Two weeks ago, I finally watched this much-anticipated documentary, which delves into the changing landscape of our food industry in the recent decade. The movie isn't for the faint of heart, but I really think that everyone should know (whether or not they want to) where their food is coming from. Directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Robert Kenner, Food, Inc. sets off on a mission to unveil the secrets behind mighty agribusiness corporations and their Herculean control over the food industry. The pace of the film is quick, as scenes jump from one issue to another, but essentially, the different topics are all deeply interconnected.
Some quick and dirty facts from Food, Inc.:
Nowadays, chicks are injected with gross amounts of hormones so that they can grow to be more than twice the size in same amount of time.
The majority of the meat in the entire world is dominated by four large conglomerates: Cargill, Smithfield, IBP, and Tyson. (I know, I didn't believe it but I looked it up and it's true.)
Corn (hint: high fructose syrup) has become the basis of everything we eat. The industry has been heavily subsidized by the government for years, with the purpose of keeping food prices down. This is partly responsible for our nation's obesity epidemic.
The lack of FDA regulation has empowered corporate giants to maintain poor health conditions in slaughterhouses and cow/pig/chicken farms (animals standing in their manure all day long). Of course, this has led to an outbreak of diseases such as E. Coli, killing thousands of people.
This really is an issue that is so near and dear to our health, and there are things that can be done.
To see where it's playing near you, click here.
Post-Addendum:
I saw Food, Inc. at The Quad Cinemas (cute little place on 13th St), and after we got out of the theater, we were starving but neither of us was willing to suggest a place to eat. That's when we saw GustOrganics, New York's first and only USDA certified organic restaurant. How convenient! Everything there was organic, from the food to the drinks. The pizza is a little bland, but the fruit juices are delicious (albeit pricey, at $6.50 a glass)
This was my favorite: Spinach Salad with Strawberries, Pears, and Pine Nuts in a Lemon Olive Oil Dressing.
GustOrganics Restaurant & Bar
519 Avenue of the Americas (14th St)
New York, NY 10011
(212) 242-5800
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