Foer's "Eating Animals" and the Dialogue Over Sustainable Food:

 If you've been paying attention recently, you've seen that Jonathan Safran Foer's new book Eating Animals has been stirring up some lively debate coming from both sides of the meat-eating argument, including that widely publicized flare-up between Froer and Anthony Bourdain that started on Larry King Live last month.

Whatever your opinion may be of the book (you can take a look at reviews of the book at the New Yorker and here on New York Magazine), the fact that it's generating such a real, widespread discussion about our food is certainly another step forward in what is becoming one of the most important ongoing dialogues in America today. In a sense, Foer's book seems to be, so far, the most significant response (and critique) to the Michael Pollan school of thought, which has dominated the discussion since The Omnivore's Dilemma became the Bible for the sustainable food movement.


Safran's discussion about eating animals is obviously compelling.  But the reality is that vegetarianism is not a choice most people want to or are willing to make.  A far greater number of individuals are more interested in seeking viable alternatives for buying and consuming our foods, including meat, in a sustainable, conscientious way.  It is true that the amount of non-factory raised animals in the U.S. is miniscule in comparison to the actual consumption of meat.  But the fact that the awareness and demand for sustainably raised meat is growing so rapidly certainly is an encouraging sign and a step in the right direction.  And that's where the conversation needs to focus on now in order to really start making an impact on a larger scale.  Nicolette Niman has a great article dealing with this issue today on The Huffington Post, where she outlines an eater's guide to avoiding factory farmed foods.

Hopefully we will be seeing more of this kind of discussion in the future.