Michael Pollan’s In Defense of Food illustrates the revolution of the food industry and how the Western diet has drastically changed and affected people’s lives. American’s diet, once influenced by culture and family, is now influenced by scientists. They recommend what American’s should and shouldn’t eat by labeling food products with quotations like: low-fat, high fiber, no-cholesterol, etc. Research says certain compounds are good for your health so these food-like substances are becoming increasingly more popular in the supermarket.
Pollan raises the question, are scientists creating a healthier food or are they falsely imitating food which has unhealthy effects? Margarine was created to replace butter. If a compound was found to be healthy then scientists could just add it into the margarine. Omega – 3 was added to create a healthier version of butter. One would assume that with healthier food, like margarine, people would be healthier as well. Pollan disputes this. The American Obesity Association shows that the obesity levels in America have increased over the past years. Along with this, chronic diseases have increased. Americans are becoming unhealthy by eating “healthy” food.
Another key point Pollan makes is the US government is supporting the food industry over the health concerns for Americans. Food industries were required to label any products that were imitations of food. This hurt the food industry so the US government removed this law. Industries that create food with imitations or are chemically changed are not required to label them. Industries that involve the production of animals are also chemically modifying the animals. This video clip shows the changes in animals that have been genetically created and chemically raised. Michael Pollan and this video shows there are many issues in the food industry. In Defense of Food raises awareness to the problems in the food industry we face as consumers.
Hutson, S. In defense of food: An eater’s manifesto. Michael Pollan. Retrieved from http://www.michaelpollan.com/indefense.php
