David O'ConnellFood, Inc.
June 7th 2010 04:28
A timely reminder to consider the means by which every particle of the stuff we’re jamming into our mouths is obtained, Food, Inc. (2008) is also an eye-opening, compelling look at how the influence of the few has untold ramifications for the many. Director Robert Kenner makes a concerted effort to increase our perspective from the ground up by giving voice to the farmers whose toil is often tainted by the greed of increasingly dominant mega-corporations; it is they who maximise their control of food production at the expense of healthy work practices and with utter disdain for the life of the animals who provide the food chain with its first links.
The film takes pains to emphasise the factory production line that food-processing has become all across America (McDonalds being a key kick-starter), with shortcuts continually taken to ensure sizable profits are bloated. We see how unnatural nutrients are fed to chickens and other livestock to make them fatter faster.
A series of talking heads join in to offer more pointed observations about the derelict state of the food nation, including the astute Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation (which was made into a film by Richard Linklater in 2006). An emotive, and say would say manipulative, element of the story follows the case of a campaigning advocate for healthy food whose son was infected with E.coli and died within just 12 days of contraction. But there’s enough documented evidence of the increasing number of outbreaks of E.coli and other forms of food poisoning to back-up assertions of a direct correlation with the direction the industry is heading in its core sectors.
The farmers are like drones in a factory working to line the pockets of ruthless, amoral, mega-rich corporations.
It all adds up to a disconcerting portrait of greed that ultimately places the well-being of the consumer in jeopardy, especially when subsidies allow for the least healthy food to become the most accessible for those on the lower rungs of the socio-economic ladder. Another fascinating disclosure examines the wide-reaching capabilities of corn which, in broken-down, genetically-engineered form, has traces of some description in an estimated 80% of the items we consume from supermarket shelves. I mean, who the hell knew!?! I absolutely despise corn, so why aren’t I starving to death?? Thankfully Food, Inc. explains it all in a succinct and accessible manner.
For the squeamish, the level of distressing footage involving animals has been kept to a minimum but it serves its purpose of providing impact when needed. No longer will you be able to cling to those childish, abstract notions of where that beautiful piece of KFC originated from. Rather than falling out of the sky and into a waiting vat of oil, a creature had to die in a swift and brutal fashion to make it so.
Even though it’s two years old Food, Inc. will have lost none of its relevance. The final moments reiterate the positive reinforcement of the individual having enough power to make a difference; every time an item we choose is scanned at a supermarket check-out we’re lodging a small but significant vote for change. Food, Inc. now has me pondering the wisdom of that second glance at the meat aisle in favour of those strange green, red and orange piles in the supposedly healthy food section. Damn, can this be good?
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Comment by MelG
I've seen this film too. Must say I couldn't watch the chickens having their necks broken, and force feeding the cows via a hole in their side directly into their ruminant pouch was just gross. I too am off meat (for a while anyway).
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
this will be difficult to 'swallow', but I must force myself to sup its nutrients....
Corn syrup et al is at the base of the obesity/diabetic epidemic, along with highly refined white flour and 'exotic' oils, like palm oil and canola (rape seed) which used to be classed as unfit for human consumption.
I have written to the federal minister for agriculture and got the usual poli-speak drivel, regarding GM food stuffs, which he stated to me was not being grown in Oz...huh? Really? Then what is WA, VIC and NSW just recently doing with the GM conola?
It shits me and angers me that everyone, well the majority, just don't give a fig about it.
cheers
fog
Comment by David O'Connell
20/20 Filmsight
Screen Fanatic
Fog, thanks for dropping in mate and I think it'd be fair to say that you're far more knowledgeable about these issues than I. Honestly, I had no idea of the prevalence of corn-related products in our society and really have to do some reading of my own now to understand the effects these are having on everyone. The film raises quite a lot of interesting points and though it's all American based I'm sure it's all just as pertinent in Australia.
Comment by MelG
Comment by Matt Shea
Seriously though, this kind of stuff probably frightens me more than global warming. So many people (including myself to a certain extent) keep their heads in the ground on this issue. It's super scary what goes on.
Probably will leave this for the DVD player, but looking forward to it regardless.
Comment by David O'Connell
20/20 Filmsight
Screen Fanatic