In Videos: Michael Pollan on 'The Colbert Report'
Michael Pollan, author of In Defense of Food, was on The Colbert Report last night. Colbert welcomed him with Sierra Mist soda, which definitely doesn't make Pollan's five-ingredients-or-less rule for virtuous foods. But Pollan politely took a sip and argued that he can still be American while avoiding American cheese (and other synthetic foods). For example, he encourages all parents to go the breast milk route, except we learn, thanks to a Mrs. Pollan in the audience, that he was not breast fed himself! Scandal. The interview, after the jump.
Michael Pollan on 'The Colbert Report'
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9 Comments:
Ya know...breast feeding is a much more complex issue than "studies show breastfeeding is better for children."
First of all, I'm no expert on the medical side of things, but it seems that there are genetic predispositions to this kind of thing. Some kids do better...some don't. (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/06/health/research/06ment.html?_r=1&ref=science)
But the issue extends into feminism as well. (http://jezebel.com/5168825/the-breast-is-a-tender-issue-for-moms)
Obviously, we want the best for our children...and in ideal situations, perhaps breastfeeding is a sacrifice a mother can make. But I don't think it's worth shaming a mother over.
And I'm sure Pollan has hardly, if ever, considered the social/gender issues with breastfeeding since it isn't his specialty, but the nutrition is just part of what needs to be in the discussion...
lawofmurphy at 1:22PM on 05/14/09
It is amazing when you look at the ingredients on food, even seemingly healthy food. The oat nut bread and 12 grain sandwich bread from the store has many ingredients in it, several that I don't know and can't pronounce. I feel really good that I make a lot of my own bread at home and it typically has just flour, water, salt, yeast, maybe honey or something for flavoring... but I know exactly what is in it. Making your own food really is rewarding, cheaper, and better for you.
xwafflesx at 2:16PM on 05/14/09
I don't see Michael Pollan "politely taking a sip" of the soda- I see him sniffing it though. Where does he take the sip?
On the breastfeeding, the point isn't whether mothers who fed formula are to be blamed or shamed, the point is that at every level of the "food pyramid", from breastmilk to soft drinks to cheese, we've been sold a bill of goods by those who stand to make money in the processing of foods. Eating whole foods that we've grown ourselves (or bought from someone who did) and cooking it ourselves makes no money for the processors. So they told us that processed and packaged and bleached and fake were healthier and safer for us- sometimes lying outright so that they could make money. And our government participated in this. Thomas Jefferson would say it is our duty as Americans to stand up and protest against abuses by the government against its own people (or any people). That's why we are Americans now and not British :)
marimann at 2:24PM on 05/14/09
I love Sierra Mist....
hungrychristel at 3:34PM on 05/14/09
Ahhhhhh it's five ingredients or FEWER! Goodness. I love Michael Pollan - just wish he wouldn't make that grammar mistake so often. =P
teenagefoodie at 5:37PM on 05/14/09
Unless I missed it, Pollan didn't actually take a drink. He sniffed it, then put it down. Smart guy.
GoodStuffNW at 8:46PM on 05/14/09
@marimann - you said it!
pooch at 8:23AM on 05/15/09
And lets follow his logic, children who are not breastfed are at a disadvantage developmentally compared to children who are. Michael Pollan was not breastfed, his mother in the audience said so, so we are taking advice from someone who is devlopmentally challeged. common sense people, yes junk food is bad for you, but don't damn everything commercial based on bad examples. 5 ingredients or fewer? empty your condiment shelf, not worchestershire or steak sauce. On second thoughts though, 5 ingredients or less and no chemicals may be a good thing, then i wouldn't have to hear about raves Alinea and molecular gastronomy anymore, food more highly processed than most food comapnies make.
Meat guy at 8:47AM on 05/15/09
Just watched this last night, and I must say I was disappointed. In my opinion, Pollan didn’t get his point across well. I suppose it must not be easy to be interviewed by Colbert, who wasn’t serious.
And I don’t know. Maybe it sounds a bit patronizing on a show like this?
I also didn’t see Pollan take a sip. I wished he did. Once in a while, it’s fine. But it’d probably clash with the reason he was on the show.
Zelnox at 10:04AM on 05/15/09