First he calls nutrition 'psuedo-science' then he goes on to say that its science that has ruined the idea of eating. Either it is science, or it is not.
He may have valid points about the communal and spiritual backgrounds of eating, but he simply has no facts to back up any of his arguments.
I can open a book on biochemistry or a nutrition book from my college days and see EXACTLY why nutrients are needed and what roles they play in health and well-being.
Pollan just decides its psuedo science because it is over his head. The ironic thing being that what he espouses is psuedo-science in and of itself.
He really has no clue what he is talking about, but I'll give him the benefit of saying he is a good wordsmith, a good speaker, and most likely an excellent writer. But like the old adage goes: 'Write about what you know'. It is clear he does not have a firm background in biology, chemistry, or nutrition.
Go ahead, look up his credentials... degrees in journalism, and an activist background. Nothing in the fields of biology, chemistry, health science, or nutrition. If he was talking about something he had an education in, then I would listen. If he proved that he had gathered scientific data to back his claims, I would listen.
Truth of the matter is, this is the kind of stuff that sets real scientific research and development back by decades.