In Defense of Processed Foods: A Controversial Take
Processed foods have become the scapegoat for America's health woes, but are they really the dietary demons they're made out to be? In a new book, professors Jan Dutkiewicz and Gabriel N. Rosenberg argue that the modern industrial food system has done more good than harm, dramatically improving food access and safety. They contend that processed foods, even ultra-processed ones, aren't the dietary villains they're often portrayed as, and that calls to purge them entirely offer no magic fix. In fact, such advice may even leave us worse off.
The authors use the example of canned pumpkin to illustrate their point. The famous Libby's pumpkin pie recipe, printed on the side of cans of 100% Pure Pumpkin, has become a national staple. However, according to FDA regulations, the contents of a can of pumpkin can be made of a variety of squashes we don't conventionally call pumpkins. Most canned pumpkin you've ever eaten is probably something called a Dickinson squash. So, what's the alternative? Roasting and pureeing a pumpkin yourself? That's a bad idea, as store-bought pumpkins don't have the right starch or water content for the custard.
The book, Feed the People! Why Industrial Food Is Good and How to Make It Even Better, doesn't deny that the modern industrial food system has serious flaws. However, the authors argue that it has dramatically improved food access and safety, reshaping public health in ways that would have once seemed unimaginable. The question remains: are processed foods really the problem they're made out to be? And what's the solution? The authors invite readers to consider these questions and share their thoughts in the comments.
