Last night Eric and I watched Food Inc. I have been meaning to see it forever now and I finally got a chance to watch it after getting caught up on my orders.
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Here is a bit about the movie:
"In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation’s food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government’s regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation’s food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, herbicide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won’t go bad, but we also have new strains of E. coli—the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults." [Source]
One of the main messages from this film is to educate yourself where your food comes from. It is not as simple as it seems either. The government and giant food companies work very hard so that we have no idea what happened to the food before it got to our plate. Robert Kenner did an amazing job at uncovering the veil that has been placed in front of us for so long.
The movie was just as I expected it would be:
Incredibly thought-provoking, horrifying, sad, emotional…yet inspiring.
Eric and I both teared up at a few parts in the film. At a couple points, I actually thought I might burst into tears and never stop crying. It was pretty overwhelming I will admit.
I actually didn’t know if I would be able to watch it because some of the parts are quite graphic. I had to turn away when they were showing the slaughter of the chickens and cows. The windowless, extremely overcrowded, and unsanitary chicken slaughter houses horrified me. I mean I knew they existed, but actually seeing one was just disturbing. Factory animals often spend their entire lives knee-deep in their own feces. It never occurred to me why there are so many E-coli outbreaks in our food system- well, the factory animals are often covered head to toe in their feces and it is impossible to fully remove the feces from the animal. So the feces end up in our food system. On our dinner plates. The feces also leak into the waterways and contaminate other vegetables like spinach. Pretty disturbing, isn’t it?
I found myself holding my breath at many parts in the movie and I noticed that I was quite anxious while watching it. It is one of those movies that you know you need to watch, but at the same time you know that you are going to have negative emotions while doing so. It is extremely depressing to think about what our food industry has turned into.
Here are some of the important issues touched on by the film:
Factory Farming
- Approximately 10 billion animals (chickens, cattle, hogs, ducks, turkeys, lambs and sheep) are raised and killed in the US annually. Nearly all of them are raised on factory farms under inhumane conditions. These industrial farms are also dangerous for their workers (they frequently get infections), pollute surrounding communities (manure, anyone?), are unsafe to our food system and contribute significantly to global warming.
Pollution
- The average food product travels about 1,500 miles to get to your grocery store. Transporting food accounts for 30,800 tons of greenhouse gas emissions every year.
Cloning
- In January 2008, the FDA approved the sale of meat and milk from cloned livestock, despite the fact that Congress voted twice in 2007 to delay FDA’s decision on cloned animals until additional safety and economic studies could be completed
Pesticides
- Cancers, autism and neurological disorders are associated with the use of pesticides especially amongst farm workers and their communities.
Genetic Engineering
- Some of our most important staple foods have been fundamentally altered, and genetically engineered meat and produce have already invaded our grocery stores and our kitchen pantries. Today, 45% of U.S. corn and 85% of U.S. soybeans are genetically engineered under a government-regulated system. In the 2008 election cycle, the food industry donated $65 million to candidates for federal office.
[Source]
There is really so much more to this movie that I don’t have time to touch on, so you really should go see it if you haven’t already done so.
This movie also left me hungry for Canadian statistics. I would love to find out more information about how Canadian factories operate. If anyone has any information on this, I would greatly appreciate it if you could point me in the right direction.
But the movie also gave me hope! We have the power to change this system now more than ever!!!
The Food Inc Website also provides some great tips on how we can make a difference in the system:
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It is important to note that the movie is not saying you have to go vegetarian to make a difference. If you can even reduce the meat you eat by one meal a week, you are making a HUGE, huge, huge impact on the food industry. If you choose organic meat, you are making a huge impact. You can make small changes each and every day that add up into something big.
I was asked last night on Twitter how the movie impacted the way I felt about the food that I eat. I simply said that it completely solidified my decision to eat a vegan diet. For myself, eating a vegan diet is my way of saying to the ‘system’ that we deserve better. The environment deserves better, the animals deserve better, and society deserves better. It also made me realize that organic is definitely worth it. For the past several months, we have not been buying much organic produce for cost-reasons, but the movie reminded me why it is important to vote for organic food. If it means that we will have to make other cut-backs in our lives, then so be it. I am going to try to buy organic whenever I can afford to do so to have my say in the system. I am also going to make more of an effort to buy locally.
As consumers, we have the power to influence the market. If there is a demand for organic, sustainable, and plant-based products- the super companies will deliver. Wal-Mart now carries many organic products because there is a demand for it. Don’t be fooled, I personally don’t think Wal-Mart cares about its’ consumers…but it is all about the bottom dollar for these super companies. If we demand it they will produce it.
I loved this take-home message:
Every time you eat, you are voting for the type of food that you want to see on the store shelves.
I really think everyone should watch this movie. It will change your life forever.
You can also download a postcard to help spread the message around the world!
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Have you seen Food Inc.? What were your thoughts? Did it change how you ate or how you viewed the food industry?
![Angela_Signature Angela_Signature](/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Angela_Signature_thumb43.png)
Wow this IS powerful. I need to see it. Thanks for the review.
i NEED to see this movie.
I have seen all the graphic parts (Thanks, PETA) but I would love to learn more about the government’s shady actions.
Thanks for the review!
Hi there. I’ve been reading (and loving!) your blog for a few weeks now. As someone who is currently training for her first half marathon and switched to a vegan diet only a few months ago, your site is loaded with great recipes and tips, so thank you. :)
I’m really interested in seeing this movie and can’t wait for it to come out on DVD in a few weeks. Thanks for the in depth review!
This movie was really solid and drove home a lot of important points that I have been recently implementing into my workout/diet regimen. Let it be known that I dont eat almost any meat (fish if any) and have cut back on literally all refined grains and greatly increased my consumption of vegteables and fruits. What is amazing is that I have had msucle growth and not deteriortion, my complexion got 100x better, I have more energy, I can go with less sleep and not be a zombie, and I look damn good ;)
I reccomend everyone check this out, along with the books, The China Study, Good Calories Bad Calories, and In Defense of Food
PS. I am not a hardcore vegan or anything, everything in moderation is your best bet for a long life. I just know that eating piss and shit is not a great idea ;)
Cheers
Thanks so much for commenting on this movie. I saw it in the theatre a few months ago. It covers a lot of the same info that Michael Pollan (who is also in the movie) talks about in his book The Omnivore’s Dilemma.
The monopoly in the soybean industry by Monsanto was definitely new and disturbing information. We should really be helping our small independant farmers instead of supporting a legal system that bankrupts them and puts them out of business.
We can’t be reminded often enough that we vote every day with our $$$.
Hi Angela,
Thanks for the great review! I have a related question — would you be willing to write about your journey to becoming vegan? I eat meat (though admittedly, not very much any more) and I’ve been toying with the idea of becoming vegetarian, if not vegan. While I don’t eat much meat, I still think it would be difficult to give up a good burger once in awhile or turkey at Thanksgiving here in the states. Was the transition hard for you? Do you have any tips?
Thanks :)
I will keep this in mind for a future post :)
I’m going to second this one. I eat mostly-vegetarian, but can’t quite bring myself to make that last step to going 100% vegetarian. I like the occasional chicken pot pie and such. I’d love to see a post on this topic!
Ditto – I’ve been eating more and more veg. as the years have gone on and have started to toy with the idea of going full veg. I would love to know more about the state of Canadian food industry, and if it’s as gruesome as the US portrayal in Food Inc. I think (and perhaps fear) that this kind of information could sway me to the veg side.
Thx for the review! and look forward to more follow up on this.
I’m right there with you guys. I started eating more and more vegetarian and vegan meals at the beginning of this year. I’m very healthy, I’ve been training for a 1/2 marathon, and I feel great! (I didn’t get the benefit of better skin though…still too much stress!)
I had the discussion with my MIL and her best friend when they were visiting…I prefer to cook vegan and vegetarian at home. I prefer to eat vegetarian when I eat out (which is rarely), though I will order meat at a nice restaurant that gets sustainable local meat (that’s, like, once in the last year). One reason I haven’t gone 100% veg is the convenience factor.
I don’t want to be that pain-in-the-behind when my friends are having me over for dinner or I’m visiting family. I’ve come to a balanced state where I don’t stress about eating the occasional piece of meat at someone’s house. (You don’t have to be all-or-nothing.)
Strangely, I don’t find it painful cooking for others. Okay, it’s hard to make a meal without onions for my one friend. I do find it somewhat difficult to cook meat when I have people over, because I do it so infrequently I stink at it.
I’ve never seen it but i’m going to see it for sure. I’m going to go see if its on netflix right now and watch it at work. yay!
I LOVED this movie. We just saw it over the weekend, and while I’d known about a lot of what was in it, some was totally new. As soon as it was over, I turned to my boyfriend and said, “That’s it. We’re done consuming grocery store or restaurant meat.” I don’t care whether or not we can afford it; the way I see it, we can’t afford NOT to. We’re lucky enough to have a farmer’s market just a block away every weekend that sells eggs, cheese, and humanely raised chicken, turkey, and beef from organic and/or Amish farms nearby, so we have absolutely NO excuses. if we don’t know where the meat came from and that it was procured in ways we can support, then we can make do with veggie meals. As uncomfortable and upsetting as it was to watch, Food, Inc was the straw that broke the camel’s back, the last push I needed to stop supporting such a sick, dysfunctional industry.
I also loved that they didn’t shy away from political messages – the food industry gets away with this stuff (in the US, at least) because the government PAYS them to. The farm bill is a huge issue in this country that should be a much bigger priority than it is right now. and the FDA needs to not be allowed to look away. That statistic about inspections performed blew me away! There just need to be some serious, serious changes, and until they’re made, it’ll be local PA farmers working for themselves that will be getting my dollars.
Ahh, I have never seen this movie, but I have read “Skinny Bitch” which talks about the horrors of out food industry. Oy, it makes me happy that I RARELY eat meat…I think I am a happier and healthier person for it…I think I need to start making the switch to a different “milk” product, too.
Thank you for the wonderful review…in all honesty, I don’t know if I could watch that movie…not because I want to live in ignorance but because I just don’t do well with that sort of thing. I remember crying when reading the “Skinny Bitch” book — oy.
Either way, I TOTALLY agree that we can make a HUGE difference. If we stand up…eventually the companies will have to as well.
Amen. I’m so glad that filmmakers came together to make such an important life-changing film. I’ve seen it, I loved it, and I will never forget it: http://bit.ly/33cJgz
I have yet to see this movie… I MUST SEE IT!
What a great recap! Is it on DVD yet?
The movie is currently playing at 20 Carlton Street in Toronto at the Cineplex Odeon Carlton
Its not on DVD until Nov 3rd I believe
Thanks for the great post Angela!! I think it’s so important for everyone to inform themselves about how their food is made and where it comes from!
I too have recently transitioned to a vegan diet and can attest to the multitude of positive side effects of eating this healthier, more peaceful diet…it’s fantastic, and not hard at all! There are so many great cookbooks out there now that you can literally change your lifestyle with the click of a mouse (psst: check our Dreena Burton on Amazon!).
I agree with you Angela, I’d really like to learn more about how our food in Canada is produced. I think as Canadians we somehow think our health and safety practices are better than other countries…but sadly, we’re usually right on par!
Thanks again for talking about this important subject and suggesting this film.
P.S… everyone should check out Oprah on Thursday, she’s having a vegan chef on to demonstrate some vegan cooking!!
Yay Angela! I am glad you did a review of this movie. I have yet to see it because I have seen so many documentaries about this situation. I really recommend “The Future of Food.” My husband works for Whole Foods and it is required viewing for most employees. The other movie that really sealed the deal (for my husband and I to be veggie) was “Fast Food Nation.” Ugh! those images stayed with me forever. I think blogging is so great to spread the word. It’s not a vegetarian message, it’s a human message that evil companies like Monsanto (sounds evil Ha!) are not going to lead us blindly down a path that has dire consequences. Viva la revelution!
I agree about “Fast Food Nation”. That movie was a huge wake up call about how the meat industry really handles things. And it was absolutely real. It wasn’t a dramatization or anything! I’ve never cried so hard before in a movie!
I’ve seen the movie but the book is an amazing read. You’ve really got to mentally prepare yourself to be upset when your done. It’s pretty shocking.
I was given the opportunity to see this film at it’s premier in Halifax a while ago. I felt the exact same way (my review here: http://tinyurl.com/oxc8tk) In fact, I was so angry that I couldn’t even write my “official review” post and set it aside for later. I still have it in draft. I started looking into our Canadian system (in progress. I was surprised to see that you have to “pay” for a copy of the organic standards regs) because the movie didn’t touch on our system at all. It’s hard to know what is the same and what isn’t.
I am not vegan and I am not a vegetarian, nor do I plan to be, but I will tell you this: I have never been so angry in my entire life! I felt duped and lied to. It’s easy to turn a blind eye and buy the cheaper mass-produced meats because you don’t “see” the difference when you do it. For most people buying “Food Inc. meat” feels like the more affordable option. That said, in my opinion many, many people who assume that they can’t “afford” to buy organic are spending the money that they save not buying the organic on something that I personally see as not nearly as important. Last night, I stood in the isle of Planet Organic with a package of frozen organic chicken breasts in my hand. It was over $22 for two large chicken breasts (I tweeted about it because it’s appalling what we have to pay (in Canada at least) for organic meats.) The thought crossed my mind to put it back and go to the regular grocery store for it. Then I reminded myself of Food Inc and the message that I took home by voting with my dollars.
After watching that movie, while I do not plan to be a vegetarian, my bean consumption has gone way up so that I can enjoy organic chicken on a less regular basis. Paying that kind of premium for meat (although absolutely ludicrous) sort of puts a higher appreciation value on it as well. I’m no longer just eating chicken anymore. (Sorry for the long comment!)
Way to stand up for what you believe in………what a great and positive impact one movie can make!
I think there is also a way to eat more “ethical” meat without spending $22 on the chicken breasts.
You just have to do a little more work and buy the whole chicken. You can usually get a whole chicken that is organic/hormone free/antibiotic free/ethically raised for less than $20. They cost more than the “conventional” chicken, but less than it would be to buy the already cut up parts.
How freaking amazing was this movie. Bobby actually stopped eating meat for a few days after we saw it. I was shocked at how much it impacted him. I did already know most of the info but to see it all together like that… scary, sad, and depressing. But yes, hopefully inspiring :)
Thanks for this great recap! I’ve been meaning to see it–and now I definitely will (After Where the Wild Things Are, of course ;))
“Every time you eat, you are voting for the type of food that you want to see on the store shelves.”
AMEN to that!
I say that every time you spend a dime of your money (or your time), you are making a statement about what you care about. I make these decisions everyday in some small way and I take great pleasure in knowing that my money is spent only on things that I feel good about. This is not to say that I make perfect decisions every time in every aspect of my life, but I certainly try. My vegan diet and lifestyle definitely make me feel as though I am doing no harm to animals and as little harm to the planet as possible.
I loved this thought provoking post! Thank you!
I have not seen it yet but even from reading the reviews I’m trying to make the small changes we can afford right now. We rarely eat meat now and we try to spend our money wisely on organics.
I’m hoping to see this soon even though I don’t really want to see the horrors.
I saw this movie back when it was out in theaters, and I actually cried during some of the graphic scenes. I stopped eating meat years ago for that very reason, but it is always shocking and disturbing to see it again. It makes me happy to know that I am not supporting the inhumane practices of factory farming. Thanks for the informative post.
Wow – very powerful. I’ll be honest – I don’t think I could handle sitting through this film from some of the scenes you described. But just what you said makes me really think about what I buy and what we eat.
This is a great post, thanks for spreading the word. And I’ll definitely be making some adjustments to our eating habits.