Polido, Rubyann Robelle L. Feb.

27, 2014
CERP122 U

Reaction Paper on the Film Food, Inc.

Food, Inc. is a documentary showing how the majority of food ranging from chickens,
cows and pigs, to corn and soy, are processed, controlled and distributed by only four
multinational corporations such as Monsanto and Tyson. What is alarming about this is that the
manner by which these corporations process food (e.g. livestock and various products derived
from corn) is tainted, sickly, unsanitary and inhumane. Monopolization of food has put the health
of both consumers and the environment, as well as livelihood of local farmers at stake. Dont be
fooled a chicken breast that first seems sumptuous might be the very chicken among its kind
that is forced to grow fast and stout in a small, unsanitary crowded cage. We see from this how
huge corporations manage to sacrifice the quality of nutrition over production cost and profit.

After seeing this film and upon hypothetically considering myself a consumer in
America, I may never view nutrition the same way ever again. I cannot imagine how the myriad
of products in supermarket shelves are mostly derived from corn, including batteries and Slenda!
Add to that is the fact that corn replaced grass (their natural food) as the primary food for
livestock such as cattle, pigs and cows, and other animals such as farmed tilapia and salmon. In
turn, many of them get ill from improper diet and inhumane treatment. This deprives most
Americans of a broad and healthy diet and consequently making them fatter and undernourished
in the process. Moreover, 73,000 Americans each year experience E. coli poisoning due to
evolution of new virulent strains. Since quality of nutrition is overlooked, and substantial amount
of diet is obtained from salt, fat, and the addictive fructose, many Americans, including children,
are now in the brink of acquiring diabetes. Obviously, this is brought about by the narrow
choices in our diet perpetrated by the few powerful food corporations. Upon watching a family
purchasing burgers from a fast food chain, I cannot help but sympathize with them. They have to
sacrifice buying real food so that they can still provide for the fathers medication. It is a pity that
there is high cost associated with low cost food. The mere act of repetitive consumption of fast-
food meal has become a ticket to instant cardiovascular diseases.

Despite this grim overview of how food is being obliviously monopolized in US and how
this affects the entire population, Joel Salatin, a local-market owner, sheds us some hope. He
proves that there is an sustainable way by which beef, pork, poultry and crops can be raised and
that it exists today. Consumers just have to empowered about their choices in order to support
and expand this ecologically sustainable production.

Although we are not in the exact situation as Americans are, watching this film should
compel us to know where our food comes from and act accordingly. Food production is a
political issue and the only thing we can do to make the tides turn is to extend skepticism
towards the agribusiness and what is more concrete than consuming less of a product
monopolized by a certain corporation.