October 1, 2023
A collection of essays on the problems that plague America's food supply chain at every level. This collection accompanies the documentary series Food, Inc. 2, sequel to Food, Inc., and several pieces cover the same ground as the previous book. The contributors focus on the corporatization of agriculture and the ruthlessness of the massive companies involved. Many small farmers find it difficult to earn a living, and exploitation is common across the entire supply chain, from the people who pick the vegetables to cooks, servers, and other restaurant staff. Several articles look at the unhealthiness of much of the food that is currently produced, and food journalist Larissa Zimberoff, author of Technically Food: Inside Silicon Valley's Mission To Change What We Eat, has worrying things to say about lab-produced food. The problem with this book is that much of the information has been examined before, sometimes decades ago. Does anyone still think that highly processed foods are good for you? A number of writers cannot resist the temptation to take a swipe at Donald Trump, and Cory Booker's article, "Politics on Your Plate," reads like an advertisement for the Democratic Party. Similarly, the essay by Michiel Bakker, "From Food Services to Foodshots," feels like a promotion for his employer, Google. In their analysis of agribusiness, some articles drift close to conspiracy-theory territory, and in some places there is a self-righteous, preachy tone. More interesting material includes an article on expanding the aquaculture sector and an essay that calls for improving financing options and access for sustainable farms. "The Four Bites," social entrepreneur Christiana Musk's exploration of plant-based quasi-meat, also raises intriguing possibilities. Readers who buy everything from Whole Foods will like this book; others may pass. Other contributors include Michael Pollan, Eric Schlosser, and Leah Penniman. A mixed bag covering a great deal of territory.
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October 15, 2023
Writer and editor Weber brings together a chorus of activists, scientists, journalists, farmers, politicians, and food workers raising an alarm and promoting awareness of unhealthy food choices, the impact of the climate crisis on our food system, and the ways in which people of color and Indigenous people have been exploited by the food system. A sequel to Food, Inc. (2009), the book picks up in 2020 as COVID-19 impacted the food chain, and those deemed "essential" food workers were often mistreated and severely underpaid. Each chapter brings a unique perspective concerning the present and future state of our food system. For example, Leah Penniman, a Black Kreyol farmer, writes about food apartheid and the challenges experienced by Black farmers in the U.S. and explains advocacy for food justice. Readers interested in environmental and food studies and public health will be thoughtfully engaged by this collection, poised to help us all understand the deep implications of the crisis in our food system and what to do about it now.
COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.