Food Incorporated

[icyfroth]

I watched this documentary last night Food Inc. on SBS1. On food production in the US, how it is dominated by 4 major corporations  and how they have systematically changed traditional farming methods. The effect it's had on the environment and employment, the influence they have over governments and consumers:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1286537/

“Food Inc provides a devastating expose of the dysfunctional nature of the modern food system. It is a film that highlights the hypocrisy behind government attempts to encourage individuals to eat a healthy diet, while at the same time pursuing policies and partnerships with large food companies that create unhealthy food environments."

Why this is relevant to the Australian consumer: 

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/croakey/2010/06/16/food-inc-why-its-so-relevant-for-australian-audiences/

"When we consider Australian circumstances such as the huge proportion of chicken meat sourced from intensive chicken factories, the duopoly controlling approximately 75% of the food retail sector and the pervasive influence of food industry interests in state and commonwealth food regulation committees, the answer is ‘very relevant’."

Did anyone else happen to watch it? 

[catsnknots]

I think this is the third time I have watched it... 

A reason I go for grass fed beef, try to go all organic and free range chicken and eggs... 

I buy food from smaller companies... I like the more unique brands. 

I know how to grow my own food... 

when I watched it this time I felt more sick than last time.

[catsnknots]

OH.. corn syrup is dangerous. I listened to a talk on the radio about how our bodies use sugar and the corn syrup is dangerous to our bodies and is linked to diabetes. 

Then you combine it with this docco 

if you look at our food ingredients we do not use corn syrup. Most of the food that has it in this country is actually from the States. 

I can't believe that all their soft drinks are made with it... 

[azureline**]

Most of our foods are made with glucose syrup derived from wheat, a huge inconvenience for those on gluten free diets.

[i-need-a-martini]

Yes I saw it when it came out at the cinema a few years back. Scary stuff. The whole corn thing is crazy but not as crazy as the soy industry.

[*mrswormwood*]

who 'milks' the beavers ?

I was just thinking........

if the right glad is raspberry and the left gland is vanilla,  if you shook the beaver up and down would you get raspberry ripple?

[green.fields]

I didn't watch that, I missed seeing it in the guide, my son did watch it and was telling me about it, did not sound good at all, don't know if I do want to watch it but will try to.

I did see a doco a few months ago which had some of the corn farming in it, the scale was mind blowing.

[icyfroth]

With regard to the animal handling, it wasn't too bad, roserobin, they didn't go into horrifying detail, thank goodness. As it was, it was quite disturbing. It really needs to be brought to the public's attention though.

They did show how the cattle in the feed lots at times stood up to their knees in their own manure, which often resulted in the transfer of ecoli bacteria from the hides into the meat during slaughter.

One little boy died from ecoli ingested in this way, and the mother took the meat producers to court. Of course legal battles like this can be tied up for years and she ended up settling out of court, whatever that entails.

She is now lobbying for changes in beef production, if I understood correctly. I really wouldn't mind seeing the show again.

When the reporter asked her if her experiences had made her change her eating habits, she couldn't comment due to a gag put on her by the corporation as a condition of settlement, otherwise they'd sue her.

[catsnknots]

From what I understand about our feed lots they are not as bad as the ones in America. Our cattle do not stand in their own faeces up to their knees. 

Did you see that pile that was next to the cow and it looked like it was as high as the poor animal if not higher?? 

That was so sad... 

[catsnknots]

http://documentaryaddict.com/Food+Inc-2174-documentary.html

here is one site that you can watch it on...  there are many other sites , just google "Food Incorporated documentary watch free" or something similar. 

You know the worst fact about all of this???? We can thank McDonalds for starting the trend of bulk fast food supply that has led to this type of demand...  I am happy that as a family we have decided a long time ago to never eat their food. 

[icyfroth]

Yes they're just the tiniest tip of the iceberg now, aren't they?

For the public to make any kind of an impact on the industry would mean a total lifestyle upheaval for most families.

Not only should fast-food be boycotted but most if not all food we get from the supermarkets. Which have a stranglehold on the food industry.

The family featured in the documentary was a case in point. They bought their meals from a fast  food drive through. It's quick, cheap, easy and filling.

"We get home late and don't have time to cook."

While shopping - "it's cheaper to buy the processed food than to buy the healthy fruit and vegetables".

Yet they spent over a hundred dollars - can't remember if it was a week or a month - to keep the husband on his diabetes medication so he could keep up the job!