In Defense of Food

After reading the introduction and first four chapters of In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan, I have been able to both agree with and dispute some of the arguments made about the food industry. One of the arguments that I agree with is his look back on the history of food and how it has progressed from home cooked meals to greasy fast food. His statistics on how much fast food is consumed in America are hard to fathom at first. However if one drives a short distance one notices a vast variety of fast food chains all within a short distance of any town or mere blocks apart from each other in cities. Another key point found in the reading is the food industries lack of consistency. Health studies have consistently disproved former studies on diet and what one should eat to maintain a healthy body. For example the food industry over the past decade has claimed butter to be fatty and non-healthy. As a result margarine and other butter substitutes have been sold with increasing popularity to those concerned with fat intake. Now newer studies have shown butter to be a healthy dairy product. Similar claims have been made towards meat claiming meat to be unhealthy. These claims have caused some to avoid meat as a source of food. Now newer studies are disproving these claims made by the food industry in the past few decades. Overall Pollan gives a brief history of what the food industry has done over the past couple years in the early chapters of his book. He demonstrates several of his personal opinions while giving accurate facts on America's own nutrition decisions and how they are made. He also adds in the political portion of the food industry with the example of a senator who became very unpopular in his state for his suggested food bill. Thus far the book has told a story that many should hear and think about.