Food Inc. displays
the truth about how food is produced and what the working conditions are in the
factories. The film could be used as motivation for becoming a vegetarian
because of the abusive scenes of the animals and the workers. Illegal
immigrants are bused to the United States by the companies yet are deported by
police. The immigrants’ job was to produce food in factories that hired them
but will not help them if the police arrest the immigrants. The film addresses the viewer’s emotions with
the sad story about a child who died from E.coli. People can change the industry but an
inexpensive healthy alternative has yet to be discovered. Healthy foods such as
lettuce and broccoli are hard for low-income workers to buy. The Gonzalez
family has to decide whether to pay for the father’s medicine or for healthy
vegetables and fruits for the family.
Economies usually run on a demand and supply system. If
people want a certain type of food then companies will supply that food. This
system earns money and satisfies the consumer. People are going to continue to
eat meat regardless of how it is made. The demand of meat will not decline and
companies have to think of ways to meet this demand. However, companies should
not give up safety for efficiency. A company does not have the time to test
every piece of meat that passes through the factory. Ground beef would be tough
to test for disease and contamination since it is composed of many different
cows. Meat is easier to produce than fruits and vegetables because animals are
easier and faster to raise than plants.
The demand of meat will continue to push the factories to
meet this demand in an inexpensive way. The factory should test the cows as
they arrive at the slaughterhouse. This will consume time and possibly money as
the factories try to find an efficient way to test the animals. Corn is being
used for various foods and must be planted in mass quantities. If corn farmers
could use a few of these acres for other crops then the price of healthy foods
may be reduced. People could increase the demand for vegetables, fruit, and
organic food. The factories will have to adjust to this demand.
