image courtesy of Evers Mcgee
A treasure trove of resources...from 3 different sources. Choose a chapter description that best matches one of your investigation questions, and start reading for answers. This will become your first major tumblr post for our UnHappy Meal project.
From Michael Pollan, The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals (New York: Penguin, 2006)
Slaughter in a Glass Abattoir: takes us inside a humane chicken killing production line, in which the author participates in the slaughter and "deconstruction" of the bodies. The Consumer - A Republic of Fat: discusses the rise of American obesity as a result of the mass production of corn - mostly the creation of high-fructose corn syrup and the creation of the "super-sized" portion. The Meal - Fast Food: a general description of different fast foods, and the different ingredients that go into them - with a special emphasis on what's in chicken nuggets and cheeseburgers - and just how much corn (and chemicals) we are really eating when we don't expect it The Perfect Meal: discusses what it's like to create an entire meal from what you find around you, or which you have grown (or hunted) yourself. Basically, living like a hunter-gatherer. Even how to get yeast from the air. Then ends with a philosophical digression on what it's like to be self-sufficient The Ethics of Eating Animals: as it says, part 1 talks about whether making other species suffer for our own good is morally wrong. However, part 2 also talks about why it's difficult to be a vegetarian. It then discusses whether animals do in fact suffer (they do, but the question is "how much,") and whether animals feel happiness, and continues by talking about the long relationship between animals and humans. It ends by discussing veganism and killing animals for food. From Eric Schlosser, Fast Food Nation: The dark side of the all-American meal. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2001) What We Eat: Overview of how fast food franchises work, and how they are everywhere What's In the Meat, pts 1 & 2: This is a long read but it talks about all the dangers to our health from the chemicals, bacteria and poisons in industrial meat, and how all that stuff gets in there. Basically, the conclusion is that our meat is a breeding ground for future outbreaks of food poisoning, especially from E. coli (which is feces). In part 1 he talks about how it gets into the cows while they are alive and after they are slaughtered. In part 2 he discusses how the gov't first tried to regulate meat packing, but then gave up during the 1980s, and how the meat industries are now policing themselves, sort of, but not really. It ends by talking about salmonella poisoning and how diseased your own kitchen has become. The Most Dangerous Job: This discusses what it's like to work in a slaughterhouse, and who does this work. It's very graphic as to how the animals are killed and dismembered, but also talks about how brutal the work is and how often workers are hurt during the process. It discusses how meat packing companies are able to get away with this. Why The Fries Taste So Good: Pretty much as it sounds - it gets a LOT into the chemical flavors that go into fries, and how we are motivated by taste. From Michael Pollan, Richie Chavat, The Omnivore's Dilemma, Young Reader's Edition: The Secret's Behind What You Eat. (New York, Dial, 2009) Fat From Corn: childhood obesity as a result of our food is discussed, with a lot of statistics about high fructose corn sweeteners. Also discusses super-sizing. Processed Food: how corn is broken down industrially and turned into sugar, and all of the products that are made from corn (it's surprising.) It gives you the breakdown of a Twinkie. City of Cows: takes us to an "industrialized" feedlot, and shows us what happens when animals that shouldn't eat corn, do. It also explains how cows are eating each other! It discusses anti-biotics in the meat My Fast Food Meal: does a simpler job of explaining: different fast foods, and the different ingredients that go into them - with a special emphasis on what's in chicken nuggets and cheeseburgers - and just how much corn (and chemicals) we are really eating when we don't expect it |
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