Food, Inc. starts right in with its main complaint: the companies that sell their products in the grocery stores depict farms on every label every chance they get. On the contrary, most of these foods come from giant corporations of mass production that couldn't feel any further from the organic, homey veneer they strive to maintain. The film pursues the workings "behind the veil"--a veil they claim is very much intended to mislead consumers.
Cruelty for Animals and Workers Alike
The shocking reality of what goes on behind the scenes is best shown in the now-infamous chicken house sequence. The farmer the filmmakers begin interviewing initially agrees to let them film his chicken house until Tyson--with whom he is contracted--tells him to rethink. One of the last farmers they contact agrees to let them film her chicken house, saying openly she's fed up with the conditions. Trying to describe the horrible conditions with mere words will never convey what the images do. The film goes deeper, drawing parallels between the conditions for the animals and the workers. Big business appears content to exploit illegal immigrants who certainly can't afford to complain about such conditions.
The Terminator Seed, GMOs and Simple Price
Some standard topics are touched upon--genetically engineered food and the monstrosity known as Monsanto (more thoroughly covered in the documentary The Future of Food), but some basic arguments worth revisiting get time, too. The simple truth that drive-thru dinners cost less than most vegetables needed for cooking (not to mention the added bonus of convenience) is a very core argument to the organic debate. When people are called upon to do their part--both for their health and the environment--it can be pretty tough for financially strapped families to break out of the cycle that appears to perpetually trap them.
Food Safety Advocates Struggle to Makes Changes
The film then returns to more hot-topic issues--here playing very one-sided--namely E. coli poisoning. Certainly, the way industry shies away from taking responsibility or fixing issues at the source is reprehensible. The film fails to point out, however, that E. coli is less of a concern in meat (since it gets destroyed when cooked properly--rarely a concern outside the home) than in vegetables. The film ends up failing to look credible in areas like these when it appears to be forcing a particular view. The best documentaries show both sides, leaving the viewer to draw his/her own conclusions.
Changes Needed In Public Policy
A general call for action and awareness is the essence of the film, yet as is often the case, the end falls short on answers. Colorful title cards at the end rattle off fairly inane suggestions--hardly more than three minutes of screen time, but nothing original comes up worth remembering. Regardless, the film is well-presented and edited; it covers several topics cohesively and without rushing. The material may not be anything especially new, but the discussion regarding today's methods of food production is one that needs all the attention it can get.
Margaret Burke - Margaret Burke currently resides in Boston, MA. She graduated from the University of North Texas in 2000 with a BA in Radio/TV/Film and a ...
