--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What we eat has changed more in the last…" description: "\"What we eat has changed more in the last 40 years than in the previous 40,000. The survival of the current food system depends upon widespread ignoranc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24c/eric-schlosser-3894_changed_what-we-eat-has-changed-more-in-the-last_1484224.png" --- # What we eat has changed more in the last 40 years than in… ![“What we eat has changed more in the last 40 years than in the previous 40,000. The survival of the current food system depends upon widespread ignorance of how it really operates.” quote by Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24c/eric-schlosser-3894_changed_what-we-eat-has-changed-more-in-the-last_1484224.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24c/eric-schlosser-3894_changed_what-we-eat-has-changed-more-in-the-last_1484224.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24c/eric-schlosser-3894_changed_what-we-eat-has-changed-more-in-the-last_1484224.png) > “What we eat has changed more in the last 40 years than in the previous 40,000. The survival of the current food system depends upon widespread ignorance of how it really operates.” [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Modern diets have shifted dramatically in recent decades, while most people remain unaware of the food system’s inner workings, threatening its sustainability. **In simple terms:** Food habits changed fast, but we stay ignorant. Key Takeaway Learn how food is produced and support transparency. Themes food systems ignorance environment health culture Mood concerned reflective Type analytical informative When to use this quote - grocery shopping - policy advocacy - educational campaigns - personal diet choices Key Concepts industrial agriculture consumer awareness systemic risk Questions to Reflect On - How does your food knowledge affect your choices? - What steps can increase transparency? A Different Perspective Complex supply chains hide true impacts, making change hard. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Ignorance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignorance/) [Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival/) ## Related quotes > [The way we eat has changed more in the last 50 years than in the previous 10,000…. Now our food is coming from enormous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/the-way-we-eat-has-changed-more-in-the-last-50-years-than-in-the-2/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [The way we eat has changed more in the last 50 years than in the previous 10,000,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kenner/the-way-we-eat-has-changed-more-in-the-last-50-years-than-in-the/) [Robert Kenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kenner/) > [Good food depends almost entirely on good ingredients.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-waters/good-food-depends-almost-entirely-on-good-ingredients/) [Alice Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-waters/) > [“Good food depends as largely upon the judgment of the cook, as upon the materials used. These recipes and Household Hints are written very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-maria-gurney/good-food-depends-as-largely-upon-the-judgment-of-the-cook-as-upon-3/) [Lydia Maria Gurney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-maria-gurney/) > [“Good food depends as largely upon the judgment of the cook, as upon the materials used. These recipes and Household Hints are written very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-maria-gurney/good-food-depends-as-largely-upon-the-judgment-of-the-cook-as-upon/) [Lydia Maria Gurney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-maria-gurney/) > [The current fast food that we have is inexpensive when you buy it, but the long-term costs of eating it and the long-term costs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/the-current-fast-food-that-we-have-is-inexpensive-when-you-buy-it-but/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [We forget today that Britain still depends for its livelihood and, indeed, its day-to-day survival, on the sea. But the Royal Navy is now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keegan/we-forget-today-that-britain-still-depends-for-its-livelihood-and/) [John Keegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keegan/) > [For 40 years, I put my body through a tremendous amount of work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-majors/for-40-years-i-put-my-body-through-a-tremendous-amount-of-work/) [Lee Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-majors/) > [Of course, East Germans had children, they fell in love, and the grass was green and the wind was blowing. It's 40 years. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-hoss/of-course-east-germans-had-children-they-fell-in-love-and-the-grass/) [Nina Hoss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-hoss/) > [If you do anything for 40 years, you can do it comfortably. And it will always be good. But unless you're willing to risk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlo-guthrie/if-you-do-anything-for-40-years-you-can-do-it-comfortably-and-it-will/) [Arlo Guthrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlo-guthrie/) > [It wasn't that I ever knew I'd be at the Met for 20 years, or 30 years, or 40 years, or anything like that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-levine/it-wasn-t-that-i-ever-knew-i-d-be-at-the-met-for-20-years-or-30-years/) [James Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-levine/) > [If we get chased out of Iraq with our tail between our legs, that will be the fifth consecutive Third-world country with no hint…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/if-we-get-chased-out-of-iraq-with-our-tail-between-our-legs-that-will/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [It won't take 40 years for opposition to same-sex marriage to dissipate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-cheney/it-won-t-take-40-years-for-opposition-to-same-sex-marriage-to/) [Mary Cheney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-cheney/) > [Well of course there's been a great deal of progress over the last 40 years. We don't have laws that segregate black people within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-davis/well-of-course-there-s-been-a-great-deal-of-progress-over-the-last-40/) [Angela Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-davis/) > [I've been a professional actor for almost 40 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-perlman/i-ve-been-a-professional-actor-for-almost-40-years/) [Ron Perlman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-perlman/) ## More by Eric Schlosser > [Twenty years ago, teenage boys in the United States drank twice as much milk as soda; now they drink twice as much soda as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/twenty-years-ago-teenage-boys-in-the-united-states-drank-twice-as/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [So for everything I do, I'm very clear about what I'm doing, and I tell people what it's about. They get a sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/so-for-everything-i-do-i-m-very-clear-about-what-i-m-doing-and-i-tell/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [I never consciously set out to model myself after Upton Sinclair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/i-never-consciously-set-out-to-model-myself-after-upton-sinclair/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [“The medical literature on the causes of food poisoning is full of euphemisms and dry scientific terms: coliform levels, aerobic plate counts, sorbitol, MacConkey…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/the-medical-literature-on-the-causes-of-food-poisoning-is-full-of/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [A public outcry usually masks a private obsession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/a-public-outcry-usually-masks-a-private-obsession/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [Very few people realize that the U.S. government does not have the power to order the recall of contaminated meat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/very-few-people-realize-that-the-u-s-government-does-not-have-the/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [Fast food is popular because it's convenient, it's cheap, and it tastes good. But the real cost of eating fast food never appears on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/fast-food-is-popular-because-it-s-convenient-it-s-cheap-and-it-tastes/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [The Golden Arches are now more widely recognized than the Christian cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/the-golden-arches-are-now-more-widely-recognized-than-the-christian/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [Different people, in good faith, can look at the same fact and interpret it differently. But that's where an interesting conversation begins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/different-people-in-good-faith-can-look-at-the-same-fact-and/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [The current fast food that we have is inexpensive when you buy it, but the long-term costs of eating it and the long-term costs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/the-current-fast-food-that-we-have-is-inexpensive-when-you-buy-it-but/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [“The cable and the X-unit both had female plugs. Somehow the cable had been installed backward. It would take a couple of days to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/the-cable-and-the-x-unit-both-had-female-plugs-somehow-the-cable-had/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [A generation ago, three-quarters of the money used to buy food in the United States was spent to prepare meals at home. Today about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/a-generation-ago-three-quarters-of-the-money-used-to-buy-food-in-the/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [I think there could hardly be a more important subject than health and nutrition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/i-think-there-could-hardly-be-a-more-important-subject-than-health/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [I hate the word "inevitable" because I feel like things don't have to be the way they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/i-hate-the-word-inevitable-because-i-feel-like-things-don-t-have-to/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [There's a real strong link today between soda consumption and obesity among children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/there-s-a-real-strong-link-today-between-soda-consumption-and-obesity/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) [Explore all 120 Eric Schlosser quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) ## More Changed quotes > [“You put together two things that have not been put together before. And the world is changed. People may not notice at the time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-barnes/you-put-together-two-things-that-have-not-been-put-together-before/) [Julian Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-barnes/) > [You made me hate my own reflection Question every choice I make So I could try to be perfect But I will try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn/you-made-me-hate-my-own-reflection-question-every-choice-i-make-so-i/) [Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn/) > [Everything has changed and nothing has changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-lowery/everything-has-changed-and-nothing-has-changed/) [Joseph Lowery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-lowery/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Faith is the avenue to salvation. Not intellectual understanding. Not money. Not your works. Just simple faith. How much faith? The faith of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/faith-is-the-avenue-to-salvation-not-intellectual-understanding-not/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [When I became Miss World, I couldn't believe I had won it. I used to sleep with my crown because I was scared someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyanka-chopra/when-i-became-miss-world-i-couldn-t-believe-i-had-won-it-i-used-to/) [Priyanka Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyanka-chopra/) > [As the light changed from red to green to yellow and back to red again, I sat there thinking about life. Was it nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-the-light-changed-from-red-to-green-to-yellow-and-back-to-red/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Forgetting your Self is the greatest injury; all the calamities flow from it. Take care of the most important, the lesser will take care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/forgetting-your-self-is-the-greatest-injury-all-the-calamities-flow/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [It's only a thought and a thought can be changed. Choose good ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/it-s-only-a-thought-and-a-thought-can-be-changed-choose-good-ones/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Working with Rihanna has changed my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bibi-bourelly/working-with-rihanna-has-changed-my-life/) [Bibi Bourelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bibi-bourelly/) > [The international game has changed for bidding cities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ueberroth/the-international-game-has-changed-for-bidding-cities/) [Peter Ueberroth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ueberroth/) > [You changed my life, don't know what you're doing to me with your love. You got me feeling super human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-changed-my-life-don-t-know-what-you-re-doing-to-me-with-your-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm not changing because I'm part of a hit. People around me have changed in their attitude toward me, but I haven't changed. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-penny/i-m-not-changing-because-i-m-part-of-a-hit-people-around-me-have/) [Joe Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-penny/) > [Good people are found not changed. Recently I read a headline that said, 'We don't teach people to be nice. We simply hire nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/good-people-are-found-not-changed-recently-i-read-a-headline-that/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) Browse all 6,529 Changed quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "What we eat has changed more in the last 40 years than in the previous 40,000. The survival of the current food system depends upon widespread ignorance of how it really operates.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eric Schlosser" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/what-we-eat-has-changed-more-in-the-last-40-years-than-in-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Changed" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/what-we-eat-has-changed-more-in-the-last-40-years-than-in-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24c/eric-schlosser-3894_changed_what-we-eat-has-changed-more-in-the-last_1484224.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24c/eric-schlosser-3894_changed_what-we-eat-has-changed-more-in-the-last_1484224.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24c/eric-schlosser-3894_changed_what-we-eat-has-changed-more-in-the-last_1484224.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What we eat has changed more in the last 40 years than in the previous 40,000. The survival of the current…” — Eric Schlosser", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Eric Schlosser", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What we eat has changed more...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/what-we-eat-has-changed-more-in-the-last-40-years-than-in-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/what-we-eat-has-changed-more-in-the-last-40-years-than-in-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```