The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals

SU students have been invited to read Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals as an introduction into the Academic Salons' theme. This book, as well as a number of other readings, have been carefully selected as catalysts for dialogue through out the year.

Michael Pollan strongly supports eating the most local and most organic foods you can, for both health and environmental reasons. How does this help the vast majority of people in America who aren’t privileged, who don’t have ample budgets to spend on whole foods, or don’t live in neighborhoods where local and organic foods are easily purchased? Is organic food really a panacea? Can we do something good in the world by buying organic, or is it just an easy way to relieve our guilt and/or ignorance?

Pollan also strongly supports eating the most local and most organic foods you can, for both health and environmental reasons. How does this help the vast majority of people in America who aren’t privileged, who don’t have ample budgets to spend on whole foods, or don’t live in neighborhoods where local and organic foods are easily purchased? Is organic food really a panacea? Can we do something good in the world by buying organic, or is it just an easy way to relieve our guilt and/or ignorance?