Food, Inc.

Kenner, Robert, dir. Food, Inc.. Writ. Michael Pollan. 2008. Film.

Summary:

            This film gives the viewer a behind the scenes look at some of today’s major multinational food corporations and their food production facilities and practices. Food Inc. has many testimonies from farmers and others who compete with these large food chains and explain the differences in how they prepare food to be sold. The movie also gives an inside look into the conditions of how the people and animals in these large chains are being treated as well as the conditions they have to endure.

Analysis:

            I knew that the mass produced products made by the large chain companies most likely cut some corners when it came to health and safety in order to increase the productivity and profits, but this movie gave me a much better idea of what really goes on. It was not surprising that none of the large corporations would bother answering any questions for an interview and also that they did not want their consumers to see what happens behind closed doors before the food reaches the shelves of the supermarket. They would be right in thinking that if consumers knew this sort of information, then they would be less likely to by the products of these large companies. I also thought it was interesting how at the end, they state that the consumer is just buying whatever the companies produce, when really it can be thought of the other way around. A lot can also be said about how we can buy mass produced products that are unhealthy at a cheaper price than we can get whole natural foods that are healthy for us. And even if people are willing to produce healthier products, the bigger companies try to shut down any competitors, even if they have healthier products and will be more beneficial to people’s health just so they don’t take a loss to their profits. The bigger companies do produce and supply food at a lower financial cost, but then others have to pay for it usually by a health cost, human cost, environmental cost, or some other way that the big corporations don’t always see the direct effect of or they just don’t care.