Chapter 6-
There is a definite correlation between the high amounts of alcoholism during the 19th century and the increase in obesity today. They are both linked to the abundance of cheap corn in America. So much corn is being grown but it is all being used thanks to the invention of super-sizing which is a clever marketing scheme to get Americans to eat more food without feeling gluttonous.
Some gems found in this section of the text-
"Much as today, the astounding productivity of American farmers proved to be their own worst enemy, as well as a threat to public health...Sooner or later, clever marketers will figure out a way to induce the human omnivore to consume the surfeit of cheap calories" (Pollan pg. 101).
"Considering that the human did animal did not taste this particular food until 1980, for HFCS to have become the leading source of sweetness in our diet stands as notable achievement on the part of the corn-refining industry...."(Pollan pg. 103).
"You might think that this growth would have been offset by a decline of sugar consumption, since HFCS often replaces sugar, but that didn't happen: During the same time period our consumption of refined sugar actually went up by five pounds."(Pollan pg. 104).
My thoughts-
Super-sizing has increased the portions that Americans eat regularly and has made us conditioned and used to larger meals although we shouldn't be consuming so many calories so often. A question I have to ask is is it even possible to reverse the effect of super-sizing at this point? Would Americans who have been conditioned all of their lives to eat large portions of processed food ever want to try lowering their meal portions? Is it even healthy to make such a drastic change so radically?
Chapter 7-
The experience from eating fast food brings nostalgia and also a sense of ease. Most of the McDonald's menu is considered comfort food because of the amount of fat in the meal which relieves our stress. The fast food chain offers many different options on the menu including chicken McNuggets, Cheeseburgers and Salads. Even if the meals are eaten together as a family, there is isolation because each individual is indulging in their own meal.
Gems-
"19 percent of American meals are eaten in the car."(Pollan pg. 110).
"The marketers have a term for what a salad or veggie burger does for a fast food chain: 'denying the denier. These menu items hand the child who wants to eat fast food a sharp tool with which to chip away at his parents' objections" (Pollan pg. 110)
My thoughts-
Is the fact that fast food is comforting apart of its appeal? How long does this satisfying and relaxed feeling last after eating fast food? Does the feeling change over time?
Chapter 8-
Many farmers have claimed that their food has been grown and raised organically yet the term has been used very loosely. Joe Salatin on the other hand takes the extra step other famers don't to have a truly organic farm. Grass is the foundation of his farms ecosystem and because cows are not being raised on corn, their excrements are not toxic and are able to be used as manure. Salatin also doesn't condone the use of industrial machinery to grow and raise his food.
Gems-
"Our species' coevolutionary alliance with the grasses has deep roots and has probably done more to ensure our success as species than any other, with the possible exception of our alliance with the trillion or so bacteria that inhabit the human gut" (Pollan pg.128).
"...the Western mind can't bear an opt-out option. We're going to have to refight the Battle of the Little Bighorn to preserve the right to opt out, or your grandchildren and mine will have no choice but to eat amalgamated, irradiated, genetically prostituted, barcoded, adulterated fecal spam from the centralized processing conglomerate" (Pollan pg.132).
My thoughts-
Will the need to further process food ever be diminished? I am somewhat afraid of what the future holds in store in terms of food and I want to understand what it will take for the entire country to choose a better path for themselves. It seems that the extremely high rate of obesity in this country has not struck a cord because Fast food still produces the most profitable and rich franchises. The problem is that the food quality has gone down, and will continue to if a change isn't made.
Chapter 9-
The market for organic food has increased due to the people's want to better their diet.The fact that food has a short summary of its background makes buyers feel better because there is a story behind what they are purchasing. This makes label's such as "natural" and "humanly raised" much more successful because consumers are associating what they buy with a happy farm that people could sing about, which makes them feel better about spending the few extra dollars on food. The problem is that some of these labels aren't true and these farms, which they also use industrial machinery, are only portraying an image to increase the value of their food.
Gems-
"We were part of the food industry now," he told me. "But I wanted to leverage that position to redefine the way we grow food--not what people want to eat or how we distribute it." (Pollan pg.133).
"The organic movement, as it was once called, has come a remarkably long way in the last thirty years, to the point where it now looks considerably less like a movement than a big business" (Pollan pg.138).
My thoughts-
It upsets me that money continues to be the center of motivation for cutting corners. If they aren't concerned with decreasing quality or effecting the ecosystem for profit it makes me wonder what they heads of these corporations put in their stomachs? Do they eat their own food?
The other day I saw an example of these labels and how they actually work. My mom brought home four packs of "organically grown beef" and before reading this book I would have been equally content with her choice in meat but after reading this book I had to look for more information. Right underneath the big "organically grown label" was a slightly smaller "corn feed cows" label. From this book I know that cows aren't meant to digest corn and it causes them to produce toxic diarrhea. For most consumers who don't know this fact that label would have flown right over their heads. It also made me question what kind of corn they used to feed the cows, naturally grown or type two corn?
Chapter 10-
Although it is much cheaper to run a farm on corn, Joel Salatin refuses to in hopes of creating his "beyond organic" farm. His farm is strictly based on grass. As Bianca Chu from section one had put it, "Through Salatin's farm, we can see simplicity is possible and natural methods of farming can be carried out efficiently and can increase the diversity of species in pastures." Though this is true the success of industrial farms far surpasses the success of Salatin's which causes the government give all their financial support to the higher producing farms.
Gems-
"The animals come and go, but the grasses, which directly or indirectly feed all the animals, abide, and the well - being of the farm depends more than anything else on the well - being of its grass." (Pollan pg.187).
"If the sixteen million acres now being used to grow corn to feed cows in the United States became well managed pasture, that would remove fourteen billion pounds of carbon from the atmosphere each year, the equivalent of taking four million cars off the road." (Pollan pg. 198)
My thoughts-
I really admire Salatin's organic farm work but I don't get why there isn't more support from the government! Supporting completely organic food would be a very different shift in American society but maybe a dramatic change will be the only thing to make a significant difference.
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