About In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan

Michael Pollans' book In Defense of Food is a detailed criticism of what Mr. Pollan believes to be the average American diet. Although written in a rather cocky tone, In Defense of Food makes several good points about modern food consumption and production. The book takes a look at many aspects of food production and food intake. Within the first few chapters, Michael Pollan concentrates primarily on the recent emphasis of nutrients in food products. The book In Defense of Food contains several agreeable points, although some thoughts are disputable. In the book, Mr. Pollan discusses the increase in additives in food in order to make processed items more "nutritious". He talks about how products that once had only a few ingredients before the nutritional revolution now have long lists of additives and imitation items on their labels. The article 12 Food Additives to Avoid by Jean Weiss lists additives that have actually been shown to be harmful as opposed to helpful. Michael Pollan also makes a good point to criticize government regulation on food, or rather the lack of regulation. The FDA as well as Congress, Pollan explains, have done very little in the past twenty years to set rules for the labeling of processed and imitation products. For a number of years, many imitation and fake products could be put on a shelf and pass as regular, unaltered foods. Although I agree with Pollan in regards to altered and unnatural food, I thought he did not give enough credit to modern nutrition. Aspects of modern nutrition such as daily intake, the necessity of some nutrients, and the attribution certain nutrients have to personal health are all important in my eyes. He also seemed cynical that some products, such as chocolate, contain some nutritious element. Pollan appears to be convinced only products in the raw can be truly healthy. Michael Pollan makes several good observations about altered foods, but seemingly undermines modern nutritional understandings.