Food, Inc.

     After watching Food, Inc. I found myself being completely shocked by how much of the food industry deliberately conceals from us. Before watching this documentary I did have some notion that there was a food “industry”, yet I did not realize the extent of how commercialized this industry has become and how processed our food actually is. When I went home after watching the movie, I sat back looking at my dinner plate. I actually hesitated before eating, something that I never do. Even though I’m a foodie and still ate my dinner, I decided that I would make a more conscience effort when it comes to deciding what to eat in the future. My biggest impression in the film came from the untimely death of a young boy. I felt such pity for Kevin. It is unfathomable that a perfectly healthy child was killed by the negligence of our industry. The E-coli virus should not have any place in it.  We should be more diligent when it comes to the safety and cleanliness of our food. His mother has been fighting for years to pass “Kevin’s Law” (a law that would help reduce pathogens in meat and poultry) for years and still faces being consistently ignored.

     What stood out the most for me in this film were the farmers. The local farmers who were being completely dominated by these buying monopolies. Farming was once their pride and joy and now some farmers find themselves shackled by their own profession. They are in debt, being forced to give up their integrity and have no choice but to obey major corporations. One example would be the overproduction of corn. Farmers are producing so much of it that scientists came up with ways to do more with it. In other words scientists have been creating, high fructose corn syrup, xanthan gum and more additives out of corn. The government even pays farmers to overproduce this crop. Over 90% of processed food products have some traces of corn within them. Aside from that this excess corn is being used to feed cows. Cows are supposed to be fed grass, but instead they are being fed cheap corn which is hard to digest. This then can produce the E-Coli virus in a cow’s stomach. The cows are so tightly packed together, that then they all catch the virus. Another problem would be that farmers are forced to grow chickens faster. Chickens usually needed three months to grow, yet are now grown within half the time. They are bigger because of the hormones they are grown with. Their bodies can’t support the weight so these poor chickens live a life of torture. They sit in their own excrement unable to support their weight never seeing the sun. Monopolies such as Tyson and Perdue have forbade farmers from showing this truth. One farmer that showed the inside of a chicken house had her contract terminated. Companies like these have forced farmers to go in such debt, without providing them with any monetary compensation. These farmers have basically sold their soul to the devil.

     I like that this film interviewed such a large spectrum of people. So many perspectives were shown. It was unfortunate that the the perspectives of monopolies could not be shown because they refused to be interviewed. I did not like the graphic nature of this film just because I do not like to see farm animals and people undergo such torture. Even though it was not easy to watch, it was essential in the film. These images reveal the truth and the extent of the food “industry’s ugly secrets”. We can not always sugarcoat life.

      If I were to create a food formula I would make it short and simple. I would say try to eat food that is organic, take advantage of shops such as “Trader Joe’s” (the food is organic and more affordable), eat foods that are less healthy(processed) in moderation, drink plenty of water, and exercise regularly. I would follow this formula because it does not force a person to be perfect. You are trying your best and making a conscience effort to eat better. Even if you can’t always follow a food formula, it is better to try to improve than to be completely oblivious to what you are putting into your body.

McDonaldization vs. Dehumanization

 Eric Schlosser’s essay “What We Eat” addresses the impact of the fast food industry on America. He argues that fast food has expanded so rapidly that it “has helped to transform not only the American diet, but also our landscape, economy, workforce, and popular culture. Fast food and its consequences have become inescapable”(668). In other words we have not realized the magnitude of the fast food industry.

     In order to explain how the fast food industry has affected the economy, workforce, and popular culture, Schlosser uses a mixture of writing techniques. For examples, he uses description to explain the experience of entering a fast food restaurant. “Pull open the glass door, feel the rush of cool air, walk in, get on line, study the backlit color photographs above the counter, place your order, hand over a few dollars, watch teenagers in uniforms pushing various buttons, and moments later take hold of a plastic tray full of food wrapped in colored paper and cardboard.”(668). He evokes pathos to show how buying fast food is almost second nature. It is a routine. We don’t think about what we are buying, how good the quality of the food is, or if small business farmers have been replaced by major corporations. 

       Definition is used when Schlosser elaborated on the term “McDonaldization”. This term meant that as the fast food industry increases it poses a “threat to independent business” and serves as a “homogenizing influence on American life”(669). This sense of “uniformity” makes people rely on fast food. They know that if they go to any franchise they will receive the exact same thing. This means that there is equality, and everyone is treated exactly the same. Comparing and contrasting is used in the essay to show how the fast food industry over time. At first there was more skilled labor in the industry and a varied workforce. There were also less fast food establishments. Now “McDonald’s Corporation has become a powerful symbol of America’s service economy” and “has about thirty thousand restaurants worldwide” (668). The workers are usually teens too. The preparation of food does not require skilled labor, so these chains can pay low wages and hire large amounts of unskilled laborers.

     Process analysis is used to describe on how rapidly the food is prepared and served. “Most fast food is delivered to the restaurant already frozen, canned, dehydrated, or freeze-dried. A fast food kitchen is merely the final stage in a vast and highly complex system of mass production (671).” Schlosser uses this to express how systemic we are becoming. We are not focussing on quality, but rather quantity. The personal touch along with our humanity is being diminished by this industry. Convenience is relied on too much and we do not understand what the value of this food truly is.

     Schlosser’s decision to incorporate all these methods is what makes his argument so strong. He can provide evidence in different ways. These methods help readers better understand a topic, relate to it and analyze it further. The essay flows and is informative because of these methods. If he chose to focus on method his essay may have become dull. Even though I found Schlosser’s essay to be very informative, I would have changed the way he organized it. I feel that he jumps around a bit too much. It would have been more effective if he grouped how the food is prepared with the small farmers portion. He leaves that off until the tail end of the essay. It should have been addressed earlier. I also think he should have explained why fast food is so bad for our health. He mentions that there are harmful substances in this food, but not what they do to us directly.

      I have to say that I do agree with his argument. The fast food industry is definitely taking over. We have to realize its impact on society. It is a shame that so many small business are being trumped by it, and that obesity is spreading. We are brainwashed consumers. I am a foodie and I always trying to find a small restaurant that is not necessarily a chain. Quality means something to me, and I do enjoy that there is effort and creativity put in to what I am eating. For me the fast food industry has destroyed the art of food. This essay helped reinforce my dislike of the fast food industry. I will definitely continue to boycott it and search for restauranteurs that take pride in their work.