The Western diet is a primary cause of the health care crisis and climate change, Michael Pollan said Wednesday.

About 100 students attended Pollan's Q-and-A Wednesday afternoon in the CUB Auditorium. Many came prepared with specific questions to ask the best-selling author.

One student broke the ice by asking where Pollan had eaten in Pullman and whether he liked the food. Pollan said he enjoyed lentil soup at Swilly’s, but he skipped the CUB’s "conventional food court.” The topics soon took a more serious turn as Pollan clarified his views on the ethics of genetic modification.

He said the practice of transgenics, or introducing a foreign gene into a plant or animal, needs to be scrutinized, but genetic marking, which allows the tracking of genetically modified cells, still has enormous potential in agriculture.

Pollan also addressed the role of processed foods in the health care debate.

He said Americans’ poor diets have caused insurance companies to deny coverage to people with preexisting conditions, such as diabetes.

However, Pollan was optimistic about the new health care bill.

With the reform, he said, insurance companies will no longer be able to deny coverage to those with preexisting, chronic or preventable diseases, and this will force them to support a healthier diet and lifestyle for Americans.

"The health care crisis is very much a crisis of the way we’re eating," he said. "And the way we’re eating is very closely tied to the way we grow food in this country.” He said added fat and sugar in Americans’ diets comes primarily from corn and soy, the two most subsidized crops in the country.

Because the health care reform could put the health care industry at odds with the food industry for the first time, Pollan said he is optimistic about industrial agriculture reform in Washington.

Next, someone asked Pollan about the controversy over his book at WSU.

Pollan said he had simply heard the problem was budget related, yet he was quick to stress the need for freedom of inquiry, especially in public schools.

"Freedom and inquiry goes right to the heart of what a university is ... ," he said. "This school has a powerful and illustrious agriculture college. And if we’re going to really change this food system and create a food system that contributes to the health of the population, it’s going to come out of places like this, (but only with) free and independent inquiry.” Pollan said he finds accusations that he is anti-farmer offensive, because they are wrong. He is trying to elevate the farmer’s role in society, he said.

"I believe that farmers hold the key to solving two of our biggest problems: the health care crisis and the climate change crisis," he said.

He also spoke about his new book, "Food Rules,” which is meant to help readers navigate the "very treacherous food landscape."

Karen Weathermon, co-chairwoman of the Common Reading Program, said she thought the students seemed to have a good grasp of Pollan’s book. Pollan said he was impressed with the level of thoughtfulness and complexity of the questions, she said.

Kara Mowery, a senior history and French major, said she loves how accessible Pollan’s books are. She became a vegetarian after reading "The Omnivore’s Dilemma.” "It was something I had thought about for a long time, but after reading his book, it just solidified it for me," she said. "This is definitely something I want to do.”