Michael Pollan’s the Omnivore’s Dilemma, Essay Example

A Review on Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma

The issue on whether or not the modern meal presented to the modern society is worthy enough as it is presented has been a long time running topic for debate between food business owners and health experts. This is the reason why Michael Pollan’s writing on The Omnivore’s Dilemma tries to instantiate an argument on the facts and the controversies regarding the manner by which humans become accustomed to the culture of eating food prepared by fast food chains in the market.

Among the individuals who reviewed this particular written work of Pollan is David Kamp of New York Times. In his review, Kamp specifically focuses on how Pollan deconstructs the regular American meal basing from the most common food choices they consume. Kamp further points out herein that Pollan’s writing reveals some fearful truth about the supposed “monsters” of the everyday meal that that the society is offered by large food chains such as that of McDonalds. To this, Kamp gives a high regard for Pollan’s writing especially how he tries to manifest a strong control on the information he points out in his written work. Kamp tries to convey that the procedures of getting and cooking the meat of such food sources are different from that of the traditional approach used hence altering the nutrients that they are supposed to contain.

Avoiding the condition of conformity, Kamp agrees with so much of the data that Pollan presents in his writing. This specifically involves the manner by which the writer speaks out his mind and relatively explores the truth that several other writers would dare not discuss. Pointing out how the food choices have been economized by large business entities around the globe, Pollan was noted to give a specific picture that people both the elitists and the ordinary individuals would be able to directly relate themselves with. Considerably, the approach that Pollan used for presenting his facts was hailed by Kamp to be effective enough especially in pointing out both the good and bad side of modern food presentations and the economization of the said commodity.

Understandably, Kamp’s reaction on Pollan’s writing was rather positive especially that his attitude is relative to what the author is giving particular attention to. Notably, the course of a positive review coming from Kamp improves the capacity of readers to understand what Pollan wants to convey in the writing. Nevertheless, I for one see that this review could have been more impartial if it did provide a brief overview on what the supposedly “big companies” are depending upon when it comes to deciding upon the menus that they offer to the buying public. This way, Kamp would not only be able to share his personal opinion about the reading but also create a considerable picture that conveys solid facts that could set a balance on the presentation of values between the two parties, the ones who eat [the market] and the ones who offer [the big businesses]. Relatively, if Kamp considered such an approach, his review would be rather helpful in clarifying the issue better and likely providing a stronger support to what Pollan has written. Considerably, this indicates a much valuable type of review, which would be a helpful source of information for the readers who may either have positive or negative reaction on Pollan’s work.

On personal ground, it could be agreed that the controversy over eating meat or not as discussed by Pollan is based on the procedures by which commercial food establishments intend to stretch the capacity of the meat resources to fill up meal demands by their clients. The supposed need to expand the distribution of meat resources has become a common practice among members of the fast food chain industries; which in turn has lowered down the integrity of the food choices presented to the market today. Notably, it is because of this fact that Pollan’s work could be considered as an eye opener to the buying public who choose to eat in several fast food chains which provides them the convenience of time when it comes to “eating when they need to”. The need to break the said culture presented by the business entities that are directly making profit from unconventional way of stretching food resources should be broken hence giving way to much healthier food choices for the public to eat.

Reference

Kamp, David. (2006). Deconstructing Dinner. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/23/books/review/23kamp.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all&_moc.semityn.www.