Over fifty years ago, anthropologist Margaret Mead observed that the world has the ability to feed everyone who inhabits it. She goes on to credit this capacity to increased agricultural production technology and the advancement of nutritional science, and argues that the advancements, therefore, are good for society.
Both of these scientific advancements have continued into the twenty-first century, increasing our knowledge. But it’s less clear whether advancements in those areas have actually increased the average consumer’s awareness of food. In fact, there is significant evidence that, at least in the United States, society has become the victim of its own success. Despite all of the advances in technology and information that have been gained, individual members of society are making their eating decisions on a less and less informed basis.