In his book In Defense of Food, Pollan discusses the shift from food culture to food science in the Western world. Food culture is complex, and can have many different definitions largely revolving around the different perceptions of food. Food science jump-started in the US, which ties into mostly historical, and somewhat current, political, wealth, and socio-economic aspects. The combination of food science, nutritionism, and the ever-changing Western diet has led to the unfortunate loss of food culture; and the Western diet is largely influenced by food authorities, the government, the food industry and media. Is society better off being told how to eat by these authorities?
I find it interesting how food culture outside of the US, is in a way doing a better job than the US food authorities is doing at getting people to eat healthy. For example, the US food authorities would evoke fear in society in getting them to stop eating beef, whereas in Hinduism, cows are believed to be sacred, thus many Hindus do not eat beef. In such circumstances, religion and culture affects food culture, and the cultural conception of food is tied closely to morals and values on an individual and social scale. The introduction of a cultural conception of food in the Western diet could potentially change food consumption, and may even be a viable solution to the “unhealthy obsession with healthy eating” that Pollan emphasizes (p80). Is it even possible for the Western diet to shift to include a cultural aspect of food, especially with the industrialization of food in the US?
Fear evoking ad campaign in the US