First published 2019
Paul Greenberg investigates the global industry built around omega-3 fatty acids, those compounds marketed as miracle nutrients for heart and brain health. The James Beard Award winner follows the reduction industry that transforms trillions of pounds of marine life into supplements, animal feed, and margarine. Greenberg travels from Peru to Antarctica, from the Canary Islands to the Amalfi Coast, documenting how this massive enterprise affects ocean ecosystems. He reveals how creatures that appear insignificant actually sustain whales, penguins, and countless fish species, including those humans consume. The book traces omega-3s from their origins in early life forms through human prehistory, when seafood consumption may have triggered cognitive advances in our species. Greenberg examines recent medical studies that question the promised benefits of omega-3 supplements while exploring the tension between scientific claims and business interests. The book argues for rethinking our relationship with food systems and ocean resources in an age of human dominance over natural environments.
Genres: history, science, nature, business, environment, non-fiction, food-and-drink, academic
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: investigative-journalism, scientific-controversy
Setting: Amalfi Coast, Antarctica, Canary Islands, Peru
304 pages · Paperback · Penguin Books