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Farm Fed Fantasies
As a child in rural Indiana, I remember fields of wheat and corn. Cows grazing freely on farms owned by families, and had been for generations. The idyllic image of what most of us know as "farm life." Today thats not so. The film Food Inc is all about that disconnect. It's informative, disquieting, disturbing and angering. Starting at the dawn of fast food in the 1930's, this film talks about the history of food production and its migration into the american culture. There are of course, like most films, villians (Monsanto, Cargill, ADM, Smithfield Farms, Con Agra) and a few heroes (Diana DeGette, who became a food advocate after her son died from eating food contaminated by e.coli,) Eric Schlosser (who wrote Fast Food Nation) and Micheal Pollan (who wrote The Omnivore's Dilemma.) The film discusses how GMO's (Genetically Modified Orgamism's ... once called "Frankenfood") are now present in our food supply. Due to companies aggresive forms of prosecution, lobbying, and intimidation, that one time family-owned farms are now factory farms. A brief discussion is focused on the environmental factors of large farms (such as the SmithField Farm pig processing plant in Utah, which houses over 500,000 pigs.) We are also shown that what was once a thriving diverse industry in the United States is now owned by large corporate interests, where livestock was once
known as an animal and are today viewed as "product." The film does have some bright spots but mostly should serve as a wake up call, for most americans, that while we may be getting fast food, its not honest food.
The reason I have put together this blog is to chronicle my journey through understanding how this affects the "average"American and what we as citizens (and eaters) can do. What my intention is, is to provide information about food safety, laws that are being considered, past and written into law that will affect you and how you eat, grow or shop for food. I'll be posting things on this site like the above review (next will be my review of a film called "King Corn") to information on how you can shop locally. Dont be surprised along the way if you learn something. I'm pretty sure I will.
