Industrial Food in Modern Society

An examination of the problems associated with the mass consumption of industrialized food such as exploitation of labor, environmental degradation, animal abuse, widespread obesity and illness, and the erosion of social and cultural ties. We will critically examine the ways in which the industrialization of the food supply in modern societies has made calories cheap and plentiful and how the public pays for cheap food's hidden costs. Through the lens of industrial food, this course focuses particular attention on issues of labor, immigration and capitalism. The geographical area of emphasis will be the United States, and case studies from other regions may also be included.

Fall, Spring

012503