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“The way we eat has changed more in the last 50 years than in the previous 10,000, but the image that’s used to sell the food … you go into the supermarket and you see pictures of farmers. The picket fence and the silo and the 1930s farmhouse and the green grass. The reality is … it’s not a farm, it’s a factory.”
That is a quote from food journalist Michael Pollan in Food, Inc. (talked about on LAist earlier this week, too), a film that explores and documents the truth being food production in the United States.
The film opens here in Los Angeles, at local eatery Brite Spot in Echo Park, where Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation and a producer of the film, delves right in talking about the image the food industry has created for itself: as the wholesome, family owned business whose only interest is the consumers well-being and health. But, the reality is that of the 47,000 products that can be found in your average supermarket, they are produced by only four mono-national companies.
From that starting point, the film manages to tackle every aspect of a growing “agricultural industrial complex” in this country; Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO), the Farm Bill, corn subsidies, genetically modified seeds and the tyranny with which Monsanto governs our farmers, food safety and increasing presence of food poisons, and all of the political factors that have allowed for corporate interest to supersede consumer protection.
And it seems that there is a direct proportionality to the size of the agri-biz to the size of our waist line; as they grow, so do we. We have created a food system in which it is cheaper and easier to get unhealthy fast food instead of good produce. As a result, nationally, 60% of us are obese or morbidly obese and we spend close to $61B, per year in health care issues surrounding our weight. Additionally, this past April, it was announced by the Department of Public Health that a resident of Los Angeles was more likely to die of heart disease and diabetes, than any other natural cause or accident. Seems pretty counter to the images we have of the sun drenched beach babes that are the supposed norm of our city.
Here are some other relevant facts from the film:
- In 1972, the FDA conducted 50,000 food safety inspections. In 2006, the FDA conducted only 9,164.
- The average chicken farmer invests over $500,000 and makes only $18,000 a year.
- 30% of the land in the U.S. is used for planting corn.
- 70% of processed foods have some genetically modified ingredient.
- 1 in 3 Americans born after 2000 will contract early onset diabetes; Among minorities, the rate will be 1 in 2.
This film is really remarkable in being able to take so much information about this issue, and make it viewable and understandable to the lay-person. Unfortunately, one of the most important information is left to the end; that each and every day, with each and every meal, we are placing a vote about how the food industry will continue. And, if we want the system to change, we have to start with ourselves and change what we put in our body.
However, the trash cans filled with empty containers of popcorn, soda, and candy wrappers is an irony to the challenges ahead.
Food, Inc.
opened Friday
Nuart Theatre
11272 Santa Monica Blvd.
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Can't wait to see this....thanks for the reminder.
Yeah, the underbelly of this nation's corporate food monoliths is pretty hideous.
It's no coincidence that cancer rates and health problems have skyrocketed since the introduction of increasingly toxic and unsustainable chemicals into the food chain.
But sadly, not surprising, since most people only make time for brief microwave monstrosity vittles before settling into DWTS or some other reality TV dredge fascimile. ; [
I just saw the movie yesterday. I couldn't figure out what to eat today. So, -- how do you find a local poultry/beef farmer? I understand voting 3 times a day... but you can't vote for meat since it's all packaged by the main factories right? I don't understand how we're supposed to change if that's all we're being fed. Shop at Whole Foods, i guess? hmm i wonder where they get their meat? Am I allowed to have chickens/hens in my back yard for eggs? Too many questions in my head.
For some good coverage of urban do it your self farming, including keeping your own chickens, check out http://www.homegrownevolution.com . A great LA based blog which has spawned an associated book.
There are some decent options in CA.
for chicken eggs and dairy:
(Venice and santa monica Farmer's Markets)
http://www.farmernet.com/events/cfms
for meat (NorCal based):
http://www.nimanranch.com/index.aspx
As for a los angeles regional store
with a *lot* of locally grown veggies
Santa Monica's Co-oportunity *rocks*
http://www.coopportunity.com/
also, a nifty urban farm in Pasadena:
http://urbanhomestead.org
I have also been told that this is a great place to get meat that is raised and killed in an ethical manner, more in line with what the movie would promote:
http://www.harmonyfarmsonline.com/index.html
The storefront is located in Glendale and I know that the provide the meat sold at Full O' Life market in Burbank.