TOW #28 (Documentary analysis)- "Food, Inc."

            When most Americans go to the grocery store or a restaurant to get food, they likely don’t think about the origins of the product they are about to consume. Most believe that it comes from small, healthy family farms like the ones depicted on food companies’ labels and packaging. Yet, when looking deeper into so-called farms, this is found to be brutally false, and despite what people think, the way we eat has changed more in the past 50 years, than in the previous 10 thousand. In the 2008 documentary, Food, Inc., producer Robert Kenner and health and food experts Eric Schlosser and Michael Pollen explore the American food industry that has turned into nothing but factories and industrial plants. Together, Kenner, Schlosser, and Pollen explore the different aspects of the food industry and the ways they have changed as a result of a growing population, more advanced technology, and a society run by capitalist greed. Within the past 50 years, a small number of large private corporations have essentially taken over the industry and have found ways to produce the largest amount of product, in the shortest amount of time, and at the lowest price. Using assembly lines, almost like that in car manufacturing, companies have been able to take over the industry and drive smaller, family-run farms out of business, or force them to sign contracts that require them to adhere to everything the company says. And despite the growing concerns of these food monopolies, there ability to exert their power upon the government has allowed them to influence the FDA and USDA to meet their needs. Since the producers recognize much of the government is under the influence of such corporate power, Kenner produced Food, Inc. show consumers what is really happening and get them to take direct action.

            Using relevant statistics, relatable anecdotes, and exposing images, Food, Inc. exposes the actions that take place within the American food industry, and private corporations inhumane and unhealthy treatment of animals, poor handling of consumer health, exploitation of workers and smaller businesses, and the destruction of the environment.

            Throughout the documentary, Kenner backs up nearly every point he makes with relevant statistics. It would be easy for him to tell a story about the food industry, but it would be difficult to get American consumers to buy into it without facts to back it up, and Kenner effectively uses statistics to do just that. The statistics used are not only inarguable, but help connect viewers to the situation. As I said before, American consumers do not think before they buy food at the supermarket, but if they were to watch this documentary prior to shopping, they almost certainly would. The reason that almost all foods are available year round and are exponentially bigger than they were 50 years ago is because of genetic modification. Kenner states that between 60-70% of foods sold in American stores are genetically modified in some way. This means that potentially harmful chemicals are going into a majority of the foods we eat.

            Additionally, Kenner is able to expose the food industry and influence the audience with the use of relatable anecdotes. When discussing the potential negative health affects the modern food industry can create among consumers, Kenner interviews a woman who began an advocate for change after her son died from E. coli. Her son had contracted E. coli from a hamburger that should have been recalled immediately, but was delayed for some time due to the inefficiencies of the FDA and USDA. Ultimately, this had a large impact on viewers, especially those who are responsible for feeding and protecting their children. With over 73,000 annual cases of E. coli in the US, it is obvious that change needs to take place within the food industry and the government, and now consumers are more likely to take action since it can affect them personally.

            Even with the multitude of statistics and anecdotes, Food, Inc. would not have been such a successful documentary if it Kenner was not able to get photo and video evidence of the atrocities made by corporations upon animals and workers. Throughout the documentary, Kenner displays images of the dirty, cramped conditions animals are forced to live in, along with several acts of abuse upon animals that were filmed with hidden cameras. In addition to the poor conditions of the animals, the documentary displays the conditions minimum wage workers are forced to work in inside the “food factories.” To a typical viewer who is used to seeing pictures of beautiful, small family farms, the images and video are horrific. Once seeing them, it hard to resist supporting Kenner’s stance on the problems America faces in the food industry.