Food, Sex & Salmonella: The Movie

Sex as a metaphor for our relationship with food? As David Waltner-Toews suggests, it makes sense. When we consider our food and engage in the intimate act of eating, we are entering a relationship fraught with uncertainty. Treating our relationship with food as a series of one-off sensual encounters is like having random sex with a blindfold on: it may be fun, but it is also full of nasty surprises.

In his latest book, and now in this video, Waltner-Toews takes a lively look at foodborne diseases and brings us tales of the bacteria, viruses, and parasites that have made their way into our food supply. He explores the global patterns of foodborne disease, from ciguatera toxins in fish to pandemics of Salmonella, and the changes in climate, culture, agriculture, and trade that have led to the emergence of new diseases and epidemics. It can be a nasty business, but just as physical, intimate relationships can be a source of comfort and pleasure when you know what you're getting into, so too can our relationship with healthy, whole foods from a transparent food system.