Food Inc. Argument and Solution

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.