Animals have feelings too…

Chapter 17 of Michael Pollan’s Omnivore’s Dilemma begins with author reading Peter Singer’s Animal Liberation while trying to enjoy a rib-eye steak. This reading heavily promotes animal rights and against the consumption of meat. “Vegetarianism is more popular than it has ever been, and animal rights, the fringiest of fringe movements until just a few years ago, is rapidly finding its way into the cultural mainstream” (Pollan 305). The meat industry recognizes that the more we know about how animals are turned into meat, the less likely we will be to buy it. Again, companies will do whatever they need to in order to trick us and conceal the truths of the meat industry. Excessively biased Pollan actually presents both sides of this ethical dilemma – in support of animal rights as well as the dilemmas of being a vegetarian. In the end, this chapter of Pollan presents three different ways to go about this ethical debate:

1. Choose to not eat meat at all
2.  Eat meat, but still take responsibility for what one is eating
3. Eat meat, not concerned at all with the process of how that meat was made

Pollan summarizes this very informative reading with the encouragement that all Americans need to become more aware of what they are eating. This is not implying that we must all become vegetarians after hearing the truth, but Pollan urges that we need to become as educated as possible within the industry so many companies purposefully cover up.

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The consumption of meat in American culture has doubled in the past decade. And still, just as many people are unaware of the origins of this meat. I must, however, give Pollan some credit for presenting two sides of an argument instead of simply his sole view. The significant point I got out of this reading is Pollan’s attempt to convince us readers that we must better educate ourselves on the origins of the foods we are eating. However, the truth is, we all viewed “Food Inc.” I do not think we can become better educated about the meat industry in any better way than through watching this film. I cannot speak for everyone in the class, but I eventually went back to eating exactly the same before viewing this film. Again, as I have mentioned before, numerous Americans do not care where this comes from. After eating this meat and at such large amounts their whole lives, it is incredibly difficult to change. Plus, Americans hate change.

Having read Pollan’s critics has also made me ever since read Pollan’s writings differently. I am now much more aware of his and Food Inc.’s attempts to profoundly exaggerate the troubles of our current food system.  I learned so much more about vegetarians. For example, most vegetarians cannot give a valid reason why they don’t eat meat as long as they know that those animals were treated okay. What than justifies being a vegetarian if animals are treated humanely?

• What are your personal views of vegetarianism? Do you see this justification mentioned?
• Out of the three different ways Pollan describes this ethical debate that I listed above, can you easily classify yourself in one of these and support your choice?
• Industries do a successful job disguising our meat to not remind us of the animal it used to be. Can you think of any other strategies producers use to ensure that consumers remain uneducated on the meat’s past and guarantee profits to still flow?