Liu 1Andrew LiuAP English Language20 August 2013

The Omnivores Dilemma: Part I 10-5-1s10 Key Concepts1. Pollan introduces the book asking, What should we have for dinner? (Pollan 1), suggesting that this book centralizes on the primary question. Pollan may finally answer this long pondered question rather extensively and analytically.2. Pollan introduces the first chapter with a brief description of the ironic biodiversity of the supermarket. This irony hints that much more such pronounces will be made throughout the book. In addition, the biodiversity in nature is also of great importance in Pollans argument.3. The industrial farm, as presented through George Naylor, acts as the central idea in Part I. Yet, he is not purely industrial, as George continues to not follow some conventions of the orthodox industrial farm. Pollan uses this quasi-industrial farm to suggest that he, as well as George, is not in support of the military-industrial complex (Pollan 35).4. The chemical fertilizer and artificial nitrogen Pollan presents acts as the industrial farmers essential ingredient. He suggests that these artificial ingredients in farming are the bane of the industrialization of food. The environment and our health are put at an extreme risk with the use of artificial fertilizers and nitrogen.5. Surfeit corn is one of the primary reasons behind Americas food epidemic. Corn that cannot be used is inevitably processed to create the numerous amounts of snacks and foods we indulged in today. In addition, corn is also processed into cow feed, an unnatural source of food for cows across the United States.6. The various government regulations passed to aid the production of corn has become a major concern of Pollan. These regulations encourage the overproduction of corn, benefiting the farmers at the expense of the American diet.7. Industrial feedlots are presented as one of the most disgusted and disease-infested areas for animals to reside. It is surprising that the USDA allows such animals to enter our food source.8. The great water mill is introduced as the primary source of all processed foods in America. Though Pollan was unable to visit one of Americas most famous water mills, those owned by General Mills, he was granted a tour of Iowa State Universitys research facilities.9. Many Americans have indulged in the cheap calories produced by the industrialized food industry. Though extraordinarily cheap, these sources of energy have been deemed the unhealthiest, possessing the various opacities of the industrial food complex.10. Pollan closes the first part of his book by returning to the all-American meal: McDonalds, eaten in a convertible traveling at fifty-five miles per hour. He uses this notion to suggest that American processed food grown due to its convenience; the American population is always on the move.

5 Questions/Answers1. Why has food become so complex in the recent years post-World War II?With the advent of artificial nitrogen and immense research in nutrition, humans have taken a novel scientific approach towards the seemingly simple notion of food. Artificial nitrogen introduced a faster means of producing food, inevitably attracting the industrial food complex. The surfeit amount of food being produced required the government to become involved, which implemented regulations and bills to aid the farmers. The establishment of the USDA hallmarked the complexity of the food industry as the United States entered the 21st century. 2. Why does the government continue to endorse feedlots if they possess such a threat towards the American health?The USDA does not care for the quality of food, but rather the quantity. Feedlots maximize the amount of animals while minimizing the amount of space used to house the animals. As long as the animals pass minimal tests administered by the USDA, they are adequate to be slaughtered and delivered to supermarkets across the country. In addition, feedlots also provide a use for the surfeit amount of corn being produced by American farms, turning the corn into grain and feed for the animals. This unnatural source of food is the main detriment and health hazard of the industrial feedlot.3. Why do Americans continue to indulge in these cheap calories if the cost they possess clearly outweighs the price?Humans are biologically inclined to indulge in sweet or tasteful foods, as they possess the most calories and source of energy. Conveniently, the sweetest and most appealing foods in this country are the cheapest, thus inducing most of the American population to purchase these products. Unfortunately, these kinds of foods also possess the most fat and unhealthy substances, inevitably causing the American obesity epidemic. In addition, many Americans are not aware of the costs that these cheap calories pose not only to the environment, but also to the health of themselves.4. Could the modern food industry be categorized as a monopoly?Though the precise definition of a monopoly does not coincide with todays food industry, a virtual monopoly may have been achieved. The American food industry is purely based on chemical fertilizers and artificial methods of farming that are ubiquitous across the country. Monocultures of corn invest the American Midwest, where they are shipped to food factories to be processed and sold. This monotonous process is prevalent across the nation, though a single corporation does not run it. Virtually, however, this method of producing food has monopolized the way we eat and live.5. Pollan primarily focuses on the detriments of the American food complex. How may this be of a benefit?It is inarguably presented in the book that the American way of farming provides an immense detriment towards the environment and our health. From the corporations perspective, however, this industrial complex may prove to be one of the most profitable methods of producing food. Quantity over quality maximizes the amount of food being produced by farmers, thus bringing in immense amounts of revenue. According to Pollan, food-processing companies only return 8% of its earnings to the farmers, increasing profits up to an outstanding 92%.1 Analytical ParagraphIn this introductory section of the novel, Pollan attempts to present and argue the innate detriments of industrial farms. Monocultures, artificial fertilizers, antibiotics, fossil fuels, and many other manmade means of agriculture debilitate not only the environment, but also our own health. Although production is at record speeds, industrial farmers grow at the expense of the nations well-being and the ecosystem. Farmers and industries alike have found a common ground on a single crop: corn. Farmers are able to grow it in surfeit amounts, maximizing profits, and industries are able to process and distribute the excess amount of corn, distributing the processed corn at maximum value. Because corn has become a commodity, the prices of these unnatural processed foods have dropped tremendously, thus inducing the American consumer to purchase such products. Unfortunately, these foods are the bane of American health; Twinkies, Chicken McNuggets, and Coco Pebbles are all main components in the decline of a once healthy nation.

The Omnivores Dilemma: Part II 10-5-1s10 Key Concepts1. The entire notion of grass and it as a free lunch source is the central idea of part II. Pollan discusses the ways that grass can be exploited in the interest of us humans. Polyface farm is his primary argument.2. Pollan focuses the first portion of part II on the industrial organic branch of modern American food. Stemming from an old hippie movement, industrial organic has become one of Americas leading food industries, generating $11 billion in annual revenue. Unfortunately, this industrial organic is not far off from the industrial idea it hoped to avoid.3. Gene Kahn seems to be the main component of the modern day big organic industry. As the founder of Cascadian farms, Kahn hoped to provide America with an alternative and more organic food source that inevitably spawned the organic TV dinner.4. Pollan introduces the idea of the transportation of food as an indicator of big and small organic. Big organic farmers are indifferent towards the distance a food travelers, expensing a gratuitous amount of petroleum and fossil fuels. Small organic farmers limit the distance their food travels to a minimal amount, hoping to conserve a degree of fossil fuels and environmental pollution.5. The difference between an industrial organic farm and an industrial farm is so seldom it is difficult to name them separately. Industrial organic farms are nearly identical to industrial farms; only organic farms do not use chemical fertilizers in their soil. Otherwise, the farms are exactly the same. Both farms provide nearly unlivable conditions and unnatural food for animals.6. Pollan focuses the second half of part II on the small organic, or local farmers, such as Polyface, that believe in an alternative mode of farming. These farmers treat their farms as an ecosystem, where nothing is wasted. All creatures are related symbiotically.7. USDA regulations are emphasized in this section, as Polyface is often the site of controversy for USDA inspectors. Some inspectors claim that the alternative methods of farming and open abattoir do not coincide with safety and health regulations. Nevertheless, Joel Salatin continues to operate his open-air abattoir despite the USDA.8. Pollan defines the bar-coded people as those who are ignorant to the operations of the slaughterhouse. The bar code acts as an opaque wall to shield consumers from the truth. The non-bar coded people are those who buy their food directly from the farmer, much like the customers of Polyface farm.9. While on Polyface farm, Pollan discovers the indifference many workers of the Salatin farm have towards chicken slaughter. Trying it for the first time, Pollan finds that after a few kills, the task becomes almost mindless. He comments the most troubling thing about murder is that after a period of time it is no longer troubling.10. At the conclusion of part II, Pollan uses the small organic meal as a rhetoric and symbol to represent the social, political, and economic implications of food. The social aspect of it, however, seems to be emphasized, as Pollan spends a great deal describing the process of creating such a meal and its necessary interactions.

5 Questions/Answers1. What is the difference between big organic and small organic?Big organic farms (AKA industrial organic farms) operate on a much larger scale than small organic farms, hence the big adjective. These kinds of farms are, surprisingly, not much different from industrial farms. Animals receive the same kind of inhumane and inadequate treatment, being given horrid living conditions along with unnatural food. The only difference is that big organic farms do not use artificial fertilizers in their crops. Small organic farms, much like Polyface farm, operate on a much smaller scale, only selling within a six-hour-drive radius from its source. These kinds of farms exploit the natural ecosystem and ensure that animals are given the upmost attention and care. No artificial chemicals or antibiotics are used, and everything is natural.2. Is an organic TV dinner really organic?The term organic has been so toyed with by the government in recent years that its definition hangs extraordinarily loosely. Originally defined as anti-industrial, the organic movement of the 1960s was aimed to destroy the conventions of industrial food. Instead, it played into the governments hands and was manipulated into a multi-billion dollar industry. Although the organic label may seem healthier and more nutritious, it is, in fact, a simple label that possesses no inherit meaning. The modern day organic is defined as any kind of food that was no induced with chemical fertilizers or injected with medicines. Thus, the so-called organic TV dinner is accurate and relevant in the modern day. 3. Why has there not been more Polyface farms?Small organic farms are an extreme risk, as it is difficult to earn as much as industrial farmers. These farmers must rely on word-of-mouth and local consumers in order to make a living. Otherwise, their farm is rendered obsolete. In addition, an immense amount of time and effort must be dedicated to ensure the farms success. Failure to do so would result in the farms immediate demise. Because small organic farms require a large amount of work, most farm veer away and lean towards the much more easier and profitable method of farming: industrially. The simplicity and profitability of such a farm is unavoidable to nearly any capitalist farmer.4. Is all food created equal?All food is definitely not created equal, as explicitly stated in part II of Pollans book. There are cows that have never grazed a fresh pasture and chickens that have never seen green, verdant fields. These kinds of animals reside in CAFOs that feed unnatural sources of food such as grain processed from corn grown hundreds of miles away. They live and die in agony. Yet, farms that treat animals properly do exist. Polyface, for instance, treats its animals as a niche in the farm ecosystem. Each animal plays a role that may have a direct or indirect effect on any other living being on the farm. This kind of symbiotic relationship provides the best environment for the animals to reside, as they are able to roam and feed naturally and at their will. 5. Is it possible for small organic farmers to burgeon into an industry as large as the current industrial organic industry?Though it is unlikely to grow into another industrial organic industry, small organic farmers to have a foothold in the American food system. More individuals are beginning to recognize the benefits and positive results of buying organic foods from a small organic farm as opposed to a large, corporate supermarket. The consumer is given an immense amount of transparency that is unmatched in both the industrial organic and industrial food industries. The cost surely outweighs the slightly buffeted price. These small organic farms may eventually grow to become the alternative source of food in the American food system, another organic movement. This time, however, it is hoped that the government will not meddle with these farms, as they have done with those of the original organic movement.

1 Analytical ParagraphPart II focuses on two essential sections: one discussing the atrocities of the industrial organic industry and another describing the natural processes of Polyface farm. Throughout the section, the government seems to play an impending role over the production of food, acting as a Big Brother attempting to manage the entire countrys farms. Clearly, the government has had an incredible impact on the industrial organic industry, transforming it into a sector of the food industry nearly identical to the very one it sought to destroy. With Gene Kahn as its primary representative, faith has already been lost within the depths of the industrial organic factory. However, hope still presides on small, alternative farms dotted across the United States. One farm of which Pollan visits, Polyface farm, focuses on exploiting the farm ecosystem to symbiotically benefit all of its organisms. It acts as a large, endless cycle that the government has yet to modify. Though attempts have been made to shut it down, Polyface farm continues to wave its flag proud and strong, like a true American.

The Omnivores Dilemma: Part III 10-5-1s10 Key Concepts1. In this section, Pollan primarily focuses on the hunter-gatherer aspect of humankind. Though it may seem as if we are psychologically inclined to eat modern day processed food, we fail to ignore our instinctive behaviors as hunters and gatherers. Pollan presents a rather flourished description of a hunting scene to introduce this third part.2. In part III, Pollan pokes the true omnivores dilemma, a concern that guards us against the poisonous and hazard foods available to an omnivore. Because we are not specialized animals and are not biologically designed to eat one kind of food, we are forced to use our predisposed brains to aid in our daily consumption.3. Arguably, one of the most interesting points made in section III is attributed to the evolution of the human brain. Our omnivore tendencies forced our brains to think and decide a proper meal. Thus, the human brain grew and evolved to match our dietary predilections.4. An odd paradox is presented in this final section neophila, the pleasure of variety, and neophobia, the comfort of the familiar. Omnivores have a natural affinity towards these two characteristics, wanting to introduce new foods into our diet, while being afraid of certain novel sources of energy. 5. American faddism has been the primary cause of our national eating disorder. Because this country does not have a codec to command our consumption, we bring upon ourselves an unstable diet vulnerable to any fashionable or seemingly healthy trend. Though this benefits food corporations wishing to profit, a more diverse source of food hands the population a greater opportunity to divulge in such creations.6. The notion of the self-consciousness of animals has also been touched upon in this section. Pollan asserts that animals are more than just machines, but rather living beings with actual awareness and, inevitably, suffering. This opinion diverts from the Cartesians belief that animals were simple machines and no more.7. Pollan decides to attempt to become a vegetarian in order to sympathize with the animal rightists. He soon discovers, however, that it is not all that demoralizing in divulge in meat. The simple order of nature outweighs the opinions of human individualism.8. Pollan decides to partake in a hunting trip and discover the social and mental implications of killing ones own food. He discovers that there is an incredible psychological impact upon murdering even a wild pig. A certain degree of attachment is established between the animal and the human.9. In addition to hunting, Pollan also participates in a mushroom scavenge. The mysterious and covert quality of mushrooms is greatly emphasized throughout this portion of the section.10. Pollan concludes his novel with a reflection on the true perfect meal. This meal possesses the gratitude towards and knowledge of all of its components. Nothing is left in the dark, and everything is presented warmly and welcoming.

5 Questions/Answers1. Why are mushrooms so mysterious?a. Because it is difficult to perform extensive research on mushroom, scientists have been unable to forego major discovers. The delicate and fragile hyphae of the mushroom prevent the fungus from being plucked from the ground without being devoid of its complex root system. This root system is the source of study for scientists, and without it, no studies can be conducted. In addition, most mushrooms only operate under exclusive conditions, including under the lunar light. The odd source of energy absorbed by the mushrooms presents a greater impediment, as it introduces a novel, untouched field of study.2. Why are humans so susceptible to the industrial complex?a. As humans, we are psychologically inclined to discover novel and more efficient means of obtainer our source of food. Because hunting and gathering became such a hassle, we invented agriculture and livestock. However, in recent years, this has morphed into the greater industrial complex of food, and inevitable fate of mankind. This industry provided one of the most efficient and cheapest ways to obtain food since the invention of agriculture. Our predisposed nature caused our own demise into the depths of the food complex.3. What is the perfect meal?a. The perfect meal is one of which unifies the consumer with the producer. In humans case, man is being united (or reunited) with nature. The consumer is aware of the source of the food he knows where his food came from. This idea opposes modern days food industry, where corn can be processed and transformed into that abomination of a Twinkie. The cost of the meal is paid in full and no debts are due. The consumer as partaken in the scavenging of his own meal. No holes or opacities are left for one to discover. In summary, the perfect meal is the least transparent meal.4. Why does Pollan disagree with animal rightists?a. Pollans argument resides on one central idea the fact that human morals cannot be applied to nature simply because nature acts so much more differently. Nature functions in the interest of an entire species while human morals focus on the individual. Thus, the logic of human morals does not coincide with the logic of nature. Unfortunately, this acts as a great wall of ignorant, impeding animal rightists towards another perspective.5. How has symbiosis proven to be beneficial towards the food humans produce?a. The symbiotic process eliminates all waste in the food production process. Waste is used in unimaginable ways and converted to various other sources of energy. Symbiosis allows for the most natural method of food production as well as, arguably, the healthiest way of eating food. It is evident that Americas eating disorder is not caused by what we are eating, but rather by how we are eating it and the food that is fed to our food. In the end, nature outweighs the conventions mapped by humans.

1 Analytical ParagraphWith this final section of The Omnivores Dilemma, Pollan attempts to answer the posed question of What should we have for dinner? in a rather subtle and unannounced method. He discovers that the perfect meal possesses qualities that both gratify the animals and unify our well being with the essence of nature. Knowledge is truly bliss. The mere knowledge of how the food was produced can prove to alleviate a prolonged anxiety. In Pollans case, scavenging for mushrooms and hunting for pigs provided a satisfaction that was unmatchable. Though the perfect meal may not be realistic or convenient, it is surely a cathartic and pleasing ritual that should be dawned by every individual.