Peer Response #1

I completely agree with Alexandra's blog and her opinions on Michael Pollan’s book, In Defense of Food. Her opinion is that people have to decide whether they support manufactured food or not. It is up to people to do their own research about the food they are eating. She first describes how scientists began researching the components of food and their nutritional values. Scientists discovered that sailors who had scurvy could be cured by eating oranges. Later, it was found that the vitamin C in oranges cured scurvy. This marked the beginning of researchers and scientists advising people what to eat based on the nutritional value found in foods.

She brings up two examples of manufactured food: margarine and bread. Both of these were once all natural products. Butter is a natural product, it may be unhealthy, but it is natural. Margarine was created to be “healthier: than butter. Scientists and researchers have shown that natural butter is much better for you than margarine. The article Alexandra attached clearly shows that butter is better for your health. It lists the benefits and shows how butter is better for your health than margarine is. She also mentions that bread is starting to become chemically manufactured and costs much less because of the preservatives added to the bread.

I agree with Alexandra that people should decide for themselves on what they should eat. Much research has been done to support and to disagree with manufactured food, so information for the public is out there.

I think manufactured food is unhealthy and I prefer to eat natural, healthy food. But this is just my opinion and I think other people need to decide for themselves if they will support and buy manufactured food.

Compare Two Opposing Articles

The two articles I found online were discussing the controversy of genetically modified organisms (GMO). Both articles had valid points and factual information but they presented the data in two completely different ways.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations article supports the use of genetically modified organisms. It lists all of the benefits from using these crops and animals, with many of the topics examples were given to show that genetically modified organisms are benefiting humans and the environment. The article tended to only list the benefits through facts and example. It never tried to persuade to reader to support or buy GMO.

The Natural News article did not support GMO and it was very clear from the title: How to Fight Back Against Genetically Modified Foods. This article was different from the first in that it strongly persuaded the reader to not buy or eat GMO. It would take the factual information about the disadvantages of GMO and use it to their benefit to convince people to reject genetically modified organisms. The similarities between these articles were that they used many facts to support their side. This helped strengthen both sides because it showed the reader that there is factual to support or reject genetically modified organisms.

If this was my first time hearing about GMO, I would be more convinced from the Natural News article because it was very persuasive in telling the reader not to support it. However, I have already done much research about GMO and I support it so I was more convinced by other article because it gave so many more benefits and examples of the advantages of GMO.

My opinion has not changed because I have already done a lot of research on this topic so I already had a strong opinion on GMO. I would add that GMO have benefited many people worldwide. People facing starvation and malnutrition in third world countries have been saved because of this technology.

Response to Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food

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

Obesity in the us. American obesity association. Retrieved from http://obesity1.tempdomainname.com/subs/fastfacts/obesity_US.shtml

(2010, January 23). USA food industry. You tube. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZr0X-DfUCA

(2007, May 5) Mealtime marvels with margarine. Comicalcookbooks.com Retrieved from http://comicalcookbooks.com/blog/?s=margarine&x=0&y=0