The Truth About Food — Food, Inc

Food, Inc. is a documentary about how our food has changed so much over the past 50 years, despite the pastoral scenes often depicted on products. It’s also about how big food corporations don’t want people to know the full truth. Filmmaker Robert Kenner worked to bring Food, Inc. to the screen for more than six years. He was denied interviews he wanted.

Rotten Tomatoes review site has given the film a Certified Fresh rating, so it’s one to watch in my book.

According to Kenner, the “enormous buying power of the fast food industry” transformed food production in the US. He notes that even when you purchase food at your grocery store, you’re probably buying products from groups that emerged to serve the fast food chains (factories, feedlots and suppliers).

According to the movie’s website, Food, Inc. aims to expose “the highly mechanized underbelly [of the food industry] that’s been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government’s regulatory agencies.”

A few eye-opening facts are presented in Food, Inc. For instance, did you know that the chief of staff at the USDA during President Bush’s term was a former lobbyist for the beef industry? And here’s some more proof that big corporations are taking over our food: The top five beef packers controlled around 25% of the market in the 1970s, but now the top four control more than 80% of the beef market.

What is this documentary hoping to accomplish? It might gross you out, but that’s not the point of it. The filmmakers want you – the American consumer – to use your powerful voice to help change the food industry. There are some good companies out there, just not enough of them. Visit foodincmovie.com to see where the film is playing near you.

(Image via stock.xchng)