What I found most interesting about Blatt's GMO food chapter was Europe's standpoint on GMOs and how the majority of the continent views them. Perhaps I am biased, but I've always thought of Europe positively because many of its countries lead the way socially in my opinion. So it raises some alarms for me that GMOs are banned. It seems to me that if an entire continent made up of 1st world countries has a problem with GMOS, America should probably look into it more, especially considering we do not know of potential side problems. Let alone at least pass a policy mandating the labeling of GMO foods.
Blatt explained how Europeans have traditionally valued food and will spend hours preparing and cooking while most Americans see it as a hassle and will eat unhealthy food quickly. Food is culturally important to Europe and a big reason why they have smaller farms than America. When I studied abroad in Berlin, Germany, I saw Europe's cultural value of food first hand. And what was I eating? Quick and easy boring sandwiches because I wanted to explore Berlin's culture. Little did I know I was missing a major ingredient of culture by not enjoying more 4 hour meals with my host family.
In our strive to be successful, many of us Americans fail to see the importance of food. Is this a problem? Should something be done culturally to promote food's value?
I believe many Americans take our food for granted simply because there are so many cheap options. If the agricultural industry wasn't so industrialized and factory-like, food prices would probably go up. Is this a bad thing? I say it isn't. It would force some people to eat less, solving the obesity epidemic, while at the same time raising the value that Americans place on their food.
ReplyDeleteI really think one of the major problems with the American food industry is the way that Americans view food and meal time. As you said, in Europe, food is culturally important and meals can last hours. I've had this thought exercise before, but just think: what is an "American" food? I don't know about you, but my answers are pretty bleak. Hot dogs...corn...apple pie...nothing very healthy or unique to the U.S. I think that the food system can change if Americans not only change their eating habits in terms of WHAT they eat, but HOW they eat. If we mentally reserved time each day JUST to eat, then we would likely spend more time preparing our food, paying attention to the ingredients, and making a quality meal. Not only would it be healthier and hopefully contributing to a better food system (by using quality ingredients), but we would enjoy food a lot more!
ReplyDeleteAlthough I may be a bit biased as well, I feel similarly. Every other year my family returns to Portugal to visit friends and family. One year we brought my cousin who is gluten intolerant. During her stay in Portugal she filled her belly with bread, pasta, rice, etc. and she did not experience any symptoms. It makes me wonder if GMO/additives have played a role in what seems to be the growing number of cases in becoming gluten intolerant/sensitive in America.
ReplyDeleteEurope has also banned a lot of ingredients in cosmetics and other products that are FDA-approved in the U.S. Yikes!
ReplyDeleteI love the insight about the cultural importance of food. I remember the long hours of preparation + eating time with my host family during study abroad in Spain. My roommate and I decided to show our appreciation one day by making our host mom an "authentic" American meal. Echoing what Taylor said above, we were hard-pressed to think of what kind of food that would be, so we eventually landed on pancakes, to go with the maple syrup that my roommate had brought from New York (and also to demonstrate that it wasn't liquor, since it came in a fancy bottle which we noticed she was keeping in the liquor cabinet). She wasn't really that into the pancakes, but I don't blame her. She would go daily/weekly to the butcher, bakery, vegetable market, etc. and then spend hours each day preparing and eating meals. It's hard to compare that to something out of a box.
I think you're right on about many people in the U.S. seeing food prep as a "hassle". It seems like in your experience in Berlin, the PROCESS (not result) of preparing and eating food was central to the culture. Thanks for sharing!