Entry #5 Food Inc.

In class we watched a motivating, yet disturbing documentary, Food Inc., in opposition of industrialized farming. 

Every time I eat fast-food, I think about all of the chemicals and additives that may be in my food; as a result, I am always hesitant about eating it. It wasn't until I watched Food Inc. that I started questioning what's in the food that I am purchasing at the grocery store to prepare for my family and self.

I never considered that almost all of the packaged foods that I buy contain corn. I'm sure most people don't realize this because these products do not contain corn in its pure form. According to Food Inc., corn is actually being processed and mechanically engineered to create High-Fructose Corn Syrup; which is a sweeter that is found in most flavored drinks and processed foods.

Another interesting and definitely disturbing fact that I learned from watching Food Inc. (and doing a little more research), is that 99% of the farmed meat in America are raised in "factory farms". Now, these aren't anything like traditional farms that we instantly picture in our heads when we think of farmed animals. They are small areas of land containing big metal "barns" with very large amounts of only one species of animal, such as: pigs, cows, or chickens. The windowless barns have so many animals that is hard, and sometimes impossible, for the animals to even turn around. Alongside these cramped barns, there are silos containing feed made of grain and corn. (which cows, chickens, and pigs aren't naturally designed to consume).There are even drains for animal waste and sewage that lead directly into lakes.

Throughout my experience of watching Food Inc, I had many different emotions about the information that I was receiving. I was upset that these animals were being treated so poorly; I was disappointed in my government and the American food system for not giving me this information; and I felt ignorant for not knowing or trying to understand where my food was actually coming from. Until this movie I never considered how much food contained Genetically Modified Organisms, how much pesticides were being sprayed over my produce, or how many growth hormones and antibiotics were being pumped into the meat I am eating. Food Inc. really shined a light of knowledge on the dark ways of the food industry. This movie definitely made me want to do a lot more research on this subject along with changing my own eating habits.