For the second half of this semester, we learned all about food. We read the book An Omnivore's Dilemma, by Michael Pollan and consumed other forms of rhetoric along with it, such as watching the movie Supersize Me, parts of The Botany of Desire, and various other articles and video clips of about CAFO (Contained Animal Feeding Operation) conditions, slaughterhouses, industrial farms, small family farms, packaging operations, and food in general.
During this unit, we learned several big truths: 1) Almost all processed food we eat, from cereals, to dried fruit, to bread, to chicken nuggets, to... well, just about anything you can think of that isn't absolutely raw, contains corn and/or soybeans. It comes in forms that make it difficult to recognize it as what it started out as, corn and soybeans. Some examples are high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, soybean oil, and a ton of those ingredients with names so long you can't pronounce them.
2) Even if you buy organic food, it doesn't necessarily mean the conditions of the cows who produce the organic milk are going to be much better than the conditions of the cows who live in regular industrial feedlots. And if you buy organic spinach, don't assume that what you are eating was grown by a nice little farm. Unless you buy your products at the farmer's market, you can assume that all your organic food comes from industrial organic farms.The same goes for all organic eggs, meat, fruits, and vegetables. Many times, the only difference between organic industrial food and industrial food is the word organic. Yes, it means that you aren't consuming harmful pesticides and herbicides, which helps the earth and you, but don't assume that the animals you are eating are getting a better deal. And DON'T buy the wonderful stories and pictures about cows grazing in open fields or happy chickens wandering around in their roomy yards. Don't buy the rhetoric of the grocery store poets.
3) Animal conditions in CAFOs are horrible. Animals are not treated well. They are so sick. Cow are fed corn and molasses and antibiotics. They weren't meant to eat corn and so they get very, very sick. The only way they are kept alive is by the antibiotics. There is a high mortality rate for chicks and chickens because they are so packed together. Chicks' beaks are burned or cut off so they won't peck at eachother because they are so close together. Pigs bite eachother on the tails, so the tails are chopped off. Workers are cruel to the animals. I couldn't stand knowing this and still eat the meat from these places. So now, I eat meat very minimally. I don't understand how you can know this and still be a carnivore. Maybe it's too engrained into their lives to change.
I have already read The Omnivore's Dilemma, as well as various other books about feeding operations, animal rights, slaughterhouses, vegetariansim, and food in general. (I particularly enjoyed Skinny Bitch and In Defense of Food, the latter by Michael Pollan.) Don't forget various cookbooks! Health and food in general are very interesting to me. Pouring over cookbooks and dreaming up meals is something I like to do if I have the time. Learning how to make food, too. (I am accomplished in the art of making minestroni, lemon bars, and various other yummies.)
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