"We’re still kind of investigating. But the best knowledge we have is that this outbreak came from a very large industrial pork operation, pork confinement operation, where, you know, tens of thousands of pigs live in filth and close contact. And this was in Mexico." Full Story »
Posted by Margarita Persico
This is part investigative journalism and part public service. The subject matter covered in this story is one of those magical topics that makes Americans turn their heads, turn the page to something else - or just come short of covering their ears and eyes and making blah blah sounds. Pollan is an interesting academic but he can be all of the place on any single question. Amy Goodman has a great talent for steering an interview and at the same time letting it happen. Her interviews are not sound-bite inducing rapport. Not unlike a good examiner - Goodman knows the answers before she asks the question - there is no doubt that she is asking the question on reader / listeners behalf and carefully crafted. This report was concise and comprehensive.
Generally this interview is delving into an area that does not have wide public support, in fact quite the opposite - not unlike emitting unnecessary carbon - much of the population is continuously programmed by category 6 marketing forces to eat corporately beneficial food replacements, while thinking its food. If one is interested in health care and the environment, the subject matter of nutrition and our food supply completes the circle. There are few voices making good arguments and the enemy is complacency. These are more uncomfortable subjects for people because it shatters emotional investments or traditions in food or brands that are part of their lives. Don't believe me - change brands of gasoline this week - go ahead !