A Natural History of Four Meals - Essay Example

Food chains are being analyzed in detail. The analysis takes its beginning with the way food is grown and processed in food industries. The writer traces every meal from its actual conception up to its final stage and consumption by a customer. The aim of this paper is to analyze the first part of the book, “Industrial Corn”. It consists of seven chapters, the main aim of which is to present the writer’s considerations in the process of food chain exploration. The variety of meals Americans consume is really immense, because the nation is a melting pot itself with every nation having added something of their national cuisine. A big part of the discussion of this part of the book is devoted to industrial food which is related to corn products. The work exposes the nature and the means corn is devoured by American people directly through their daily food or indirectly through feeding domestic animals. Furthermore, it is known that corn is used in chemical production. Thus, the production of glucose and fructose-based syrup is made out of corn. “Industrial Corn” is a detailed discussion of the way such plant as corn has gradually gained dominance in the food industry of America. A number of factors such as economical, biological, political and cultural have played a role in corn gaining its position in the diet of the nation. The control corn has over the diet of Americans is significantly powerful.

To have a thorough and original research Pollan starts by investigating one corn farm located in Iowa and owned by George Naylor. Human beings have been investing in this plant cultivation for quite a long time. Pollan gives a fair share of criticism to the agricultural industrial model of Americans. On the one hand, some of the scientific inventions make agriculture processes much easier while growing of plants much more fruitful. On the other hand, however, modern scientific advances in agriculture affect the natural processes of growing corn. The environmental and health implications of the modern methodology of corn production are very significant.

Furthermore, the investigation and discussion are focused on the way the livestock are fed and the ambiguities of feeding animals with corn, while the consumption of grass is best for their metabolic system. Therefore, Pollan mentions a number of ambiguities and inconsistencies in the national production and consumption of food based on corn. The author also discusses the way animals are cured of fatal diseases and the types of antibiotics they consume. Thus, the food most people consume on daily bases is rather artificially modified with a number of adverse effects both to human health and life as well as the environment.

The common expectations from the book were that it would present an informative discussion of the types of food as well as some details of food production. the reader is positively surprised by the thorough research and investigation the author has done prior to writing the book. Besides, the reader is constantly kept intrigued which holds the attention of the reader. The usage of humour makes the perception of serious and sometimes frightening facts milder and more philosophical.