One Change

I recently read an article in The Nation called "One Thing to Do about food a Forum". In the article various people from the food community gave their opinion on what one thing could change Americans perspective on food. A few of the ideas include Michael Pollan's idea to weigh in America on the farm bill or Peter Singer who says don't buy factory farm products. These ideas really show how people feel about the industry. For example Peter Singer really takes a negative jab at the industry and basically to sum up his argument believes if we ditch the industry the food system in America will be fixed. Michael Pollan's idea is to weigh in Americas input to the farm bill. He believes that this could impact the speed of the food systems change in America.

It seems to me that a lot of the answers to the question posted by The Nation were a direct attack on the industry and I believe this is wrong. American is pulled and swayed by supply and demand. It is not up to the government to fix the industry it is up to the people to mold it with their food dollar. However their is some things that will probably not change if you want to eat. For example factory foods will always exist to feed the masses. If you take your food dollar away and by organic this or organic that it will also increase in scale and become factory much like Kellogg has changed organic production today.

Wendall Berry seemed to have a better idea of how to motivate the food system. That is through two things knowledge and hunger. In America it will take a famine for people to truly appreciate the food we have and see what is important and the knowledge will help them see where issues stand.

What is truly important in our system?

How would you change it?

What if we did stop buying industrial food products what would be the result?

Food, Food, Food, Everywhere but not enough to Eat

The Article "The Scarcity Facility", by Stephen J. Scanlan, J. Craig Jenkins and Lindsey Peterson, describes the issue of food scarcity around the world. It opens peoples eye's by showing clear information that shows data from the last couple decades. It is important to inform the public that the real problem is not lack of food which is what many people think. The article shows this by showing that we actually have an access per person. The concentration of the food stays in rich countries and the majority of starving are in poor. The article also describes that the majority of the starving are women, children and minorities. What is interesting in the article is that some of the poorest countries in the world are exporting the highest percentage of their food and have the most hungry.

This is where I draw the line I think this is wrong. I personally think that if your people are hungry why are you begging for help when you are making the problem worse. This is the problem with corrupt governments in poor countries, they have so much control the people suffer from it. This is one of the eleven points the ONE campaign wants to change is governments corruption the way to do this is through education. I also think there has to be a help yourself mentality and that if we are providing funding it needs to be monitored otherwise it will be used to corrupt even more issues.

Is our funding being used correctly?

Is there a way for countries to be independent?

How much help is to much?

What is the biggest cause of hunger?

Food Stamps

I have just recently read an article in the New York Times on the increasing use of food stamps in the United States. The article really goes into detail on multiple sides of the issue. They explain how stamps have progressed through the years and have now become easier to get. All people seem to use food stamps however, in the majority it seems minorities, especially African American and single mothers seem to rely on them the most. Since the recession the use of food stamps have greatly increased and the need has gotten even greater. The positive thing for people that needs stamps is the government has yet to want to stop growing the program the only problem with that is that it causes more debt. For example during the Bush administration they change the requirements and changed the name hoping for more people to take the help. The article also seems to state that the stigma around food stamps has also diminished. Meaning fewer people are being ridiculed for being on a government program.

I believe that the stigma of being on food stamps is still prevalent. The reason for this is that some people abuse the system and don't put in an effort to make money to offset food stamps. If only the people that truly needed the system used it I think the stigma would be non exsistant. I believe in the need for the system but I think it needs stronger regulations to be effective.

Should food stamps be more regulated?

Who should be in control of food stamps?

Is their a better program than food stamps that could be developed?

McDonaldization

In the a brief article I recently read on McDonald's in society the author draws a parallel between our culture and the changing fast food marketplace. It seems to the author that clearly the American culture is more worried about speed and convenience than health and quality. In other words we have become a quantity not quality system. This had seemed to be a well developed trend considering the author compares it to many happenings in everyday life. For example he relates McDonaldization to the constant mechanization of the culture. Day in and day out we have more and more ties to machines to do things for us.

Some people believe that this is a emphasis on cheapness is a horrible thing and a detriment to a culture. I believe that what the market demands should happen. This is why today you begin to see more and more healthy food in the market place. If this trend continues I believe that fast food establishments such as McDonald's will have to start subbing in new healthier choices. The way this happens is you vote for what you want with your dollar, so far we have ask for speed and convenience and taste. This is just begging to shift and I think if it continues and is not just a fad McDonaldization will fall.

Is McDonald's a negative in society? How much control do they actually play in shaping it?

Do you see quantity trends continuing or stopping?

Mindless Eating

I just read the first chapter from mindless eating and it was so interesting to figure out what things influence what people eat and how much they eat.

The most interesting experiment to me was the use of cheap wine. In one study they named it California wine and in the other they named it North Dakota wine. Both were the same wine with the same labels and equally as bad. However since the North Dakota wine was from that region which is not known for wine they rated it worse and their meals worse than the all powerful Californian label.

This makes perfect since considering Americans lust for certain brand name goods. For example some people only drink one type of soda maybe Coke over Pepsi or one brand of clothing over another even tho they may be almost identical. This is the power of American Capitalism.

How big a role does packaging play on how much we eat?

The Fat Republic

It seems that Americans cant get enough of fatty foods. I admit I love fatty foods however their is a balance and recently the balance has been of in the American diet in a chapter of the Omnivores Dilemma Michael Pollan describes how the new fat republic relates to our consumption of alcohol before prohibition. He also describes some of the roots of the obesity epidemic and how Americans started their super size lifestyle.

All in all in this chapter Pollan ends up pointing fingers at subsidies and cheap corn. In actuality corn is not that cheap but we have perfected the process of refining it which is what really makes it cheap.

In America however we dont force corn down peoples throats and not tons of it either. I think instead of people pointing fingers they need to act themselves. I eat tons of corn and I dont show it because I keep active and eat well balanced meals. This is the key people need to take action on their own part to change their lives and not expect people to always do it for them.

Is obesity a social problem or an individual problem?

Will "The Fat Republic" spread worldwide?

The Processing Plants

I recently read another chapter in Omnivores Dilemma that discuses the trip corn takes from filed to plate. The steps include going through a process of steel tubes and chemicals to create a product. Then putting them through a processing plant to put them on our shelves.

To me this is a very good system. It produces many products and in the end results in very little waste. Which I believe is important that we use as much of a crop that we can. However some believe that it is a problem because we are changing the basics of a crop and turning it into something foreign that we should not be eating.

The process is actually one of the most energy efficient in our industrial agriculture system and is really one of the contributors to Americans cheap food supply.

If we don't process the corn what else should we do with our excess?

How willing are we to stop processing corn when we go to the store and suddenly all the processed foods corn is in are gone?

American Food Culture

Its interesting to me that American Cuisine is almost undefinable. It is multi cultural and every American seems to have a different definition in what it is. Some believe it is the cuisine of our roots. Some believes it is the power of American brands for example the food of KFC, McDonald's and Coca-Cola.

To me American Cuisine truly doesn't have a definition it is whatever you make it. With our power of diversity in this country we can have the best of our worlds.

In other countries our food culture comes down to a simple brand. I am sure that the golden arch is a symbol of America in other countries. The question is what kind of symbol does that send to us Americans. Is it good or not? Is it a positive effect on other nations or negative?

I think for our culture it is positive the brand power we have has spread worldwide and that shows cultural strength. However it could be a negative symbol of America since are powerful corporations.

GM

GM crops have been around in our agricultural system for a long time. Crops have been played with and genes have been added to countless different species. It has been a great increase in production the problem is there are pros and cons to these and they are endless.

The real question is how do they effect the environment?

The Price of Cloning

A just recently read a chapter from the book "best Food Writing 2008", it was all about cloning and its pros and cons. It explained how it can be a very useful thing creating perfect breeding and increased production. However in some ways it can be a problem. Some people just dont believe in it and some believe there could be some consequences to cloning,

I believe cloning is a good thing. Its a new frontier in technology that I think has many bright hopes. However the growth of the industry is being caused by politics and the flopping of real answers on the issue.

There is some kinks that still need to be worked out. But they will never be if companies are not allowed to move forward. Cloning is just as much of a help to agriculture as it is to medicine so I believe it is important to continue developing the technology.

However there is a line and the question is what is to far where we can not go back?

And what could happen if we do cross that boundary?

The Swine Flu Related to agriculture?

I have been reading a few articles on the swine flu and how they are related to agriculture and the seem to believe that it the industries fault that we have the swine. They describe how pigs live in filth and bacteria and the industry pumps them with antibiotics to keep them from getting sick. This they say is truly the cause of the swine and it arose from this evolution of disease.

I find a few holes in this, first of all the swine flu originated in mexico and they are trying to blame the American meat industry. That makes no sense because it didn't come from us thats like going to Mexico and getting food poison from a taco and coming to the U.S. and saying u will never eat a taco here again.

The second point I find to be a whole in the logic of the meat industry starting the swine flu is that they blame it on antibiotics. Last time I knew antibiotics fought bacteria, swine flu is a virus which means antibiotics have little to do with the argument. Also as far as I knew, I believe the use of antibiotics without reason just for precaution was baned by the FDA.

Another thing I found interesting is that you cant catch the flu from a pig. It has to mutate first which usually occurs only when you are around the animal for along period of time this however is not a common practice in the united states because industrial farming usually doesn't allow that kind of contact because of scale.

These are only a few of the holes that I found when reading about the argument.

Do you think the meat industry is the cause?

If so is this the price we pay for mass meat?

Are antibiotics effective and what is the danger?

Laws, Laws, Laws

The government has laws for everything now a days. They regulate everything. How could we change this? Is getting rid of lobbyist really the answer?

Slaughter

Many people have different views on slaughter some hate it and think its in humane some think it dirty. This is discussed throughout chapter 12 of Omnivores Dilemma.

The truth is however is that its slaughter. It is not supposed to be pretty. Especially at the amount of it we have to do. We produce so much animal products in this country that we require a system that produces meat at the most efficient rate possible and that is through large slaughter houses that can manage a lot of meat in short time.

However I don't believe that it is necessarily the only way it should be done. To be honest their are way to restrictions and laws put in place by the government. I think people and farms should be able to process more meat if that what they desire. I think that most of our slaughtering techniques are safe and effective and all we really need are quality controls in place.

Do you think modern slaughterhouses are efficient?

A Flexitarian

As I read about someone who went on a tour of meat eating after being a vegetarian all his life, I think about how many vegetarians now a days are born into that lifestyle. I think you have to try everything before you say its not for me. I tried tofu a few times hated it thought it was tasteless and pointless to eat but i wouldn't say that if I had never tried it.

As the man ate all these different forms of meat he realized what he was missing and that he need to grow into a more flexible diet or a flexatarian.

I think the rule that you need to try things before taking sides remains true in all forms of life you need to see multiple sides of the story to truly take a side.

Is there something out there that you have never eaten but really want to try?

Vegetarians eating meat?

I just read in an article from the book Best Food Writing that vegetarians are starting to convert back to eating meat. However this meat is from sustainable small farms that produce grass fed or free roaming livestock.

All the power to them we are built to be omnivores not to just eat veggies or just meat as much as we might want to. I think it is important to have niche agriculture that can produce for these different branches of demand. Although this type will probably never be able to support the worlds population it gives vegetarians a way to sneak meat.

A question if you are a vegetarian why are you one what made you make the big step?

And if so aren't you as unhealthy as the cattle that you say are living unnaturally?

Eating Animals

As upon reading the Omnivores Dilemma something struck me I love eating animals odd to say it that way I know but in Pollans book he discusses about how people don't actually know what they are eating and how it got to their plates but I think most people know that on their plate is a piece of some kind of animal.

He also discusses how pita changes countless people a year to become vegetarians due to the things that they do and images they show. I don't hate people i just think they are misleading, they convince people that animal cruelty happens in every industry in the meat chain. This is a huge false it just does not happen the way they portray it. They make it seem like every animal that is on your plate has lived some horrible life and been hurt by the system in some way in truth it only happens in some cases but on the other hand animal happiness is a different story with a well oiled system built for production you just wont get beautiful paddocks filled with animals that have free roam it wont happen because we have to much demand for not enough land.

You may ask well if we shouldn't look at this system as a animal destroyer then what should we see it as? The answer is a producer the system is built to produce enough for the demand and it gets meat on my plate so it much be working. People have become to sensitive and don't simply understand that if you want meat on your plate we have to have a production intensive system.

In general our system provides us the meat we demand with as little animal cruelty as possible.

Could you argue that the reason most of the domesticated animals on the planet are alive because of agriculture and without it would be extinct.

Local vs. Miles Away

I think that having a wide variety of food in our super markets all the time is a great thing and it is one of the highlights of our agricultural system. However I also think it is important to support local farms what is your opinion?

I like to be able to walk into a super market and be able to pick what I want. The benefit of such a large system is things never go out of season this makes you question freshness but it is better than not having that product at all.

Why Sustainable Agriculture has not really gotten off the ground.

Honestly no farmer wants to ruin the environment that he lives on it is his life blood and what provides him with income. However as the world population grows farmers are urged to produce more resulting in a change to more industrial forms of production.

The reason that we have not all turned to some form of large scale sustainable system is because it uses to much land. With so many cities sitting on good agricultural land and the amount of demand for production we need a system that can produce the most production for its acre.

This is the main reason we are still committed to the industrial forms of production. They can produce a much great quantity without using the huge acreage and labor needed in most sustainable systems.

I am not saying I think the industrial system is perfect it needs to be changed but unless we get new technology to increase production and maintain sustainability we will have to stay in an industrial system to keep up with demand and keep down prices.

Do you think we need to switch to sustainable?

Should we compromise?

What new technology might change our system?

What is Organic?

I just read to chapters from the book The Omnivores Dilemma by Michael Pollan. In these chapters he discusses organic agriculture and other forms of sustainable agriculture. He explains how organic is a label that still leaves a lot of questions and how they may not truly be better at all.

I being from a ag family background and knowing quite a bit of the inter workings of farms know allot about this topic and how the system really works. I just want to clarify a few things with in these two chapters and how they really work.

To be completely fair and honest the label organic is a complete joke and a waste of money on consumers parts. It has know real regulations in place yet and really all it means is that you have been certified which does not constitute a whole lot of regulation. This means farmers can change a few things about their farms which costs them a very small amount and make money off consumers that are willing to buy a bag of carrots thats organic for three times more when the process really does not change. One of my professors explained in class that almost two thirds of organic vegetables are actually not at all organic(contain pesticides).

This also brings me to the subject of "organic milk". Organic Milk and Regular Milk chemically have no difference it has been studied and researched and the FDA has found absolutely no growth hormones in regular milk, it just does not happen.

The real labels that you should look for in animal products is "grass fed" or "free range" because this means a difference in meat usually containing different fats and a much different taste. Personally I dislike the flavor but some people will sacrifice that for the better fat.

So this in closing brings up the question for me What is the price of a label?

Is Organic really worth it? Is it actually healthier for you? And is it more sustainable?

All these questions can be easily debated and I will try to clear them up in a future post.

Dairy Disaster

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/animal-rights-us-dairy-industry/story?id=9658866

This aired last week take a look at it leave any comments that you think our prevalent. I think its one sided portrayl of a great industry.

Tenderloins a Steal

I just read a passage from the best of food writing it was interesting in the fact that it describes a chunk of tenderloin priced at 34 dollars. What a steal the man says a whole dinner party for 34 dollars. Then he thinks about where the beef comes from and how it is made on a factory farm. In the end however he buys the cheap meat even knowing where it comes from.

This is always going to happen no matter how long Americans complain about unhealthy food and "un green" they will not change they will just complain. They may say they are invested in their foods but we spend the least percentage of our expendable income on food as Americans than any other company therefore probing we truly are not committed. So I say stop complaining and start taking action if thats really what you think should happen and by taking action I mean by making your vote on what should be on the shelves at the super market by buying the things that fit your beliefs.

On the other hand I will stick with the cheap meat.

What do you think about cheap meat, what would you buy?

The Omnivores Dilemma, Chapter 3

I have been reading the omnivores dilemma by Michael Pollan and was just reading the chapter on the process that meat goes through to get to your plate. He makes the argument that the beef industry has become a factory industry and that beef cows are now simply production machines. They are bred that way they are fed that way and they are raised to produce the most beef for our buck. They are raised on feedlots that have become like "cattle city's".

I would agree with Pollan that we have changed cattle to become faster at producing meat and we have created a system that uses our corn to created the fasted grown meat in the history of agriculture. But in all fairness we need it, we require it. If we did not produce meat the way we did today we could not meet consumer demand. By creating this form of meat we are able to meet a demand that is still growing today.

For example Americas go to McDonalds for a Burger or a Steakhouse for their steak not for their salad our food culture is centered around meat and its availibilty. Therefore I would argue with Pollan if it is such a bad thing or if really we are just producing for a demand.

Americans have been know for their ingenuity and we will be able to figure out the kinks in the feed lot system and make it safer and more environmentally sustainable.

How do you feel about the feed lot system? Positive or negative?

What are our other options?

Intro

Hey, may name is Ryan and I am a student at Cornell University. I am writing a blog for a class and will be talking about various food issues. They will be based on various articles and issues going on today. However know that these are my opinions and I would love to get a little friendly argument back. I love a good debate.