3 ms·

The book "The Omnivore's Dilemma" talks a lot about this. Basically, everything in American diets is corn based (corn fed beef, chicken, corn syrup, corn starch

by bjtitus 18y ago

The book "The Omnivore's Dilemma" talks a lot about this. Basically, everything in American diets is corn based (corn fed beef, chicken, corn syrup, corn starch, etc.)

fallentimes 18y ago
Fast Food Nation is also an interesting read. They can make practically anything taste well, like anything.
- maximilian 18y ago
  Despite the fact that Fast Food nation has a section devoted to "fast food", I found it to be a "The Jungle" for the 90s. The real muckraking was its expose of the meatpacking industry of the midwest and its terrible labor practices. I could care less if they can make something smell like a cheeseburger. I care a lot about how we get our meat. I think this is an issue that is as important or more than fast food troubles.
ojbyrne 18y ago
Loved the book. And it actually says that everything in American diets is corn & _petroleum_ based. Corn & Oil, yummy.
bmj 18y ago
I would also recommend anything by Joel Salatin (http://www.polyfacefarms.com/library.aspx http://www.polyfacefarms.com/library.aspx), who farms in Virginia (and was featured in Pollan's book). A quote from a Mother Jones interview: This fundamental understanding drives our production models. Herbivores in nature do not eat dead cows, chicken manure, dead chickens, grain or silage: They eat fresh or dried forage. Of course, what’s neat is that empirical data is discovering the nutritional and ecological benefits of this paradigm. We’re reading about Omega 3 and Omega 6 balance, conjugated linoleic acid, polyunsaturated fats and riboflavin. Whenever a new laboratory confirmation of our philosophy hits the news, we make sure our patrons know about it. In a word, this is all about healing: healing our bodies, healing our economies, healing our communities, healing our families, healing the landscape, healing the earthworms. If it’s not healing, it’s not appropriate.

by bjtitus 18y ago

The book "The Omnivore's Dilemma" talks a lot about this. Basically, everything in American diets is corn based (corn fed beef, chicken, corn syrup, corn starch, etc.)

fallentimes 18y ago

Fast Food Nation is also an interesting read. They can make practically anything taste well, like anything.

maximilian 18y ago
Despite the fact that Fast Food nation has a section devoted to "fast food", I found it to be a "The Jungle" for the 90s. The real muckraking was its expose of the meatpacking industry of the midwest and its terrible labor practices. I could care less if they can make something smell like a cheeseburger. I care a lot about how we get our meat. I think this is an issue that is as important or more than fast food troubles.

ojbyrne 18y ago

Loved the book. And it actually says that everything in American diets is corn & _petroleum_ based. Corn & Oil, yummy.

bmj 18y ago

I would also recommend anything by Joel Salatin (http://www.polyfacefarms.com/library.aspx http://www.polyfacefarms.com/library.aspx), who farms in Virginia (and was featured in Pollan's book). A quote from a Mother Jones interview: This fundamental understanding drives our production models. Herbivores in nature do not eat dead cows, chicken manure, dead chickens, grain or silage: They eat fresh or dried forage. Of course, what’s neat is that empirical data is discovering the nutritional and ecological benefits of this paradigm. We’re reading about Omega 3 and Omega 6 balance, conjugated linoleic acid, polyunsaturated fats and riboflavin. Whenever a new laboratory confirmation of our philosophy hits the news, we make sure our patrons know about it. In a word, this is all about healing: healing our bodies, healing our economies, healing our communities, healing our families, healing the landscape, healing the earthworms. If it’s not healing, it’s not appropriate.