Food Inc. Sparknotes

Summary

Food, Inc. is an informative documentary by Robert Kenner that highlights how chicken, cows and pigs are raised for human consumption. It also sheds light on how food choices impact health. When the documentary starts, two different chicken farms are visited. On the first chicken farm, owned by Vince Edwards, cameras were forbidden and the chicken farms were totally dark. On the second chicken farm, owned by Carole Morison, cameras were allowed in and the conditions were horrific. This chicken farm allowed light to come in, but there was a strong smell and very dusty as evident by the owner wearing a mask when she entered the farm. The chickens were in very close proximity to each other and living in their waste and amongst other

dead chickens.

Some of the chickens were not able to walk because their bodies were not able to sustain the weight gained by the use of steroids and antibiotics to aid in their rapid development. The manner in which the chickens were treated when they were picked up by the big chicken corporation was inhumane. They were kicked, thrown and crammed into small cages. The big chicken companies owned the farmers in every sense of the phrase. Owners were expected to pay out over $500,000 to start two chicken houses and additional fees for the latest and best for their chicken farms, but make on average $18,000 a year. Failure to adhere to their strict demands often resulted in the loss of their contract as was the case with Carole. The conditions in which cows and pigs were raised was not very different from that of the chickens. They were being fed corn to help them grow bigger and faster. They were found living in manure up to their knees and much of this manure was contaminated with E. coli. Since a majority of the animals were walking and living in this environment, it is easy for the

meat to become contaminated.
Our vegetables are no longer seasonal items. They are harvested while they are still green and exposed to gases to ripen them and get them to last longer. Farmers are encouraged to produce corn because it is cheap and because of its variety of uses from human consumption to animal feed. Food has become engineered to increase shelf life and reduce the likelihood of becoming rancid. Food poisoning is on the rise because of the spreading of pathogens. Ground beef and vegetables are just some of the culprits for food poisoning.
The types of food that are being consumed by humans account for the rise in obesity and other health-related issues. It is cheaper and easier for many families to pick up a burger in the drive through than get fresh fruits and vegetables at the local grocery store.
Subjective Reaction
Food, Inc.

directly relates to the topic of food and health. The quality of the food consumers eat is not the same as the food eaten years ago. Years ago food was not loaded with chemicals and steroids like it is today. Today, there is a rush to get the chicken as big as possible in the shortest amount of time. There is a rush to get the cow or pig as big as possible, but using the cheapest methods possible. There is a desire to get the most crops harvested and into the stores in the shortest amount of time. The quality of our food is going down while the price is going up. The increase in price is forcing more families to eat fast food. On average you can get a hamburger for roughly $0.99 but lettuce is $1.29. The price of a 2 liter soda is cheaper than juice. When most families are already stretched financially, it is cost effective for them to choose a hamburger and soda over a salad and juice. This is even true at fast food restaurants where the average cost of a salad is over $5.00. Even though the choice is cost-effective, it is costing the family more in the deterioration of their health and the medication needed to treat their health conditions. Fast food is a contributing factor for obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. These are also the leading causes of death in the United States, but they are not just impacting older Americans. School-age children are being impacted by these diseases at alarming

rates.
In my opinion watching Food, Inc., was disturbing because of the inhumane treatment of the animals and the disregard for human lives. Many of the animals lived in their own waste and with other dead animals. They were kicked, crammed into cages and never saw the light. We can’t treat our pets this way, but it’s ok to treat our food this way?? I think not! There were no precautions when slaughtering the animals living in their waste. This contamination can lead to E.coli infections, Salmonella poisoning, and other foodborne illnesses. When young children and older adults are exposed to these infections and foodborne illnesses, they can be deadly because of their immature immune system. The documentary was also enlightening because it shed light on what occurs in the slaughtering houses, how sick people can become as a result of the foodborne illnesses, and how hard it is to bring about change in this industry.
After viewing this documentary, I am more likely to stay away from meat and certain vegetables. I have not eaten pork in almost 5 years. I limit my intake of beef and after seeing how chickens are mistreated and injected with hormones, I am less likely to eat chicken. My grandmother always said she knew what was in her food, but more importantly, she knew what wasn’t in her food. Now, I understand what she means by what’s not in her food. Food that you grow is not loaded with chemicals. The animals graze the land and eat the scraps from the table. There was no need to worry about foodborne illnesses and you processed your own meat.
The information presented in the documentary was overwhelming but accurate. I have family members that work in that industry and asked questions for clarification and they confirmed the information presented in the documentary is correct. The biggest shock was the strict guidelines with regards to animal health. If an animal is thought to carry a disease the entire animal is discarded. There is no need for testing, consumer safety is paramount. For example, a package of ground beef does not come from just one cow. It comes from a variety of cows and mixed together. One contaminated cow will result in thousands of pounds of contaminated meat.
Conclusion
Food, Inc. does a great job at documenting the conditions at the slaughterhouses and chicken farms. I would recommend this documentary to a very select audience based on age and reasons for wanting to see it. For others, I would recommend the book because it still provides valuable information without the graphic images.