Food , Inc. documentary ;(

[oklahomajewel]

If you know me, you know I don't post near as much as I did when building. And post mostly concerning South Central campouts.

But I'm posting this here, because I am so strongly moved by this documentary I'm watching called Food, Inc. I won't give you details, it's about not just food processing but gov't regulations, workers, etc.

I'm not a 'tree hugger' , I've never thought of being a vegetarian.. but this video makes me want to change where and how I purchase any foods. Parts of it are a little hard to watch, but it's for REAL and it's our country, it's our food, it's our diet and our life.

This reminds me a little bit about the Super Size Me 'movie' about the fast food/school food and health .

I rented this at my local Blockbuster.

Thanks for reading.

Julie

[Oasis Maker]

Health is my business and passion. Sports performance initiated this path throughout my youth and college and then the larger picture of health became more important after that.

I make my own sprouted living foods where in essence I become my own farmer. Most everything I do is all natural and organic. Any documentary that creates an "aha moment" and spurs people to a higher awareness as to what they are putting into their bodies and what it's doing to them I'm all for it!

Scott G.

[caseydog]

I have not seen it, but am aware of the issues in the movie.

In many cases -- not all, but many -- I have found certified organic produce to be worth the extra price. Better taste alone is enough for me.

I am a big-time proponent of strict food labeling regulations. As a consumer, I want to be able to make informed decisions, which is hard to do without good labeling.

I'll have to check it out. Thanks for the tip.

CD

[dreadcptflint]

I did food processing for over five years. In my experence, everybody is better off if they do their own. Unless you pick the fruit from the tree, you really don't know where it comes from and how safe it is for you. The food processing industry is really on the edge of some major breakdowns.

I am a Big fan of the documentary Supersize Me. Fast Food Nation hit a little too close to home for my taste. I will check out Food Inc when I get the chance.

[caseydog]

There is a new website about factory farming, and how it has put family farms out of business, and supplies food products that are produced in inhumane ways, and are filled with antibiotics that are causing bacteria to mutate in very dangerous ways.

http://www.themeatrix.com/

It offers suggestions how consumers can create pressure to "clean up" these farming practices. There's also a funny video there (Moopheus, lol).

Check it out.

[starleen2]

For me it’s the quest for low food prices. I see the mass farming of chickens, for example, to drive down the cost of chicken – then there is so much that is wasted on the shelves due to spoilage and thrown out – call me what you will – But I see all life as sacred. The death of millions of chickens (add what ever animal you want here) for the sake of lower prices, then only for it to be wasted for the sake of LOWER prices is senseless! This is the utter destruction of life of an animal for the sake of the consumer. I will and do pay a higher price for food that takes this into account. Something to take into account the next time you’re in the supermarket trying to make the decision about the difference between “saleâ€

[Miriam C.]

I just wonder if all that waste would happen if the stores could donate the food the day before and get a substantial rebate! Yeah I know: commie thinking..... I hate seeing life wasted but regulations cause some of it. All that consumer protection we all love!

...and the wheels on the bus go round and round

[mk10108]

This is all NONSENSE.......

I'm in the food packaging business and can relay another side of the story for which I will be branded as a corporate lacky.

Being part of the packaging industry I can chart different movements and their effect on the consumer. First it was recycle...then it was recycle percentage, when both of those died out, the buzz word now is sustainability.

In the food industry it was labels. First to ID calories then trans & saturated fats. Now organic is the BIG word for which I can personally attest is noting more than marketing used to separate the consumer from their money. I suggest people read Micheal Pollen's Omnivores Dilemma as a starting point to understand the cornerstone of our food sources and monoculture food production. This book is interesting in that it does not judge the system but tells it like it is. Farmers vs. distributors. Organic vs. regular food.

http://www.michaelpollan.com/omnivore.php

What I've come to learn is there is 330 million people in the US. Less than 1.4 percent of our population produces food, and frees up the other 98.6% to do other stuff. You don't get something for nothing and when the best a producer can sell his product is .50 per lb, a few things have to happen. Either he gets efficient or capitalization rolls in and does it for him. Next time you buy a bag of salad for less than a head of lettuce, thank the captains of industry because 97 percent of you don't have time or the knowledge to grow it yourself.

What I object to is people organizing their lives around a concept that has no merit, other than to make you feel good. Get you to focus on phrase (anti oxidant, omega 3,) instead of what I consider the real issue.

There is no corporate conspiracy other than to value add foods to make a profit. And considering our population grows at 3%....the food industry must find ways to get you to buy more food. They have an army of experts marketing genius that can overwhelm any attempt of resisting their message, EXCEPT for you saying no.

Your body does not care if a fat-sugar-carb calorie goes into your pie hole, it will process it. What does not get used is converted to fat. One pound of fat is 3500 calories and is enough energy to sustain you for two days. Think of that.....if your 40 pounds overweight.....80 days of fuel.
But there's a cost and carrying extra fuel for long periods dings your health. So while the industry has you worried about a non issue, calories creep up because people have made a million excuses as to why they will not exercise. And if they start exercising its usually not efficient enough to produce results. Thus the weight cycle repeats over and over.

Off the soap box for now.

[mandy]

I wish we were raising our own animals again. We had chickens and turkeys and pigs and we knew what we were feeding them and how they were treated. Maybe I should start with a few chickens...

[queeniejeanne]

Fresh is Best from known organic sources. Most of ours comes from a organic farm, humanly killed animals having been raised by hand without any bad crap fed or shot into them or put into their food. The same goes for the veggies, if possible bought from Farmers market (ours only allows those who grow it themselves to be members) that adhere to the above method of growth.....Costs are quite a bit more but I prefer the taste and knowledge that what we eat is good......Queenie Jeanne

[caseydog]

If one looks between the extremes of "corporations are evil" and "this is all nonsense," I'm sure one can find some important and useful information.

I've seen a few feedlots, and they are nasty. Besides being inhumane, there is no way you can raise healthy cattle in that type of filth. And, I don't want "cheap" if it means I'm eating meat full of antibiotics.

All I ask for as a consumer of food, it to have information available to make informed choices. I like food labeling laws. I read the labels. I want to know where my food comes from. I don't want hormone and antibiotic filled meat. I don't want seafood farmed in heavily polluted waters in Asia. I'm skeptical of produce that comes from countries where they don't have strict rules and oversight.

And, as for shopping at farmer's markets when I can, I do that because the foods there just plain taste better. There's no comparison between a vine ripened local tomato, and a factory farmed and chemically ripened tomato.

BTW, has anyone here been watching Jaime Oliver's new show about trying to change the diets of school children? When I was a kid, my parents would have never let me eat what kids are allowed to eat today. My mom's cooking wasn't great, but it was healthy.

CD

[mk10108]

If one looks between the extremes of "corporations are evil" and "this is all nonsense," I'm sure one can find some important and useful information.

I've seen a few feedlots, and they are nasty. Besides being inhumane, there is no way you can raise healthy cattle in that type of filth. And, I don't want "cheap" if it means I'm eating meat full of antibiotics.

All I ask for as a consumer of food, it to have information available to make informed choices. I like food labeling laws. I read the labels. I want to know where my food comes from. I don't want hormone and antibiotic filled meat. I don't want seafood farmed in heavily polluted waters in Asia. I'm skeptical of produce that comes from countries where they don't have strict rules and oversight.

And, as for shopping at farmer's markets when I can, I do that because the foods there just plain taste better. There's no comparison between a vine ripened local tomato, and a factory farmed and chemically ripened tomato.

BTW, has anyone here been watching Jaime Oliver's new show about trying to change the diets of school children? When I was a kid, my parents would have never let me eat what kids are allowed to eat today. My mom's cooking wasn't great, but it was healthy.

CD

Lot of truth here and one can make a choice unfortunately the "healthier/ smarter" choice will cost you more...but is not necessarily better for you.
You may be surprised to learn that most tomatoes sold at a farmers market are the ones sold in grocery stores, and on the back end of its shelf life.

You are correct about beef but no evidence exist that says its bad for you.

Just eye ball the packaging. See what box our grocer pulled the tomato out of and arrive early at the market and you just may witness the same box and product being laid out on a table.

As for Asian seafood, got bad news for you. Most US consumed shrimp comes from farms in Asia. Tapia is a carp used to eat the waste of Black bass and sold as a health conscience fish.

I also saw the Jamie show and yes the less calories is a better option but completely leaves out the exercise. Just prolongs the journey to Type II diabetes.

[caseydog]

I consume Gulf (of Mexico) shrimp on a pretty regular basis. It costs more, and not all stores carry it, but it's out there. I agree that most grocery stores offer pretty poor choices in seafood, but if you love seafood like I do, you seek out and find stores that are willing and able to provide quality seafood.

And, the farmers market nearest my home requires all produce to be grown locally. Not all do, but if you do your homework, you can find markets that do.

There is a wealth of information out there, but it takes some effort to find it.

CD

[asianflava]

All US consumed shrimp comes from farms in Asia.

Being from Florida, I kinda doubt that point. Like "Casey" says domestic shrimp is available otherwise I wonder why I see shrimp boats at all.

[Larwyn]

All US consumed shrimp comes from farms in Asia.

Being from Florida, I kinda doubt that point. Like "Casey" says domestic shrimp is available otherwise I wonder why I see shrimp boats at all.

Some of the hardest work I ever did was working aboard a shrimp boat in the Gulf of Mexico. I quickly returned to a different type of work on dry land, but as far as I know those boats are still out there and selling those shrimp which are ending up on American tables.