Business people have given full attention to making maximum profit with little regard on the customer welfare. As documented in the documentary film by Kenner, food production lacks quality standards that are necessary for the manufacturing and production of food fit for human consumption (Food Inc., 2010). Kenner shows how the food industry is corrupted with the production of food that harms or can harm human health. This is caused by the obsession of these companies in maximizing profit and yield from their projects. This puts serious questions on the credibility of the foods that are offered in the market by producers and manufacturer. Kenner exposes these in his film where he clearly shows how dangerous the foods we eat are harmful and not safe for our consumption.
The refusal of the major companies namely Tyson and Monsanto to comment on the film content shows some truth in the claims. This interprets that there could be some level of truth in the film. Kenner talks of the decreased farmers and increased demand for farm produce. The few available farmers have shifted their attention in using genetically modified produce in order to increase yield and reduce cost (Food Inc. 2010). Kenner mentions that farmers are feeding animals with corn instead of grass to increase yield. Medically, the use of corn instead of grass on animals would increase production but has serious effects on human health. The use of corn results in increased prevalence of virulent forms and other drugs resistant pathogens including E-coli. In such cases, these pathogens can easily be transferred to humans. The food companies have not approached with adequate evidence and regulations according to the film director. The use of GMOs on production, for example, soya beans can have varied and severe effects to customers who are allergic to GMO foods.
The slaughter houses used are another health hazard issue as revealed by Kenner. They use cheap labor that may be unskilled in dealing with food meant for human consumption. The chicken company was not left behind; the overwhelming use of technology in rearing chicken contributes to serious questions on the safety of the chicken. With the technology, a chick is only reared for 49 days and is fit for slaughter. Without the technology, however, such a chick would be reared for three months. This shows that the food market today is filled with GMO products. The animals we eat every day are the prime causes of many human diseases such as diabetes, E-coli and obesity to a large extent.
Human beings like any other species in the animal kingdom are prone to diseases. The exposure to such foods as GMOs is a health hazard. First, GMOs causes allergy. Many children and other food consumers in the United States of America and Europe have developed severe allergies from the consumption of these types of food. It, therefore, is a health hazard when consumers are exposed or fed with such food by food manufacturers. As mentioned in the film, soya beans that are fed on animals can be a major consumer threat because they cause antibiotic resistance in human (Food Inc 2010). This would later cause the body not to respond to treatment in case of pathogen attacks. Additionally, though not scientifically proven, there are claims that GMOs can cause infections in the digestive tract.
The increased popularity of taking fast food in our society is another health concern. In the chicken industry, there are incredible changes in the way chicken are raised. These changes include, farm operations, living conditions and even change in the chicken themselves. These changes have far reaching effects in human health as there are increasing obesity cases that are as a result of the fast foods. The foods delivered in the market are in one way, or another produced using the modern technology or are genetically modified (SafefoodInc.Com 2010). Consequently, there are not hundred percent safe per say because there are many unanswered questions on the credibility of GMOs on human health. It is, therefore, a matter of risking as it cannot be purely established that the food is dangerous on human health or not. The history of the food production industry has evolved just like any other industry. This can be credited to the increased advancement on technology. For example, fifty years ago, chicken rearing was very expensive in terms of time it took to breed a chick to a slaughter able size. However, with technology, the space required, time and cost has changed.
Similarly, in rearing animals such as pigs and cattle, technology has played a significant role and today, more of these animals can be reared in a small area which is cheap in terms of time for breeding and space as many animals can take a small area (SafefoodInc.Com 2010). Consequently, with the introduction of genetically modified technology in feeding and rearing animals, food safety has been put into question as these GMO foods are associated with diseases and other complications on humans. This, therefore, makes such foods as a danger to human health through the spread of diseases such as allergies, diabetes and obesity.
Works Cited
Food Inc. Dir. Robert Kenner. Perf. Robert Kenner. 2010. Robert Kenner, Apri. Film.
SafefoodInc.Com. "Myths & Facts." SafefoodInc.com. SafefoodInc, 2010. Web. 7 Feb. 2014. <http://www.safefoodinc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3&Itemid=11>.
