by use of dodgy claims and socially engineered advertisements. In general, most consumers probably couldn’t say where their food came from. This usually boils down to the fact that shoppers typically don’t think about it. Breaking this reliance on mass-grown foods is the second part of Pollan’s proposition. The third and equally important element is how the food is produced. More specifically, Pollan is concerned whether or not the food has been produced in a sustainable manner. Preserving the biodiversity of food, maintaining fertile land for future generations, and ensuring consumers receive food that does not compromise health are all factors of sustainability. Without informed consumers, what, where, and how will continue to be unanswered questions. Whether it is for nutritional or ethical choices, a particular food’s history is something that needs to once again become common
In the book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, by Michael Pollan, Pollan introduces some very interesting ideas and positions relating to the how and what we eat. Pollan poses the questions: Is America eating the right kind of food? Is what we are eating healthy? And, where is our food coming from, how is it treated, and what is in the food we eat? Throughout the book Pollan places his own argument alongside the answers to these questions. He moves the reader to reflect on the evidence presented about eating organic foods rather than processed foods. Pollan also puts forth a compelling, and strong argument that contains ideas, like food is of higher quality and has better taste when it is not
In his book " In Defense of Food " author Michael Pollan takes an interesting and thought
Have you ever stopped and asked yourself: what are you really eating? Recently, I’ve come to the realization of what I’m eating on a daily basis isn’t entirely healthy for me. Michael Pollan, who is the author of the book The Omnivore’s Dilemma, has opened my mind. While reading the first couple of chapters of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, I’ve realized that I don’t know much about the food I eat daily. For example, I didn’t know that farmers not only feed corn but also antibiotics to their animals (Walsh 34). In The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Pollan makes a strange statement, “You are what what you eat eats, too” (Pollan 84). Pollan continuously emphasizes this remark through various examples and he’s right, because strangely enough the food that our food eats not only affects them but us as well.
What am I exactly eating? Where does our food come from? Why should I care? “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” may forever change the way you think about food. I enjoyed Mr. Pollan’s book, “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” and learned a great deal of information. Pollan’s book is a plea for us to stop and think for a moment about our whole process of eating. Pollan sets out to corn fields and natural farms, goes hunting and foraging, all in the name of coming to terms with where food really comes from in modern America and what the ramifications are for the eaters, the eaten, the economy and the environment. The results are far more than I expected them to be.
To address what distinguishes the food of a western diet, Pollan compares whole foods and processed foods. He quotes Gyorgy Scrinis and concludes to himself “instead of worrying about nutrients, we should simply avoid any food that has been processed to such an extent that it is more the product of industry than nature (Pollan, 438). Pollan agrees with Scrinis for avoiding processed foods, but he complicates it by mentioning that all whole foods are taken over by industrial processes. Again Pollan reminds the reader that escaping the western diet will not be simple,
The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan is a comprehensive look into the present day food culture of the United States. Throughout the book the author tries to find out the true composition of the diet that is consumed by Americans on a daily basis. There is an excessive dependence by the American population on the government to know which food is good for them. This paper will critically analyze the book as well as the stance that the author has taken. Since there is a deluge of information about diets and health available today, the relevance of this well researched book in the present day world cannot be emphasized enough. Its relevance is not limited to the United States alone but to the entire human society which is moving towards homogenous food habits.
The movie, “In Defense of Food” is written and created by Michael Pollan. In this movie Pollin addresses the question of the correct way to eat. Additionally, he explains how the food industry gains from the confusion over what is nutritionally correct, an idea created by scientists called nutritionism. Pollan discusses how control over what families ate shifted from cultural factors, such as mothers and traditions, to marketing and the food industry. He concludes that
Michael Pollan, in his book The Omnivore’s Dilemma, advocates for organic, locally grown foods. He contends that processed foods, unlike organic foods, are
The government’s role in the food industry seems as if it is to protect the reputations of these companies instead of the well-being of its workers and consumers. This statement is made clear in the “What’s In Meat” chapter
In addition to his solutions, Pollan’s modern narrative sheds light on the façade of our food industries; asking us to rethink what we know. Despite the mention of certain inhumane acts in All Animals are Equal, Pollan takes us one step further to uncover the reason for which we continue to purchase our corrupt food. We all know animal abuse exists, but the average consumer like myself is more worried about the best price and the fastest way to get a burger rather than how fairly the animals are treated in the process. Whether it be the confined living space of chickens or the mental and physical torture of pigs, we continue to blind ourselves from reality. Is it purely out of selfishness? Or are we too ignorant to come to terms with our wrong doings? Like Pollan explains, it takes seeing the abuse before the shame of our disrespect can be felt (pg.6). After seeing Pollan’s truth, I might now think twice before eating out and the choice to support organic produce can make a dramatic difference for those farmers who promote the ethical lifestyle.