Food Perfection

There is so much to be said about the American food industry today. We are more concerned about the “perfection” of our food and how it looks than the nutritional value of it or how it tastes. Throughout many of his writings, the author Michael Pollan focuses on this paradigm shift that has occurred within the past fifty years. Using the introduction to Tomatoland as an example, Pollan brings to the readers’ attention how warped our idea of basic fruit and vegetables has become. We expect to walk into a supermarket to be greeted with a cornucopia of exotic produce choices all year long, which is exactly what we get. However, studies done by the US Department of Agriculture show that the nutritional value of this produce has dropped significantly.

Pollan in another of his writings, An Animal’s Place, highlights the American view of animals. Obviously many Americans utilize animals for food as well, but many do not understand the process behind getting the cow or chicken from the “field” onto the plate. Pollan emphases how so many view animals as “things” and in turn detaching any emotional value and therefore justifying any cruelty. Nonetheless, he points out that there is hope. After the publication of Uncle Tom’s Cabin in 1852, light was finally shed on the slaughter industry and this trend has only increased with time. Especially now days, people are becoming more aware, legislation is being passed and article such as this one is informing the public.

Finally in comparison to Pollan’s two articles, Christopher Cook’s infographic is also based on this idea of “perfection.” Cook points out all the aspects that go into making our chickens look their best; allowing nutrition and authenticity to take a seat on the backburner.  He talks not only about how we put the chickens at risk and treat them unjustly, but also how 40,000 workers a year are impacted. To get “natural” food on the table, there are a lot of steps taken and many of those steps impact so many other aspects to the communities around us, often in a negative way.

I found these articles to be interesting because I saw them as a modern take on Uncle Tom’s Cabin which is so well known for its exposure of the slaughter industry. I think I also find it interesting because all through grade school I learned about the corruptness of this industry coming from Kansas City, which was known for its stockyards in the early twentieth century.