The movie Food Inc. brought some insightful views to me about the food industry. The film documented how slaughterhouses produce mass quantities of meat to feed our nation. It observed how chemicals and antibiotics are injected into animals to make them grow quicker so that more can be produced faster. The video also pointed out that animals such as cows and chickens are fed corn instead of grass because it is cheaper and makes the animals fat faster. Through the documentary, unsanitary living conditions were observed and the abuse of slaughterhouse workers was revealed. The film also interviewed farmers who had been forced to buy seed from Monsanto instead of cleaning their own seed. Also highlighted in the film was a mother who had lost her son to E-Coli, in which he received from a hamburger.
Robert Kenner - Producer, Director
Eric Scholsser - Producer
(2009)
My View:
One thing I found most disturbing is how workers and animals are mistreated in slaughterhouses. I am blown away to learn that the FDA and managers/owners of slaughterhouses do not show more concern for the cleanliness and health of the animals and workers. Who cares if your dinner is standing in manure until it's ready for slicing? Who cares if the meat we eat is loaded with antibiotics and chemicals? Who cares if the FDA has decreased its amount of inspections over the years? Who cares if workers have infections and health issues from working in slaughterhouses and on top of it, have no health insurance to get medical attention? Oh, that's right, all of this is no problem because the advertisers, producers, and politicians say everything is fine.
Another thing I found interesting is the control that McDonald's (Eww) has on the production of food. McDonald's is the largest consumer of beef, pork, lettuce, chicken, and apples. So as demand of these foods increases at Mc.D's, the more chemical filled and corn raised cows we will eat because companies are trying to make money. Honestly, I do not think this is necessary. I feel that organic grown food and grass fed cows and chickens can feed the world. Have we ever tried it? Not in this age. If everyone owned, produced, and sold their own food, the world would be fine. But will that ever happen? No, and for many reasons that are obvious. Not only that, the government wouldn't allow that.