FOOD NEWS: Michael Pollan: In Defense Of Food
FOOD NEWS: Michael Pollan: In Defense Of Food
Michael Pollan: In Defense Of Food 1: Michael Pollan’s new book, In Defense of Food, provides the backdrop for his talk at the Bagdad Theater in Portland, Oregon, and this interview with Deborah Kane of the environmental nonprofit organization, Ecotrust. Remarkably, Mr. Pollan is talking about a defense of food in a literal sense: it’s increasingly difficult to escape from eating foods that are food-like substances (processed foods), but are not whole (real) foods. We have come to look upon “nutritionism” as a valid means of determining (healthy) value in our diet; food has been reduced to its composition of good and bad nutrients, but are we really eating healthier? In part one, we see how simple changes in food labeling requirements can influence consumer behavior, and how food manufacturer’s apply overwhelming pressure to effect laws that ultimately protect their own interests.
Michael Pollan: In Defense Of Food 2: Could it possibly be, our conceptions for eating, and our understanding of foods, have gone terribly awry? In this segment, Michael Pollan talks about how Americans have come to view food through the lens of nutritionism. Focused upon the good and bad nutrients within foods, this is our measure of what we deem healthy to eat, while also largely ignoring other reasons for eating like pleasure and enhancing a sense of community.
Michael Pollan: In Defense Of Food 3: There’s more to eating than just its effect upon our health. Pleasure, a sense of community, our sense of connection with nature, these are all highly important aspects of eating that may get overlooked. In this segment with Deborah Kane of Ecotrust, Michael Pollan connects the dots, between our over-reliance upon science, in this case, the science of nutrition, and our gross under-appreciation of culture as the trustworthy guide to our approach to eating food.
Michael Pollan: In Defense Of Food 4: “It is the best of times, and the worst of times when it comes to food. But, I focus on the best, and there are alot of very positive things happening.” So says Michael Pollan in this final installment, as he completes the dots between government policy, public health, and the cost and availability of fresh wholesome foods. Mr. Pollan warns us that we will have to pay more for healthier foods, but this reflects current government subsidies that artificially makes the least healthy foods the most affordable to buy. Perhaps the biggest connecting dot, if it were to occur, a federal universal healthcare system, with the government financially responsible for our health, that would create powerful incentives for public policies that promote better public health outcomes.
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