Food Inc. Parent Guide

If going to the grocery store before seemed like a daunting task, wait until you’ve watched Food Inc. Finding affordable, safe, healthy ingredients during a weekend shopping trip may seem more intimidating than ever.

In his documentary, investigative journalist Robert Kenner takes on the industrialization of food production. Inviting audiences inside meat packing plants and onto poultry and pig producing farms, his cameras capture disturbing images of dead animals and questionable slaughtering practices.

Kenner seems to think that the unsavory tactics are employed because only a handful of companies control the food production process. In order to grow things "faster, fitter, bigger, cheaper" to keep up with the demands of the ever-expanding fast food industry, ethical farming practices are sacrificed. Unfortunately the consequence appears to be increased dangers that affect end of the line consumers. (Among the interviewees is a mother whose son died after he ate an E. coli tainted hamburger. She now lobbies the government for more stringent controls and rapid recalls.)

But the revolutionized approach to food production is about more than slaughterhouses and meat processing practices. The film also addresses the rampant use of corn products as fillers and additives, the growing use of illegal workers and the increasingly dangerous work environments that production line employees are subjected to.

Obesity, diabetes and other long-term health issues caused by poor food choices are also impacting Americans at an alarming rate. According to the film, one in three Americans born after 2000 will contract early onset diabetes and the rate is even higher among minorities where one in two will be affected. In many cases, shoppers with limited resources cannot afford healthier choices, triggering a need for expensive medical treatments that further erode their buying power.

In his attack on the corporate boardrooms that manage the food chain, Kenner questions the sustainability and environmental impact of genetically modified seeds and cloning as well. He further accuses companies of employing intimidation tactics to silence their employees and drive other farmers out of business. (According to the film, some state laws make it illegal to speak out against the food industry.)

After creating a progressively negative picture for consumers, Kenner’s solution seems to be supporting farmers’ markets and organic growers. While those options are touted as the most appealing, many of them may remain beyond the accessibility of average shoppers, either because of cost or availability.

In addition, the director urges patrons to vote with their food buying dollars by purchasing only carefully monitored and ethically produced options. Sadly, because of finances or time constraints, the power to cast that kind of vote isn’t always distributed evenly among the populace either.

About author

Kerry Bennett

Kerry Bennett is interested in media from both a journalist and parent perspective. Along with authoring articles for several family-oriented publications, she has written for Parent Previews for over 15 years. As a parent herself, she believes parents play a powerful role in teaching media literacy in their homes.