Karina Ramos-Pineda

Period: 7
TED Talk and Omnivores Dilemma Assignment
As time goes by Americans seem to be becoming a bit more concerned about
what they eat. Fortunately, we have detectives young as Birke Baehr who help us be
more aware of risks we take with the foods we eat by spreading fact through TED talks
such as Whats wrong with our food system. Another big influence in societys diet is
Michael Pollan, the author of the non-fiction book Omnivores Dilemma. Both gentlemen
suggest the audience to buy local and organic foods instead of processed foods. They
explain the techniques large companies use to produce and sell foods.
As technology and science advances our foods also change. Who knew that food
could be changed for companies benefits? Baehr tells us in the TED talk Genetically
engineered seeds and organisms. That is when a seed is manipulated in a laboratory to
do something not intended to do by nature. Pollan also addresses genetically modified
foods, Today the seed companies have taken things a step further. Genetically
modified corn seed (or GMO, for genetically modified organism) [...]. (page25)
Forlornly, humans have taken ownership over plants and have changed nature to what
suits them best. The problem is that genetically modified foods have been known to be
hazardous to organisms they have been tested on; yet we still consume them every day
of our lives.
Since I can remember we are taught in school to immediately rinse our hands or
eyes if any chemicals come in contact with our skin. It is quite ironic how they teach us
to avoid them but the government feeds them through our foods. Conventional farmers
use chemical fertilizers, these chemicals that Baehr talks about are absorbed by the
Karina Ramos-Pineda
Period: 7
plants and trees our fruits and veggies, as well as what the animals we eat consume.
After World War II, the government found itself with a tremendous surplus of
ammonium nitrate [] the Department of Agriculture had a better idea: Spread the
ammonium nitrate on farmland as fertilizer. (page30) Once again the farm products are
saturated with toxic chemicals we ingest.
Corn is in everything and dont even get me started on the confined feeding
animal organizations, the CFAO feed animals corn, and more corn said Baehr. While
Pollan also said Corn is what feeds the steer that becomes your steak. Corn feeds the
chicken and the pigs. Corn-fed chickens laid the eggs. Corn feeds the dairy cows that
produce the milk, cheese, and ice cream.(page10) Americans diet is fully based on
corn. You are what you eat they say, we are Americorn.
Both Birke Baehr and Michael Pollan suggest that we buy food from local farms.
However, I know that we all dont have access to farms. The simplest solution is
growing your own crops! As soon as spring comes around we get our seeds ready. My
family grows tomatoes, green peppers, hot peppers, cucumbers, radish, corn, green
beans, jalapenos, cilantro, and oregano. You might think it is little to what we eat that is
in-organic. But it is less genetically modified foods we consume with unknown
consequences. It is fewer loads corn we devour. In addition, less chemical fertilizers in
are poisoned with. As Baehr said, We can either pay the farmer or we can pay the
hospital.