In 1993, Collins & Pinch published a series of incisive essays on the nature of science entitled ‘The Golem: what everyone should know about science’. In a series of seven essays, they liken science to a ‘Golem’ – a creature of Jewish mythology that is made of clay. It does not understand truth, but is driven by it. Science is neither all good nor all bad; it is only a golem. The question is: how do people use this creature? Of course, science is not alone there, nor is it the ‘unique’ golem of humanity. The following is an examination of the ‘Nutrition’ golem. It is not the only clay-monster out there, but it is the one we’re all likely to encounter most frequently. We may get through our life without understanding the limitations and discoveries of particle physics –but we’re as sure as hell going to be ingesting food. Introduction We’ve all heard it, the ubiquitous, friendly, simplistic and comforting advice; ‘You are what you eat’. It makes you think twice abo...
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