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FOOD, INC. Time to make thoughtful food choices?
“Health requires healthy food.”
Roger Williams
A new film & book just released is raising the heat, & asking somewhat uncomfortable questions about the food we eat. When Megan Bedard wrote to me asking if I would be interested in promoting healthier food consciousness, I had no doubt in my mind. The foodie is me strives to offer healthy eating options to the family. On a daily basis, it’s about bringing healthy & affordable meals to the table … at times a struggle.
The book, Food Inc.: A Participant Guide: How Industrial Food is Making Us Sicker, Fatter, and Poorer-And What You Can Do About It, attempts to unravel the obstacles faced by families trying to eat healthy at an affordable price. Though the book & film are centred around huge food corporates in the US, the malaise is already creeping into our system here in India too. Globalisation brings with it highs & lows, we are certainly looking both in the face!
Food, Inc. is guaranteed to shake up our perceptions of what we eat. This powerful documentary deconstructing the corporate food industry in America was hailed by Entertainment Weekly as “more than a terrific movie—it’s an important movie.” Aided by expert commentators such as Michael Pollan and Eric Schlosser, the film poses questions such as: Where has my food come from, and who has processed it? What are the giant agribusinesses and what stake do they have in maintaining the status quo of food production and consumption? How can I feed my family healthy foods affordably? 
Expanding on the film’s themes, the book Food, Inc. will answer those questions through a series of challenging essays by leading experts and thinkers. This book will encourage those inspired by the film to learn more about the issues, and act to change the world. The book , written by food experts, is a companion to the new documentary, Food, Inc., which deconstructs the food industry in America. Participant Media is running a campaign to bring awareness to the issues in the movie, from cloning our food supply to E.Coli to the obstacles for families to eat healthy at an affordable price.
Expanding on the film’s themes, the book Food, Inc. will answer those questions through a series of challenging essays by leading experts and thinkers. This book will encourage those inspired by the film to learn more about the issues, and act to change the world. 
The book , written by food experts, is a companion to the new documentary, Food, Inc., which deconstructs the food industry in America. Participant Media is running a campaign to bring awareness to the issues in the movie, from cloning our food supply to E.Coli to the obstacles for families to eat healthy at an affordable price.The book is also available for purchase here. “Food, Inc”, the movie, is a documentary that was created to look deeper into how the FDA and USDA control the food we eat, and the choices we have in our food supply. The film is already gaining national attention in the U.S. for its bold venture into the depths of the enormous corporations that are controlling the food supply.
“Food, Inc”, the movie, is a documentary that was created to look deeper into how the FDA and USDA control the food we eat, and the choices we have in our food supply. The film is already gaining national attention in the U.S. for its bold venture into the depths of the enormous corporations that are controlling the food supply. You can learn more about the movie itself here. Good Morning America discussed it here, and the New York Times wrote about it here. “Into this world comes “Food, Inc.,” a documentary on the state of the nation’s food system that opens in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco on Friday. “Food, Inc.” is part of a new generation of food films that drip with politics, not sauces. It’s eat-your-peas cinema that could make viewers not want to eat anything at all.”
Good Morning America discussed it here, and the New York Times wrote about it here. “Into this world comes “Food, Inc.,” a documentary on the state of the nation’s food system that opens in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco on Friday. “Food, Inc.” is part of a new generation of food films that drip with politics, not sauces. It’s eat-your-peas cinema that could make viewers not want to eat anything at all.” The film was released in theaters June 12. You can see a trailer here. 
To end, an interesting excerpt from Gina Telaroli who reports on Take Part … To whet your appetite ABC has put up an excerpt from the book, specifically an interview with Eric Schlosser. The below section really highlights why the film is necessary (and illustrates how the food problem goes beyond just what we eat):
“One of the more remarkable moments of my research occurred while I was visiting a home in the Midwest where a group of impoverished meatpacking workers lived. They were all illegal immigrants. And while I was talking with them, I learned that some of them had worked at a strawberry farm I’d visited for the Atlantic Monthly piece. That’s when I realized that this was a really important story, one that deserved a lot more of my time and attention. California has been exploiting migrant workers from Mexico for a hundred years. But that form of exploitation had, until recently, been limited to California and a handful of Southwestern states. Now it seemed to be spreading throughout the United States. Finding that illegal immigrants were being exploited in the heartland of America, in a little town that on the surface looked straight out of a Normal Rockwell postcard–well, to me, this was something new, a disturbing and important new trend.”
“One of the more remarkable moments of my research occurred while I was visiting a home in the Midwest where a group of impoverished meatpacking workers lived. They were all illegal immigrants. And while I was talking with them, I learned that some of them had worked at a strawberry farm I’d visited for the Atlantic Monthly piece. That’s when I realized that this was a really important story, one that deserved a lot more of my time and attention. California has been exploiting migrant workers from Mexico for a hundred years. But that form of exploitation had, until recently, been limited to California and a handful of Southwestern states. Now it seemed to be spreading throughout the United States. Finding that illegal immigrants were being exploited in the heartland of America, in a little town that on the surface looked straight out of a Normal Rockwell postcard–well, to me, this was something new, a disturbing and important new trend.”
Deeba @ PAB
About me: I am a freelance food writer, recipe developer and photographer. Food is my passion - baking, cooking, developing recipes, making recipes healthier, using fresh seasonal produce and local products, keeping a check on my carbon footprint and being a responsible foodie! I enjoy food styling, food photography, recipe development and product reviews. I express this through my food photographs which I style and the recipes I blog. My strength lies in 'Doing Food From Scratch'; it must taste as good as it looks, and be healthy too. Baking in India, often my biggest challenge is the non-availability of baking ingredients, and this has now become a platform to get creative on. I enjoy cooking immensely as well.
25 Comments
Maria
Great post. I really want to see this film!
Dragon
Your posts are always so insightful. Thank you for the information. Can't wait to see the movie.
Hanaâ
Interesting topic. A book by Mark Bittman published last year called "Food Matters" brought this to my attention. It makes you think twice about the food you eat… Thanks for spreading the word, Deeba.
Jamie
Very interesting! Husband worked in the professional press for veterinarians and the agro-business and has been discussing all of this for years. I also just read "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" and it really opened my eyes! I have been rethinking what we eat seriously, but it is often difficult to change habits or find good things to eat or cook with. But this book is on my must-read list now! Thanks!
lisa (dandysugar)
This is totally up my alley. It's on my list to read, and I'll bet the film will be great.
I'm always looking for ways to prepare healthy meals with good quality fresh ingredients on a budget.
Thanks for putting together such a great informative post!
Dhanggit
oh what an excellent write up Deeba!! and your photos are always are magnificent. sometimes time is my greatest enemy in preparing and eating healthy food. i'll try to be more keen about this. kisses
lisaiscooking
I'm so glad to see the film and book mentioned as often as possible! I saw the film and Kenner and Schlosser were present for a Q&A. It seems the most important thing is to get more and more people talking about the subject. It's sad to know our messed up system in the US is affecting the rest of the world too.
Helene
I have to see that movie. Love your post & great pictures. Have a great day!
♥Rosie♥
Excellent post Deeba and your photos are always so beautiful.
Pavithra
Hello deebha.. all these days i was silent visitor to ur blog.. no words to say abt ur blog… everyone will be impressed seeing urs at first time.. excellent photos,dishes and so so professional. Love this post and really interesting.. Really wanted to see the film..
Gera @ SweetsFoods
Deeba an insightful post with gorgeous photos as always!
I really need to see this movie when I can.
"Health requires healthy food” and exercise too 🙂
Cheers!
Gera
Miakoda
Very interesting, Deeba. Thanks for talking about this here.
Purnima
Lovely post, quite interesting matter! Deeba, just to bring to your notice, I tried to access thru R.H.S bar, old archives, it directs me to a blogger page, n comes the msg that this does not exist! Pls chk. Pls click on a link posted on blog, not dot com, some of them seem to hv lost path..kindly rectify.
Deeba @Passionate About Baking
Thanks Purnima. I think there were some links that got corrupted for some tech reason. Have fixed them now.
RecipeGirl
Great write-up. I'm interested in seeing this documentary for sure!
Sophie
Indeed, this very well written ,my friend!
Great pictures too!
Linda
Deeba, How interesting. I want to see this documentary. Thank you for sharing the information.
Kalai
I just heard about this film. Looks to be a very interesting and eye opening one. Thanks for sharing, Deeba!
Usha
I have heard about this movie, it is a definite must watch !
Reeni♥
How interesting! I'd love to see the movie.
Arwen from Hoglet K
It's great to have these important issues made accessible in a film. I heard Michael Pollan speak at the Sydney Writer's Festival last year, and I've only just got around to reading one of his books. Thinking about where our food comes from is so important, and trying to be healthy and responsible isn't easy. I love the way you've combined photos of home cooked food with your review – very inspiring.
Kerstin
Great post, I can't wait to see this movie!
Bellini Valli
Thanks for bringing this to our attention Deeba:D
stephchows
Great post! I've been meaning to make time to go see it, yet at the same time I'm scared of all the stuff it's going to teach me!
nora@ffr
cant wait to se this documentary!! love the post!
cheers!!