Pollan does excellent work, but he might have noted that his story about antibiotics is not new. I wrote about it in Farming for Profit in a Hungry World in 1977. My work was not particular original. Others had been writing about this problem before.
The outcome was obvious. Also, I suspect that the meat that people eat would not be as healthy with the animals needing antibiotics because of confinement. This story is not just an indictment of one particular practice, but the general failure of erecting good regulations in the face of entrenched business interests. Let's hope that Pollan succeeds in his call. Remember the case of Upton Sinclair, who wrote regarding The Jungle "I aimed at the public's heart, and by accident I hit it in the stomach." 1952. American Outpost: A Book of Reminiscences (NY): p. 175. -- Michael Perelman Economics Department California State University Chico, CA 95929 Tel. 530-898-5321 E-Mail michael at ecst.csuchico.edu michaelperelman.wordpress.com
