9 Reasons Why You Must See Food, Inc.

The majority of the population has no idea about the corruption, greed, and arrogance that our food system is based on or how much of an effect these factors have on our health and the welfare of the planet. It can be very difficult to convince others of the severity of this problem, but we fortunately don’t have to because the movie Food, Inc. does a great job of this.

Normally, when I write about a book or movie, I like to share some of the more important and interesting information that I learned. I’m not going to do this with Food, Inc. because I think it’s an extremely important documentary that everyone needs to see!

A Powerful Message

Because I do a lot of reading about the topics covered in Food, Inc., there wasn’t a lot of information in the movie that I didn’t already know. However, it still had a powerful effect on me. As such, I can only imagine how it might influence the average person who isn’t aware of the atrocities that are occurring every day behind the curtains of our food system. With this in mind, here are 9 issues addressed by Food, Inc. that emphasize the need for you to see it.

1. The Health of You and Your Family are at Stake

The majority of the foods that we eat today are highly processed, are full of sugar and refined carbohydrates, and contain all kinds of chemical additives. Because of modern industrial farming methods, even the whole foods that you’d expect to be healthy are contaminated with chemicals and are much less nutritious than they were just 50 years ago. Furthermore, the unsanitary and unnatural methods used by industrial farmers promote the spread of disease, infection, and antibiotic resistance.

The food you put into your body 3 or more times every day of your life is what rebuilds your organs, glands, muscles, bones, and everything else that your body is made of. Most people are eating processed foods on a regular basis and this is a significant reason why problems like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, autoimmune disease, and obesity are so common today. These conditions were much less prominent just a century ago. The one thing that has changed the most since then is our food. In fact, our diet has changed more in the past 50 years than it has in the past 10,000!

2. You May Be Contributing to Animal Cruelty

Although it’s fairly well known that the animals raised on the industrial farms are forced to endure horrendous conditions, we’re intentionally shielded from this, and as such, it’s easy to forget that nearly all of the animal products we eat come from these farms. Food, Inc. will give you a vivid reminder of how these animals are treated, and more importantly, will show you the type of farmer who raises livestock with respect and deserves your support.

3. The Questionable Behavior of the Food Industry

Most large food corporations are much more interested in profit and efficiency than the impact they’re having on your health or the environment. These companies are well aware of their flawed practices and the health risks that their products impose, but in favor of profit, they continue to forge ahead. In all fairness, many of the executives and scientists that contribute to the momentum of this misfortune are not evil people. They’re forced to oblige if they wish to keep their jobs, but this doesn’t make it any more acceptable, and it certainly doesn’t alleviate the health and environmental consequences that the rest of us are left dealing with.

Many of these companies are even willing to put their own employees at risk. The assembly line style of operation of the major food processing centers creates working conditions that are quite dangerous and unpleasant. As such, the companies that run them have a difficult time keeping employees and go out of their way to hire illegal immigrants. According to Food, Inc., once the United States started to crack down on illegal immigration, officials began arresting these workers without taking any action at all against the corporations that actively hired them. Furthermore, these corporations apparently have arrangements with the government to only arrest a certain amount of their illegal immigrant workers at a time so that their production line is not disturbed.

4. The Monopolization and Reinvention of Nature

For millions of years, we’ve evolved in accordance with the laws of nature. Even after the advent of agriculture, we still very much relied on nature and respected it’s significance. Today, things are much different and most large agricultural corporations have a blatant disregard for our dependence on nature.

Monsanto, a chemical company that has become very involved in industrial agriculture, is believed by many to be the worst in this regard. Their pesticides and genetically modified seeds encourage modern farmers to deplete their soil and introduce new and artificial genetic variants into nature that can have a variety of unknown and irreversible effects on our ecosystem. Clearly, the emphasis has shifted from health, longevity, and sustainability to pure profit.

In addition to the direct effect of Monsanto’s influence on industrial farming, they’re also making life difficult for natural farmers by taking legal action against them for unjustified reasons. For more information on the foul play of Monsanto, visit the Millions Against Monsanto website provided by the Organic Consumers Association.

5. Greedy and Careless Corporations are Running Our Government

Many of the large food corporations have a significant political influence which they use to lobby for or against legislation as they see fit. Monsanto is a notable example here as well. A number of their supporters, clients, and even employees have conveniently gone on to become government officials and have held office in agencies including the FDA, EPA, and USDA where they can help clear the way for Monsanto to monopolize our food supply. Michael Taylor, one such political ally, was hired by Monsanto as a Vice President after fulfilling his political duties on their behalf.

6. You’ll Learn from Knowledgeable People

Among the people featured in Food, Inc. are Michael Pollan, author of Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food, Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation, and Joel Salatin, family farmer and owner of Polyface farm. These are highly respected individuals who have contributed a lot of great information to Food, Inc. and have done a great deal to spread awareness about the benefits of natural and sustainable farming and the significant flaws of our current food system.

7. There is a Major Need for Change

Fresh the Movie is an excellent documentary about the flaws in our food system, but in my opinion, lacks the strong message needed to provoke change. Fortunately, Food, Inc. makes up for this and then some. As I previously mentioned, I was already well aware of most of the issues presented, but because they were presented in such a powerful and informative way, I still felt moved. As such, I’m convinced that Food, Inc. has the potential to both inform and inspire, but for this to have an effect, as many people as possible need to watch the movie.

8. Good Farmers Need Your Support

The highest quality whole foods, which are also the most healthy and nutritious, typically come from small farmers who practice natural and sustainable methods. Not only do these farmers provide us with some of the best foods available, they also preserve the health of the planet and treat their livestock with respect. Although it may cost more money, supporting these farmers is in your best interest for the sake of your health and the welfare of the planet that you depend on.

9. You Can Make a Difference with Every Meal You Eat

With every piece of food that you buy and eat, you’re casting a vote of support for the system that produced it. The industrial farmers and food manufacturers who are contributing to today’s high incidence of poor health and the destruction of our planet can’t survive if we don’t buy their products. Each time you buy food, whether at a grocery store or restaurant, you’re casting an important vote. Will it be for the greedy and corrupt food industry or the conscientious and well intended farmers that desperately need our support? Keep in mind that the welfare of future generations, including your children, will depend on your decisions.

Take Action!

Whether you’re already motivated to make a difference or are just becoming aware of the problems that plague our food system, I highly encourage you to see Food, Inc. I especially encourage you to invite friends who might not be aware of these significant issues.

For more information about the movie and to find out if it’s showing in your area, visit the Food, Inc. website. If it’s not showing in your area, the Food, Inc. DVD is finally available. Alternatively, you can read the Food, Inc. book.

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