The word that comes to mind when reading chapter 13 in Omnivore’s Dilemma is “wow”. The way Pollan describes the way animals are slaughtered is amazing. I am usually not the one who reads and get a picture in my mind of what the author is taking about or explaining but the way Pollan details the process just permanently places a picture in my mind. This chapter was really interesting to me because it fascinates me, not because of the killing of animals but the process that people go through to kill the animals and also the rules and regulations that slaughterhouses have to follow in order to keep in operation and not get shut down by USDA. I was surprise about all the rules and regulation that the USDA has for slaughterhouses for example, “federal rules stipulate that every processing facility have a bathroom for the exclusive use of the USDA inspector” (Pollan pg. 229). To me that is a ridicules rule which make processing facility have to spend more money on building a bathroom which takes away from spending on other things which mean a rise in prices of meats.
I like the part where Pollan is at the kill cone for the chickens because it reminds me of high school biology when I had to dissect a frog. Of course, the frogs were already died but it was the same concept of cutting up an animal. To be honest I was scared of cutting up the frog even though it was already died. Joel made a good point saying that no should want to kill animal every day. I know I wouldn’t want to.
I agree with JK in that Pollan does do a well job of "painting a picture" in my mind. He doesn't just write about it, he shows it through his writing. However I think that the rules which the USDA set and regulate may seem ridiculous, but they are very important and essential in keeping the American public safe. I also like the way that JK ties the slaughtering of chickens and his high school biology class because it showed that Pollan's experiences and a personal effect on him.
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