On Monday night the Pepperdine Green Team hosted a screening of the Oscar-nominated documentary “Food Inc.” in Elkins Auditorium to raise awareness about how the food we eat is grown and processed. One student freshman Casey Edwards anticipated a film that would “open our eyes to how messed up our mainstream food industry is.” Striking a balance between being realistic and motivating “Food Inc.” is out to remove the veil of ignorance surrounding our food choices.
One primary goal of the documentary is to highlight the fact that only a handful of powerful companies control a vast majority of food production in the United States. The film traces the stories of various farmers who were both successful and unsuccessful in their fights against the abuses and shortcomings of industry titans. Through the eye-opening testimonials the true agendas of everyday brands such as Tyson are placed under heavy scrutiny.
In addition to revealing the realities of the food industry and the dynamic between small farmers and big agribusiness tycoons more sustainable means of food production are stressed. While at first glance one might view “Food Inc.” as promoting a different lifestyle of eating this misconception couldn’t be farther from the truth. Instead the film simply wants Americans to think twice about what we eat where our food comes from and how it is processed.
From a critique of the invasion of corn in the American supermarket to a heart-wrenching story about a mother who lost her young son to E. coli “Food Inc.” raises some serious questions about our food choices. However while the problem might seem overwhelming the solution is much simpler than one might imagine.
By buying organic buying local and buying free-range antibiotic-free meat and poultry individuals can make a major difference in how grocery stores choose to stock their shelves. Likewise by avoiding food that is cloned genetically engineered or grown using pesticides consumers have incredible potential to change how America views its food culture.
