Average Quote by Michael Pollan
“There are some forty-five thousand items in the average American supermarket and more than a quarter of them now contain corn. This goes for the nonfood items as well: Everything from the toothpaste and cosmetics to the disposable diapers, trash bags, cleansers, charcoal briquettes, matches, and batteries, right down to the shine on the cover of the magazine that catches your eye by the checkout: corn.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan, 2006
Modern food systems heavily rely on corn, even in non‑food products, shaping diets and consumer choices.
In simple terms: Corn is in many everyday items.
Key Takeaway
Consider the hidden corn in products you use.
Themes
food industry
consumer awareness
health
environment
Mood
concerned
inquisitive
Type
informative
analytical
When to use this quote
- grocery shopping
- product labeling
- dietary choices
- environmental impact
Key Concepts
agro‑industrialization
food supply chains
chemical additives
Questions to Reflect On
- How does corn ubiquity affect your health?
- What alternatives exist for corn‑heavy products?
A Different Perspective
Corn reliance can obscure nutritional quality and sustainability.
![“But carbon 13 [the carbon from corn] doesn't lie, and researchers who have compared the isotopes in the flesh or hair of Americans to those in the same tissues of Mexicans report that it is now we in the North who are the true people of corn… Compared to us, Mexicans today consume a far more…” quote by Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0c7/michael-pollan-408_animal_but-carbon-13-the-carbon-from-corn-doesn_1740195.jpg)
