Let's Ask Marion: What You Need to Know about the Politics of Food, Nutrition, and Health (California Studies in Food and Culture)

by Marion Nestle, Kerry Trueman

"There is no one better to ask than Marion, who is the leading guide in intelligent, unbiased, independent advice on eating, and has been for decades."––Mark Bittman, author of  How to Cook Everything

Let’s Ask Marion  is a savvy and insightful question-and-answer collection that showcases the expertise of food politics powerhouse Marion Nestle in exchanges with environmental advocate Kerry Trueman. These informative essays show us how to advocate for food systems that are healthier for people and the planet, moving from the politics of personal dietary choices, to community food issues, and finally to matters that affect global food systems. Nestle has been thinking, writing, and teaching about food systems for decades, and her impact is unparalleled.  Let’s Ask Marion  provides an accessible survey of her opinions and conclusions for anyone curious about the individual, social, and global politics of food. 
 

Genres: Nonfiction, Food, Politics, Health, Science

216 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2020

About the author

Marion Nestle, Ph.D, M.P.H., is the Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University. She is also a professor of Sociology at NYU and a visiting professor of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University.

Nestle received her BA from UC Berkeley, Phi Beta Kappa, after attending school there from 1954-1959. Her degrees include a Ph.D in molecular biology and an M.P.H. in public health nutrition, both from the University of California, Berkeley.

Reviews

[Brian Conor]

This was a quick and fun survey of many different areas in food and nutrition policies! Marion Nestle continues to be a steadfast advocate for the people. She wants healthy people, healthy food, and a healthy environment.

[DRugh]

An excellent introduction to the US food system. For the foreseeable future, consumers will continue to bear the responsibility for food safety. Profits continue to trump healthy nutrition, especially for children.

[Chris]

So as an overview, this was helpful (that chart of federal agencies with various conflicting responsibilities in the food system...oy), but I would have appreciated two additions to fill some holes in the content:
1) Are there any other countries that have a coherent, humane food system like Nestle envisions? It'd be helpful to know if such a thing is feasible at all.
2) If political advocacy is indeed the prime way to change the U.S. food system, it would have been nice for one of the "questions" to take that up explicitly and share some related resources, instead of telling readers to Google food-advocacy organizations and relegating political advocacy resources to the endnotes.

[Irina Ioana]

Basic and clear information. Very good if you don't know much about the subject already.

[Jackie]

Amazing overview of food system politics and who better than from Marion Nestle

[Kaitlyn Offhaus Labenske]

Accessible and can be used as a jumping off point to learn more about healthy eating and the American food system

[Kathy]

Good information. Solid research. Potential solutions. But...perhaps too idealistic in today's political climate in USA.