The Omnivore's Dilemma: Author

After looking up Michael Pollan's background, I think that he has the experience and the communication skills necessary to convey a notable opinion to the public, but he does not have the technical credential's to speak as an expert on the subject of food. Pollan is not a dietician, nutritionist, doctor, or scientist, and critics use that fact as a reason for not agreeing with his non-professional opinion. However, I think he deserves more than a little credibility due to his experience as an investigative journalist, who doesn't have degrees in the subjects he's investigating, but who obtains professional opinions on the subject from people who do. In addition, his arguments are based mostly on observation, not on conjecture or speculation like "maybe this..." or "it might...". Especially in The Omnivore's Dilemma, Pollan is exploring the socio-political implications of what we eat for dinner and the food chain in modern Western civilization in addition to analyzing dietary practices. Thus, his book encompasses a wider range of issues than diet and nutrition.

Pollan might not have any obvious biases, per say, but is just very opinionated about the things he has come to believe in. Of course, his critique of other diet and nutrition plans and even organic stores is definitely biased by what has been described as a "purist" approach by people like the CEO of Whole Foods, who wants to have as many people turn to organic, natural food as possible instead of reserving the experience only for total purists. The fact that he is somewhat of a celebrity and a known entity, a communicator to the public on important food issues, makes many overlook the fact that he is under qualified. Nonetheless, I think that his work deserves credit for being sincere and written with integrity, although his approach to the issue of food as a black and white subject is indeed faulty. The processes, availability, and affordability of food include many gray areas and one size does not fit all, which is the true omnivore's dilemma in my mind.