Palatable Food Politics

I'm aware that dishing on the politics of food can sometimes be seen as an exercise in force feeding self righteousness or food snobbery.  I try hard not to ever fall into this trap but I know my passion about these issues (issues I understand to be a matter of life and death) can seem a bit over zealous.  If I do veer into that "holier than thou" trap you have permission to call me on it.

So imagine my delight in running into Jim Hightower's article on The Upchuck Rebellion. 

The Upchuck Rebellion is "a growing number of people fed up with the destructive power of industrialized food [and] are declaring that they are not going to take it anymore". 

I recommend this article highly.  Hightower mixes several handfuls of sustainability and organic ethics with a bit of history, a few dashes of inspiration, and a big serving of humor.  This is the article to pass on to folks who might want to read Eric Schlosser's Fast Food Nation* or Marion Nestle's Food Politics but don't have the time.  It is a quick overview of the issues and an easy read.

Hightower reminds us that J.H. Kellogg and C.W. Post were health food visionaries of their day and that they would be appalled by the food that is currently attached to their names.  He also goes into the real costs of cheap food and how to get good food into our schools.

Read the whole thing here.

*I just saw a reference stating that the film version is in production--Fast Food Nation the movie.  If any of you have heard about this drop me a comment.

Comments

[Evan]

You are way cool!
Keep up the good work. Your comments are always spot on.

[abby]

Hi there, I guess this film is in post production and might be released over the summer sometime. I'm not sure if it's going to be a mockumentary or a regular "movie," but should be interesting either way. Take care!

[David]

I usually think of myself as a cross between a hopeless romantic and a cynic; that is someone who says "This is the way it *could* be!......but it probably won't..."

Thanks for the link to an article that made me say "Well, maybe..."

[Ivonne]

Thanks for the tip about "Food Politics". I've read "Fast Food Nation" and was mesmerized/horrified by it as were most of the people I know who read it.

I'll keep my eyes open for "Food Politics".

Keep up the impassioned blogging!

[Laurie]

Oh yeah, I can't wait to read this. I LOVE Jim Hightower!

[Jennifer]

Evan, thanks so much for the nice feedback!

Abby, thanks for the news on the Fast Food Nation movie--it should be interesting but it probably won't be what any of us expect.

David, I'm right with you on the "romantic--cynic" thing. I'm glad you found the article helpful.

Ivonne, the Food Politics books is a fascinating read--let me know how you like it.

Laurie, Welcome! Jim Hightower is pretty new to me but I'm an instant fan!

[Susan in Italy]

Thanks for the tip on Jim Hightower. I've heard him on the radio and I like his perspective. You sem right on in terms of loving good food and disliking food snobbery.