Food Inc Documentary Analysis

“Should We Care About Genetically Modified Foods?” by John N. Shaw appeared in Food Safety News issue of February 1, 2010, as a feature under the health section on the controversy between the pros and cons of genetically modified foods (Also known as GMO, genetically modified organisms). The main idea of this article is to inform people of the benefits of GMOs . The author, John Shaw received his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance with a minor in Marketing from the University of Arkansas in 2007, where he was a “leadership scholar.” In addition to his studies, he has worked as a research assistant with Food Law LL.M. Director Susan Schneider, interned with Wal-Mart Government and Corporate Affairs division, the Arkansas Attorney General Public Protection Division, and with United States Senator Blanche Lincoln. John has a passion for Food Law, sports, and outdoors. In the article, he states, “ I submit that I am no scientist; merely an interested student.” According to the article, he is passionate and has done sufficient research about the topic to support his argument.

In the essay “Genetically Modified Food: Watching What We Eat,” by Julie Cooper, she argues against the rampant use of genetically modified food (GMO) without any current form of regulation. Cooper discusses the possibility of health risks to those consuming foods with altered genes and the food’s capabilities to have far-reaching health risks. She continues with a discussion as to how and why the creation and use of the GMOs have become so unregulated. She then discusses the response, which is the public’s cry for their right to make informed choices. Other topics discusses are the political, environmental, and corporate ramifications of the rise of GMOs.

They say if you don’t like heights but enjoy the thrill, don’t look down. This is the same mentality that director Robert Kenner tries to prevent in his film Food Inc., where he sheds light on the corporations that control the way our food is being grown, processed and sold to the American people. With the help of Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation, and Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore 's Dilemma, Robert takes a shot at all corners of the food industry from meat packaging, to corn reprocessing, even Monsanto’s seed copyrights. While Kenner’s goals for change certainly lead to a better America, they tend to lean on the side of unrealistic.

In 2009 a movie by the name of Food Inc. was released that challenged the production of food we eat. The movie examines everything from the science of seeds all the way through the consumption of the food, the food’s often negative effects on the body. The movie ends with the line “You can change the world with every bite”. This quote embodies the heart behind movie that change starts with the individual, and how they make food choices. This sort of change that Food Inc. invokes implies that top down change that the consumer can bring about change to the seed level. Food Inc. challenges the processes that allow companies like Monsanto to feed the world. We must understand how media like Food Inc. effects this mission to feed the world by examining the movie, the history of Monsanto as a company, and looking at the response from both sides to these challenges made in the public square to better combat and address issues brought forth.

All of the scenes in the film can be related to agriculture and food consumption. The first scene may have been a farm, but then it quickly transfers into images of a factory. The film showed us that after factory production the next transition for food is the super markets. This enlightens the audience that all of the food on shelves comes from a production factory. Which would make sense considering the size of America, and the amount of supermarkets. The next topic is that most food is available year round, and that there are no seasons in super markets. With the use

I learned that the food production has changed over the past years. Some of the food that we consume contain GMO's ( Genetically Modified Organisms) which are living organisms that make our food bigger. Which isn't good for our health, it is extremely dangerous. For example, in the movie they introduced a little boy who was so young that he passed away from food poisoning. It all started with him eating a hamburger, and that hamburger contained some chemicals that made the little boy sick. The food industry doesn't want us to know the truth about what we are consuming because if we did, we probably wouldn't consume it. A food scientist in the movie said he would guess that 90% of the processed food products in the grocery store contain either

The film Food Inc., like many other films of its category is not so much of an informative documentary, rather more of a slanderous exposé which blows the lid off of the food industry and its operations. To say that the film is neutral and tends towards more of an educative approach would be a misinterpretation to say the least. Throughout the entire movie it is always evident that the movie aims not solely to educate its audience about the truth of their food, but to convert the misinformed and inspire a rebellion against food industry practices. The movie does this through a tactful approach of bombarding its audience with gruesome clips, facts and testimonial story lines. The film asserts it claim through a thrilling critique of the horrific meat production process which is most prevalent in the U.S food industry and its impact on humans and the environment, while extoling alternative practices which seem to be more sustainable and humane, yet are underutilized. The film goes on to highlight the different players in the food politics arena, emphasizing the role that government agencies play. Also the film divulges the reality that is the monopolization of the food industry by big multinational corporations such as Monsanto Company, Tyson Food, Perdue Farms, Smithfield Foods, etc.

Food production has become a problem in America because as humans we do not enjoy the pleasure of questioning of what is in our food while we eat and we allow the industrial food market to advertise to our children to set them on an early path to obesity. In”Pleasures of Eating” by Wendell Berry, he discusses that the goal of food industrialism is for people to buy more pre-cooked food, however Berry argues against that, trying to persuade the readers to enjoy their food responsibly. Michael Pollan in “When a Crop Becomes King” addresses how corn is impoverishing our health and environment since we only rely on it too much because of the many uses it has. David Barboza asserts that the food market advertise towards children to set them on an early path to obesity in his article “If you Pitch It,They Will Eat It.” I agree that industrial farming threatens the lives of everyone because in America the health of children is declining sixteen percent with the food we continue to consumer blindlessly.

produced by Robert Kenner discusses how food in the country has started to be produced inhumanely, it shows how as consumers we must make sure to keep ourselves informed on the ways food is produced. Also, as consumers, we must fight to not allow businesses work in corrupt ways, and the government should not allow corrupt business practices and fight for our food to be produced organically. Companies like Monsanto or Smithfield have so many ties in the government that allow the to regulate the farmers work in either agriculture or in the meat industry. The worst part about all that these companies are doing is they are only helping themselves when they are really costing the country millions and millions of dollars for costs dealing with health or dealing with bank loans causing massive

The curiosity behind American food production has become an increasing topic as foodborne illness and the obesity epidemic is getting worse. The film “Food Inc.” exposes the truth behind the intentionally hidden food industry in America. According to filmmaker, Robert Kenner, the issue moved its way from the fast food industry straight into the supermarket. The underlying reason is rapid growth of fast food restaurants like McDonald’s. These companies desired large suppliers to provide them with products that tasted exactly the same, which changed the way that beef was produced. This allowed a handful of companies to gain control over the food supply and makes its way to the supermarket. The increasingly dominant food companies in America are disregarding societal needs and are acting in unethical ways toward animals and their employees.

Monsanto did not comment on the documentary. A GMO is a genetically modified organism. The organism is manufactured to produce more yield frequently. Without GMO the world would be at a standstill there would be a lack of food across the globe. “Only two percent of the world is in farming, making it hard to produce enough food” (Worland). In the documentary it talks about GMO’s causing cancer that developed in rats that they have tested. Study shows that, “rats are prone to cancer” (Castillo). American Institute for Cancer Research says, “Some environmental pollutants, like pesticides, have been shown to induce cancer in laboratory animals.” GMO’s have long term effects that haven’t been tested adequately. GM foods were created to decrease the amount of pesticides. Instead of using chemicals. Members of the Northern Canola Growers Association express, “GM foods such as BT corn can help eliminate the application of chemical pesticides. Because pesticides are harmful to humans, GM foods are the better solution; they decrease the danger” (Worland). Chemicals and pesticides not only harms the human body, but also the environment. Farmers use chemicals to maintain the shelf life and protects the food. It also pollutes the air, water and soil. Peter Singer a professor of bioethics at Princeton University, says, “five hundred eighty-eight billion pounds of excess carbon dioxide could be sequestered in the soil every year through organic methods.” GMO has been used since the early nineties and have changed the way of farming. Foods that are grown without pesticides and chemicals can reduce the risk of diseases and a clean

In the documentary, Food Inc., we get an inside look at the secrets and horrors of the food industry. The director, Robert Kenner, argues that most Americans have no idea where their food comes from or what happens to it before they put it in their bodies. To him, this is a major issue and a great danger to society as a whole. One of the conclusions of this documentary is that we should not blindly trust the food companies, and we should ultimately be more concerned with what we are eating and feeding to our children. Through his investigations, he hopes to lift the veil from the hidden world of food.

For hundreds of years, mankind has attempted to manipulate the DNA of other organisms through selective breeding, in order to produce traits that were favorable or advantageous to humans such as seedless bananas, seedless watermelons, and even man’s best friend, dogs. But in 1953, scientists were truly able to alter an organism’s DNA within a generation and modify its traits. Now let’s take it to modern day. We are now able to engineer GMOs and create things like blue strawberries that are able to withstand freezing temperatures after injecting genes from the Arctic Flounder Fish. GMOs stand for Genetically Modified Organisms, they are organisms that have been created through genetic engineering. In addition, it is currently estimated that 70% of all processed foods in the United States contain at least one genetically modified ingredient. (Smith) In fact, developed countries do not consider GMOs to be safe at all. In a recent survey, 52% of Americans believe that GMOs are unsafe and an additional 13% are unsure about them. (Langer) But despite the general public’s skepticism of GMOs, genetic engineering can yield great power, with the ability to bring great benefits but at the same time, it can bring great harm. So, we, as a society should remain cautionary, but we shouldn’t completely isolate ourselves and reject such promising technology. We should encourage research in order to better our understanding of GMOS by not only scientists, but everyone as a whole.

Science, chemical and big name companies had done hazardous experiments with the consumer’s food without the world’s communities approval and it still continues today. Genetically modified organisms have contaminated the food supply. “A GMO (genetically modified organism) is the result of a laboratory process where genes from the DNA of one species are extracted and artificially forced in the genes of an unrelated plant or animal” (Seeds of Deception). The results have no health benefits, only financial benefits to the companies that produce them. The genetically modified organisms of animals or plants today hurt the environment and are causing health problems in the nation, and even around the world; a promise which made supposedly better

All the information that was given makes you start to wonder how long it has been around and how much has it came along since the 1990s. The government has helped students and people fight GMO- “Despite the anti-GMO movement and the hesitation of many governments to approve of new GM crops, biotechnology moves forward? During his recent trip to Indonesia, De Jong volunteered to help public sector scientists create a GM potato that resists potato blight, the disease responsible for the Irish potato famine that killed more than a million people in the mid-1800s” (Maxmen). People don’t really know the risk of their own food if only they knew all the facts over their own food people would argue over this.