Documentary Food Inc., directed by Robert Kenner, is telling a story about food industry that is in control by huge corporations. Documentary itself is divided in several smaller portions that are connected. Every topic is well covered and explained, with appropriate witnesses and facts. Sometimes documentary is shocking and hard to believe. Shocking to see enormous fields full of cows that are waiting to be slaughtered and transformed to products. Fields full of corn, so long and wide that seems as there is no end to it. Hard to imagine how is possible to keep human population in dark and not letting them to know the truth about industrial food production. Documentary is pointing at some faults and trying to give perspective from different sides and to show different angle of story. Purpose is not only to criticize but also to give solutions. Showing what is current state of farming and consequences on human health, environment and society in general. It is realistic, slow in some moments but encouraging at the end. It brings more questions, wondering about and what are possible moves.
Industrial food system or mass food production had the biggest influence on farming that we know nowadays. It all started from thirties with drive inn types of restaurants. McDonald brothers wanted more efficient way of leading the restaurant. They cut the costs and simplified food preparation. They brought factory system in their production, half prepared food was delivered and workers needed to do simple things to finalize products. McDonald is biggest beef and potato consumer in USA and it is demanding more every year. Farmers needed to fulfill such growing demands and that is why food production became industry. Huge factories are producing and preparing different livestock to feed growing hunger of fast food industry. Fast food industry provides cheap food for all customers. Rule “one dollar meal” is something that is attracting a lot of customers. People with low budget will go and eat there, save money and time. It is more expensive to buy food in local store and prepare it with family then buy in fast food shop. There is also a lack of time as one of big obstacles in healthy life style. Big supermarkets, great marketing and images of nice food are pushing people to consume more, to eat more and to ask for more. Humanity is now using more meat than ever before and it is not stopping.
Food production, industrial food production has many negative aspects on humans, animals and environment. Considering chicken farmers they have big loans, and struggle every day to survive and pay debts. They invested around quarter million dollars to chicken production and yet they earn only sixteen thousand per year (Inter Press Service). Working conditions are hard; debts are pressing them to do more and to ask for new loans and it is constant struggle. Workers in slaughter house are exposed to difficult working conditions, repetitive work and with big demands for speed and accuracy. It is “grey area” where illegal workers can be employed without any hope for better work standards, salaries or any health insurance. Companies can pay them less and fire them when they want because there are other immigrants who are waiting for job. Massive food production combined with vast use of sugar and fat in everyday life can lead to Diabetes as one of raising illness these days. It is not that only humans are suffering, animals are kept in bad conditions, without light and any space to move freely. They are fed with antibiotics so that they can be resistant to various infections. But instead of animals some bacteria became resistant, like Escherichia coli. Every year there are more and more infections from food, either from markets or restaurants. From other side there are fewer inspections to food factories, slaughterhouses and canteens. According to CEUSA “It is estimated that the average American meal travels about 1500 miles to get from farm to plate” that is big impact for environment. Waste of resources and enormous air pollution generated from transportation are only few of problems. As OPA stated there are also some positive changes as “organics is the fastest growing food segment, increasing 20% annually.” Some farmers are turning to organic farming and producing stock as in old times. Some companies are trying with new organic products and selling them in big markets. Consumers have a great power because they can dictate what kinds of products are at the market. Companies will hear them because that can bring more money, they will obey everything that brings profit.
Consumers have the rights to know what is in their food. It is their right to know where food is coming from, how it was produces, what working conditions are and how animals are threated. Not to be afraid to ask about goods, companies, factories and other information of interest. Not to be afraid to speak in public about working environment, about some products and to demand explanations. They should have right to debate about various products and to ask for second opinion. Customers need to know where that food is coming from, from which country is imported or it is produced locally. It can be easily done by putting proper labels on every product. Having labels for organic product and letting the customer to choose what kind of product he wants to buy. To mark GMO food and let people choose what they prefer. People have great power, incredible opportunities and big responsibility.
Documentary is showing food production from a different perspective. Showing that is two-way street, that one can lead to another and that is all connected. That people can influence companies and vice versa. That there are other solutions to mass food production, that there are many possibilities and options. That changing the way of thinking and producing can lead to healthier and happier population. That people can spend money on healthier food instead of medicine. Many genius ideas and products are there, like GPS guided machines for harvesting crops. It is obvious that human creativity is endless and that is important to be pointed to right direction so that whole planet can live better. Be able to see, react and reach better future.
References
Industry Statistics and Projected Growth | OPA. (n.d.). Retrieved November 21, 2014, from
http://www.ota.com/organic/mt/business.html
INTER PRESS SERVICE. (n.d.). Retrieved November 21, 2014, from
http://www.ipsnews.net/1997/05/us-business-poultry-contracts-place-growers-lives-on-dotted-line/
How Far Does Your Food Travel to Get to Your Plate? | CUESA. (n.d.). Retrieved November
21, 2014, from http://www.cuesa.org/learn/how-far-does-your-food-travel-get-your-plate
