In all of my years I’ve never watched a documentary that had more of an immediate and intimate impact than Food Inc. It shares a perspective of the food system in the United States. A perspective that tells the story of what happens when major corporations dictate how food is grown, delivered, sold, stored, and eaten in this country. It’s not just about food, but it’s about animals and how they’re treated. It’s about fruits and vegetables and how they’re genetically modified. It’s about farmers and how they are manipulated. And ultimately, it’s about you and me.
And this is a horror story ladies and gentleman.
I’ve been careful to say that Food Inc. provides a “perspective.” I’m sensitive to the possibility that there are other angles on the Food System that aren’t as grim. Nonetheless, the perspective given by this documentary is provocative enough to make anyone who views it to think twice about what they are buying off the shelves and putting in their bodies.
Before the movie was even over, I made the subconscious decision to declare a personal fast from meat. This wasn’t a planned thing. Nor did I have to have an internal debate or negotiation with my stomach. What I saw in this film had me steer clear from meat for more than a week! It drove my wife a little crazy, but my diet during that time consisted of basically peanut butter & jelly sandwiches and waffles. Now that the shock has worn off, I am piecing together a realistic dietary plan for me that has impact on my family as well.
While I generally get claustrophobic when it comes to adopting labels to describe myself; I heard a term last week that seemed to settle right with me: flexitarian. I’m not a vegetarian and definitely not a vegan, but as a “flexitarian” I eat meat from time to time. The difference for me now is I want to know where the meat came from and how it was produced before I consume it. (Hence the visits to Farmer’s Markets, Halal Grocers, and Whole Foods.)
Saying all of that, I refuse to pull out my big, judgmental stick or the rod of self-righteousness in order to beat people over the head about their diet and participation in an unjust food system. It is very clear to me that many in this country have been backed into the proverbial corner and their economic exploitation forces them to buy the cheapest and most available food within reach. It is reality in this country that the most unhealthy food is the most affordable and the healthier foods are more expensive. So as it says in the movie – economic status is one of the greatest predictors of personal and community health. Many times, the poorer you are the more unhealthy you are.
So while First Lady Michelle Obama should be commended for her Let’s Move Campaign against childhood obesity; unless she’s willing to speak truth to power to Big Agribusiness that is producing the food that’s making us fat and unhealthy than her efforts will fall woefully short. This isn’t just about personal lifestyle choices. It’s also about the government-backed, corporate controlled food production assembly line that’s killing us not so softly.
The movie helps unveil not only the complexity of this issue, but also the interrelated nature of it. I don’t believe there are any simple or quick fixes, but with courage, innovation, creativity, and political will (“political” in the sense of the body politic, the proletariat – not necessarily the elected officials); viable alternatives can be created that pave the way for a more just, healthy, spiritual, and environmentally harmonious food system in this country.
I highly recommend Food Inc.
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God, in the Garden of Eded, informed Adam (a basic food gatherer and herbalists, apparently, at the onset) that he was to take responsibility for what he consumed, and to make choices with respect to what he put into the body – accepting some things and and rejecting others. What does this say for Solomon's more hedonistic, eat, drink, party approach to living <(-:)>
Heber, I want to first thank you for blogging about this movie. I told my wife about it and we watched it on Netflix on our CPU immediately. We are a family of five and I know how hard it is to get good, healthy food. I am glad the web site gives tips for us consume and be more proactive about our food.
I will be writing a blog about this soon, but this is an issue that affects us all. As African-Americans let's start demanding better food .
I may not be as radical as taking a fast from meat, but if movies like this don't move you to do better, what's the point of watching. Information is power, Thanks for sharing.
Just finished watching the movie. Literally the credits are rolling as I type this. I am self proclaimed foodie. I love it and eating is my favorite pastime and this movie definitely scared me. This documentary showcases how power structures will continue to reconstruct themselves to stay in power. It's a shame that I have to take out a loan to eat healthier, but that's how it is right now. As the family showcased in the documentary it is much easier to go to a fast food restaurant and feed a family of 4 or 5 for under $15, but to get the healthy alternative is 3 times a much. As a person of color whose family suffers from diabetes and who has recently lost an aunt to the disease. I constantly think about my food choices and then I look in my wallet and see that hmm either my family members will either pay bills or continue to eat "soul" food and pray for the Lord to keep us healthy.
SMH