How did some food come to be labelled ‘evil’? And what exactly does ‘evilness’ mean when used to classify food?
On one level, it can be argued that food is not termed ‘evil’ in the same way that an action such as genocide could be termed ‘evil’. Yet, increasingly, there is a tendency in the media, in popular magazines as well as more erstwhile publications, to demonise some foods.
Genetically modified food, for example, is shunned by consumers who take a moral stance against technological methods used to modify crops, fowl or animals to make them more palatable or pleasing to the consumer. Opponents of this category of ‘evil’ food align themselves with the producers of organic food and lay a whole array of modern illnesses at the door of food producers who have ‘messed with nature’.
Some foods are felicitously termed ‘evil’ and these include the traditional suspects such as chocolate, coffee and cake. The ‘evilness’ of these foods is presumably due more to the effects of consuming them rather than the means of producing them. Though scientific research has come forward boldly to confirm the incomparable sense of well-being and general goodwill to all that is created by eating a bar of chocolate, many magazines (especially those written by skinny women) continue to harangue readers about the ‘evilness’ of these foods.
Some traditional Hindus shun those who eat beef as ‘evil’ cow-eaters, due to their belief that the cow was a sacred animal, revered because of its role in Hindu mythology. This led to the much publicised torching of the first McDonald’s opened in India and the subsequent adjustments that the fast food giant had to make to its menu to concede to the cultural sensitivities of the country.
What else makes food 'evil'? And are there 'good' foods? Any thoughts?
1 comment:
I think food that promotes/supports the natural balance of the human body could be considered 'good' food from a physical point of view.
A second approach is to see 'good' food as food that gives you pleasure.
A third way is to think of the spiritual significance of food, in which case the bread used in holy communion in some churches would be 'good' food. I'm not sure what that makes the food offered to idols/spirits though.
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