Food, Inc., the Movie

[James L]

FWIW, here's a documentary film that may be of interest to some people. Although, you may not find it showing at your local mainstream theater.

Food, Inc. (http://www.foodincmovie.com)

In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA.

[gitfiddle]

Oh, I'd like to see that, James. I don't buy much from the supermarket any more, but my family does.

[James L]

Oh, I'd like to see that, James.
FYI, it's currently playing at the Main Art Theatre in Royal Oak, MI.

Play Dates (http://www.magpictures.com/dates.aspx?id=3e3938d1-b785-4286-9ae0-8eb5952f1480)

[mcsblues]

Thanks James, I'll look out for it although probably in this neck of the woods an ... umm ... online source is more likely:o;).

Speaking of which, I don't know if it has been discussed here before but I caught up with "Fathead" a month or so back and while I guess giving some credit for the effort made to put it together, I was very disappointed (and from the bits and pieces I had seen before, my expectations weren't high). I don't suppose it is unique to sellers of the low carb gospel, but why on earth don't people seek some independent, objective editing advice/help when putting together a book or in this case a movie any more? I know this is a special trigger issue for me because it is what I do to earn a crust (well, some of the time), but honestly it might cost a bit in the humility stakes, but the end result could and should be so much better Hmmm ok, end of rant mode!

Coming back to Fathead, it is wayy too long, I know it started out as a response to Supersize Me - but really who cares about bad fast food? - and in any event what he said in about 45 mnutes could have been said in 5. Then there is inordinate coverage of the CSPI - I'm sure they are pleased with the extra publicity, but again, who really cares? He makes Mary Enig look like a crazy old woman with a bee in her bonnet ... when she could have provide a much more positive slant on what good fats are and why they are an important part of a healthy diet. Thankfully the Eades were spared the crazy, reacting only to CSPI nutters routine, but there was a lot of repetition and no sustained editing structure to get to the point. Al Sears didn't really add much, and sorry, he just looks creepy! The other expert - sorry forgotten his name, was pretty good but again far too much, far too spread out. As for he childish humour/cartoons - well I guess that is a matter of taste to some extent, but talking down to the audience is going to lose a lot of people long before the confused message becomes (slightly more) clear.

... but give it too me, I'd cut it down to a half hour of TV that might just get watched!:p

[James L]

... I know this is a special trigger issue for me because it is what I do to earn a crust (well, some of the time), ...
... crust ...? How those old memories linger on. :)

Besides, a piece of cheese will pair much better with that glass of red wine.

[mcsblues]

You'll notice my alter ego Gromit, comes equipped with both these days!;)

I take it you haven't seen Fathead? I'm surprised there doesn't appear to have been a discussion about it here, given both Mike and Mary Dan feature prominently.

On the Food Inc line of thinking, have you read Nina Planck's book? As a low carber there are parts where you might find she is literally telling you to suck (free range of course) eggs - it is well written, there are interesting bits eg. on the history of dairy (she thinks and has authorities which suggest it is quite a deal older than the 6000 years commonly cited) - and it is more Weston Price (a big influence) than low carb per se - but worth a visit to the library I'd say.

One thing you do have to do is admire her. She is a recovering vegan Yank (oops, sorry this bit is a cut and paste ... can you tell?:p) living in London pining for the real foods she grew up with on the farm. So what does she do? She starts a farmer's market herself!! - which was so successful she had to start more and had to give up her day job.

Utube (http://su.pr/2ChCSc)

Book (http://www.amazon.com/Real-Food-What-Eat-Why/dp/1596913428/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b)

[James L]

Malcolm,

No, I have not seen Fathead and, given your comments, it does not appear that I have missed anything worthwhile. Also, I have not read Nina Planck's book, but I'll keep it in mind.

Cheese? What cheese? Where? Oh, you mean that yellow blob is supposed to represent cheese? :)
(Perhaps it's my imagination, but Gromit seems to exhibit less sharpness, clarity and detail since he switched from coffee to red wine. ;))

[mcsblues]

Malcolm,

No, I have not seen Fathead and, given your comments, it does not appear that I have missed anything worthwhile. Also, I have not read Nina Planck's book, but I'll keep it in mind.

Cheese? What cheese? Where? Oh, you mean that yellow blob is supposed to represent cheese? :)
(Perhaps it's my imagination, but Gromit seems to exhibit less sharpness, clarity and detail since he switched from coffee to red wine. ;))
Sorry. I must have missed this before.

The cheese is actually a rather appealing cheese platter I stole from somewhere, but at that size ...

The furriness is as a result of the avatar being a freeze frame from an animated gif I spent far too long editing from the original. I think tea drinking version one day ... at work ... :o:p The rules here, don't allow for animation (probably a good thing, given the flashing monstrosities some other forums are covered in) - but take it from me, in the animated version, Gromit has, quite coincidentally and nothing to do with the wine I'm sure, developed something of a nervous twitch ... which might get sorted ... next time work gets really boring!;)

[James L]

You will probably be disturbed by some of what you learn from this film. It is, of course, impossible to tell the full story of food production and supply (or of any other subject for that matter) in a 1 hour and 39 minute film. Nevertheless, one reviewer has described this film as essential viewing. I tend to agree with that assessment.

Not surprisingly, three of the large companies whose operations are discussed in this film declined to be interviewed for the film. You can probably guess the name of at least one of the three. But if you want to know for sure who they are, you need to see the film or perhaps read Eric Schlosser's book, Fast Food Nation.

There are at least three aspects of this system that were not explored in the film:


What are the links between the MBAs, the scientists and the lawyers--who manage, staff, and litigate for these companies--and the universities and colleges that trained them? There is an absence of accountability at the educational level.
What about the boards of directors of these companies? What are the backgrounds of the directors and what motivates their policies?
What about the stockholders who own shares in these companies, either directly or indirectly via a mutual fund or a pension fund? By owning shares, they at least implicitly support the policies and actions of these companies.

If you have a queasy stomach, I don't recommend that you view this film immediately before eating breakfast, lunch or dinner. :(

[amdawson]

i'm sure it's all the fault of the MBAs. or maybe the lawyers+MBAs. That's what I've learned in a year of b-school.

[Ammy]

Okay, I'm going to see this movie tomorrow night.
I'll come back with my assessment.

[Ammy]

okay, I saw the movie.

yes, the crap in meat is terrible and I wish I could afford to go 100% grass fed and organic...

but the entire montsago thing bothered me most.
Don't want to ruin the documentary, but holyl crap!!

[isisrose]

okay, I saw the movie.

yes, the crap in meat is terrible and I wish I could afford to go 100% grass fed and organic...

but the entire montsago thing bothered me most.
Don't want to ruin the documentary, but holyl crap!!


I haven't seen the movie yet, but have been reading about Montsago for years and years now, as well as actively trying to stop them. You are right, holy crap!!!! :mad::crybaby:

[mcsblues]

okay, I saw the movie.

yes, the crap in meat is terrible and I wish I could afford to go 100% grass fed and organic...

but the entire montsago thing bothered me most.
Don't want to ruin the documentary, but holyl crap!!

I haven't seen the movie yet , but perhaps you mean Monsanto? ... or is there another evil conglomerate in the 'Ms'?

[isisrose]

I haven't seen the movie yet , but perhaps you mean Monsanto? ... or is there another evil conglomerate in the 'Ms'?

Yes, you are right it is Monsanto...though there could be other evil conglomerates with the letter M. :evil:

[Ammy]

Yep, never saw the word, just kept hearing it over and over again...

[James L]

You'll notice my alter ego Gromit, comes equipped with both these days!;) ...FYI. In case you missed this Wallace and Gromit (http://features.csmonitor.com/innovation/2009/11/04/dont-forget-the-wallace-and-gromit-google-doodle/) doodle.

[mcsblues]

Apparently, the powers that be (and with Google that is a LOT of powers) gave us Sesame Street ... which is pretty sad when you think about it ... :rolleyes:

[Needlewoman]

On the Food Inc line of thinking, have you read Nina Planck's book?

One thing you do have to do is admire her. She is a recovering vegan Yank (oops, sorry this bit is a cut and paste ... can you tell?:p) living in London pining for the real foods she grew up with on the farm. So what does she do? She starts a farmer's market herself!! - which was so successful she had to start more and had to give up her day job.

I have only just come across this thread.

Sorry, but I have to take issue with that. I have no argument with farmer's markets, indeed I wish there was a proper one* within easy reach of my home, but it is perfectly possible to buy real food in London. I have been doing so for the, gulp, 34 years since I left my parental home, and we always had real food there too. It is more than likely that Ms Planck lived further towards the centre than the outer suburb that I live in, so she should have had no problem whatsoever. It just takes a little more effort than driving to the nearest supermarket. Damn it, she's made me cross :)

These were eye-opening reading that have made me even more wary of supermarket offerings and 'industrial food' in general. Thinking about their content now that I am low carb, the vested interests in grains etc. are immense, so it is hardly surprising that low carb attracts such hostility.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Not-Label-What-Really-Plate/dp/0141015667/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260616408&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eat-Your-Heart-Out-Business/dp/0141026014/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b

* There is supposed to be a farmer's Market in the next town centre to here on Friday mornings. I went for a look see once I stopped working outside the home. What a farce! 3 stalls in total. 1 was a baker (I wasn't low carbing then, but could make bread and cakes myself that looked just as good, and for a fraction of the prices), 1 was a meat stall, but it looked mucky and didn't claim to be free range, let alone organic, and the last was a vegetable stall which did at least show the name of a farm on it, but didn't claim to use any particular method of growing. Funnily enough I have never bothered to make the trip again. I see lovely farmer's markets on TV and agree with the principles, so wish I could actually get to one.

[mcsblues]

Damn it, she's made me cross :)

Perhaps you will be slightly less cross :p if I tell you I have also flipped through one of those Felicity Lawrence books - I wrote about it here (http://www.empowerfoods.com.au/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5274)

Nina Planck's company (not sure if she is still involved), is/was London Farmers’ Markets - http://www.lfm.org.uk/

Someone was telling me there is one opening here (no not one of hers) - I must check it out.

[Needlewoman]

I wasn't cross with you (and you know it :)).

I have just ordered used copies of 2 of Michael Pollan's books as our library doesn't seem to have heard of him, so shall be interested to compare and contrast. I shall get Nina Planck's book through the library if I can, but I'm not paying for even a used copy :mad:

[mcsblues]

Yes, I got all those from the library. I warn you, may find Pollan annoying too (he gets all the pieces but just can't seem to connect the dots) - especially if you paid for him!;).

[silentkiller]

I havent watched this movie yet, its sounds interesting. Thanks :D