Pollan, Michael. "Our National Eating Disorder." Pollan, Michael. The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals. New York: The Penguin Press, 2006. 1-11.
Pollan, Michael. "The Farm." Pollan, Michael. The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural HIstory of Four Meals. New York: The Penguin Press, 2006. 32-56.
Within Michael Pollan’s book titled The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, Pollan discusses the violent change in society’s eating habits which has led to a societal eating disorder. In a frenzy to eat healthy, unhealthy people have become obsessed with eating right. The food industry has taken advantage of society’s food obsession by producing more and more products to add to our anxiety. At the same time, misleading labels contribute to our unhealthy eating habits. In addition, Pollan denotes that society is constantly modifying the food chain to accommodate what the like to eat.
In Pollan’s chapter titled “The Farm,” he describes the impact the mass production of corn has made on business and society. To authenticate his story, Pollan temporarily resided with George Naylor on his farm. Through Naylor’s insight, Pollan describes how the industrialization of farming, namely the producing of corn, has led to global warming, the depletion of fertile land, and water contamination due to chemicals used to increase production. In addition to affecting the earth, excessive corn planting has “pushed out” animals who no longer have a place to live, people whose jobs are not longer required, and other plant growth since soil is used exclusively for corn planting. Pollan reports that the federal government plays a large role in the industrialization of farming. After WWII the United States had an abundance of ammonia nitrate (used to make bombs). To utilize this resource, Fritz Haber, chemist, discovered a way to use the ammonia as a synthetic fertilizer. Despite the destruction industrialization of farming has made on society, “to the factory, time is money and yield is everything,” therefore, the government will continue to demand it’s production no matter how detrimental the process is to society.
Schlosser, Eric. "Eric Schlosser's Fast Food Nation: Why the Fries Taste Good (Excerpt)." 26 March 2010. pbs.org. 26 November 2010 <pbs.org/pov/.../fastfoodnation_01.php>.
In Eric Schlosser’s Fast Food Nation: Why the Fries Taste Good, Schlosser discusses his visit to the J.R. Simplot plant in Aberdeen, Idaho. Schlosser interviewed J.R. Simplot, founder and owner of the plant. At age sixteen, Simplot started potato farming and is now one of the major distributors of French fries. Over time, Simplot and his chemist discovered a way to mass produce frozen French fries without completely compromising the taste. Cooked frozen French fries are yet another one of the simplistic, fast moving, food eating items society loves and demands. Notably, Simplot is the sole producer of Mc Donald’s French fries. “J.R. Simplot, an eighth-grade dropout, is now one of the richest men in the United States.” He is also one of the nation’s largest landowners, possessing 85,000 acres of irrigated farmland and twice that amount in ranchland. Simplot also leases 2 million acres of land from the government. Schlosser’s interview brings a profound awareness to society about how high our demand is for potatoes, namely, French fries.
Food Insight (2009). Questions and Answers about Ammonium Hydroxide Use in Food Production. Accessed November 21,2010. http://www.foodinsight.org/Resources
Food Insight addresses the many questions and answers people have regarding the health risk factors of Ammonium Hydroxide used in food processing. According to Food Insight, the FDA has approved the use of Ammonium Hydroxide in the sanitation of meat products. According to Food Insight, the human body naturally produces Ammonia. “Probably because ammonia is also used as a sanitizer in many household and industrial cleaners,” consumers’ health concerns arise. Food Insight points out that ammonia cleaners have extremely high pH levels, much higher than those used to combat bacteria in meat products. Food Insight concludes that as long as “good manufacturing practices” in accordance with the FDA regulations are utilized, the food products are safe to consume.
Berry, W. (1990). The Pleasures of eating. In What are People for? North Point Press.
Wendell Berry states that consumers are a part of agriculture. As such, consumers need to realize the processes used to produce and manufacture the food they eat. Members of society are always in a hurry, and therefore, continually in search of fast and convenient food products. However, they do not realize the detrimental tactics used in processing convenience foods. Additionally, industries cover up their unethical food production by falsely advertising the health benefits of their products. Berry believes society needs to start growing and making their own foods. And, when purchasing their meat and produce, purchase locally and be aware of how the food is manufactured. As consumers, we need to exercise our freedom to choose, including the right to choose how our food is should be manufactured.
Schneider, Stephen. (2008) Good, Clean, Fair: The Rhetoric of the Slow Food Movement. College English 70.4, 384-401.
Schneider defines and concurs with the theories of Carlo Petrini, founder of Slow Food. Slow Food is a movement focused on educating consumers and producers about the significance of healthy food production. Petrini believes food should be “Good, Clean, and Fair.” Good food is qualified as food that tastes good and is multicultural. Clean food is “sustainable” and manufactured in an environmentally safe way. And, food should be produced fairly, without producers and consumers being treated inhumanely. According to Schneider, Petrini believes that society must unite and stand up for the value of healthy food production. Schneider argues that by bringing awareness and education to society about Slow Food and the beliefs they advocate, we can create a better environment for all.
Kenner, R. (Producer, Director) and Scholsser, E. (Producer). (2008). Food, Inc. [DVD]. Magnolia
Home Entertainment.
Food Inc. is a documentary addressing the extreme measures meat companies utilize to cultivate our food. In order to produce mass quantities of meat, farmers, as well as the animals they raise, are being treated inhumanely. Steroids and other drugs are given to the animals enabling them to develop faster and increase the slaughtering process. Since the animals are being raised unnaturally, they are most often diseased. To counter act diseases, companies use chemicals such as ammonia to eliminate the contamination. In turn, unknowing consumers are ingesting the chemicals. Notably, if the animal diseases go untreated or not treated thoroughly, consumers are infected with viruses like e.coli, and salmonella poisoning. Food Inc. also addresses the production of corn feed. Corn is inexpensive to produce and therefore its mass production reduces cost. Corn feed, aside from steroids, is used as the primary food source for animals.
1) Is the story interesting and compelling?
§ Although I found the story very intriguing, will my readers? Although I know English Language Learners struggle with literacy, hearing Midge’s personal story makes the struggles more compelling to me. Will my readers feel the same way and want to hear her story?
2) Should I include more information about Midge’s parents and their struggles to come to America?
§ During my interview, Midge told me some details about her parents arranged marriage. She also told me that their respective families did not every see them once they came to America
§ Midge’s mother’s family disowned her because she married Midge’s father
*Although this information is not directly related to the story, I was wondering if I should include the information to add flavor to her story.
3) Does the story flow nicely or does it seem choppy?
§ I wanted to be sure I stuck to Midge’s words so this makes the task of making each paragraph flow smoothly into the next without sounding like an interview. I was able to use only Midge’s words to produce this piece. I want to be sure it works well.
4) Should I add more to the story in regards to her High School Education and learning to use a computer as an adult?
§ I have more information regarding Midge’s high school experiences, yet they are not related to literacy, it was more in the conflict between her friends and the line divide with the American students she references as a child.
§ I also ask Midge about her experiences with the computer since she uses one at work. Although she did not say too much in this area, I was wondering if I should add it to the piece
§ Overall, I did not include the above information because I did not see it relevant, it is more that I could not get it to work in to her story and flow nicely. I did not want to force the information in just to include it; I wanted it to make sure the story was cohesive.
5) Is there any components missing in the story?
§ At first I was concerned with the length of my story. Is it long enough? However, I realize that it is quality not quantity that makes a good story. Is this a quality story that has a beginning, middle, and an end with good details?
6) Is my story title okay?
§ I had trouble coming up with a good title. Not sure if it should be more personal, for example: including Midge’s name, or more general as I chose to do.
7) Does my prologue contain enough information about my interviewee?
§ I was not sure if I need to add the setting of the interview or even more details about Midge, like her DOB, maiden name, etc.
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