Refined and Exploring the Food Industry

From the filmmakers of the Academy Award-winning documentary "An Inconvenient Truth," "Food, Inc." lifts the veil on the United States' food industry, exposing how a handful of corporations often prioritize profits over consumer health, the livelihoods of American farmers, worker safety, and the environment. The documentary #reveals surprising and often shocking truths about what we eat, how it is produced, and the transformation of our nation.

"Food, Inc." examines the trade-offs between value, convenience, and the impact on nutrition and the environment. Director Robert Kenner explores the issue from multiple perspectives, interviewing authors, advocates, farmers, and CEOs, including co-producer Eric Schlosser ("Fast Food Nation"), Michael Pollan ("The Omnivore's Dilemma"), Gary Hirschberg (Stonyfield Farms), and Barbara Kowalcyk, who has been lobbying for more rigorous safety standards since the E. coli outbreak that claimed the life of her two-year-old son.

The filmmaker takes the audience into slaughterhouses and factory farms, where chickens grow too quickly to walk properly, cows are fed toxic chemicals, and undocumented immigrants risk their lives and limbs to bring these products to market at an affordable price. While eco-documentaries often preach to the converted, "Food, Inc." presents its findings in an engaging manner, potentially reaching the very viewers who could benefit the most: workers who lack the time or income to research every product and eat non-genetically modified produce daily.

Although the film covers some of the same ground as "Super-Size Me" and "King Corn," "Food, Inc." provides a broader perspective on the problem. While Kenner takes a firm stance on certain politicians and corporations, he is also quick to praise those making efforts to be responsible, including Walmart, which now carries organic products. This shift may be more driven by economics than empathy, but the consumer still benefits, and every small step counts.

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