food and culture

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Food and culture

The speech invokes debate on human food, source, consumption and consequences of such behaviors. Michael Pollan looked at various issues that affect human consumption of food. As omnivorous, the food choices and factors that determine the consumption are influenced by human morality, political, technological and environmental issues.

The major argument that forms that thesis of the speech is the dilemma that man faces in choice of food. Man is the most complex and intelligent animal, yet frequently faced with dilemma with regards to food choices. Most of the human eating habits are not determined by nutritional needs but shaped by external forces. While many people strive to become thin, they end up becoming fatter, thus faced with dilemma on food consumption. I agree with the speaker on the emergence of eating disorder in America due to influences on consumption patterns. Many people are influenced by the media on the choice of food and eating habits. While Pollan identifies the possible sources of omnivorous’ dilemma on food choices, he failed to offer any solutions to the issues raised.

Pollan argued that the agribusiness industry controls the political class. This is why corn prices remain low due to subsidy. While corn can be used for many purposes, it is largely used to feed cows, whose beef is sold in America. I agree with Pollan in this argument. In America, lobbyists have always ensured that the political class protects the interest of the business community. American authorities have not always come out forcefully to deal with eating disorders and fast food culture that leads to diseases like obesity.

I agree with Michael’s argument that we need to know where food we eat come from. By going through the food chain, we get to realize that the food we eat come from various sources, and certain social, cultural and political issues shape food production and consumption. By having appreciation of these facts, we would all end up eating humanely and organically. Eating humanely require that we take care of the needs of current and future generations ,while focusing on organic foods encourage environmental protection and healthy eating habits. It is also factual that the animal food industry may not sustain itself without natural balance ensured by nature. If man fails to respond to the nature needs that balances animal population, the food industry may collapse. Argument that animals should be cared for well and their health guaranteed is a ways of ensuring their long life and continuity of their species. If the animals are not taken care of well, it is possible that they may fall sick before they are slaughtered and such disease may affect the human consumers.

I disagree with the speaker on certain points. The speaker argued that if people realize how unsustainable their eating practices are, they will actually stop the behaviors. This argument is vague and not substantiated. Not everyone will stop his or her eating habits on account of suitability of their actions. The world today has over 30% of its population facing hunger and starvation. Impliedly, this group of people, mainly in the developing world, will do anything to have a meal. Whether their actions lead to destruction of wild animals for food, they will do so, unsustainability of the same notwithstanding. Those facing grave starvation actually live for the day, or from hand to mouth, and care less about the environmental sustainability and their consequences of their actions on the environment and nature.