Few of us have given any consideration to where our food comes from or the processes our food endures to reach our tables.  We are for the most part ignorant and disconnected regarding the food we eat. We blindly trust that what foods are in our food stores are safe, and that what we put into our bodies will result in good health. We owe it to ourselves to learn more about this.

One place we can start is viewing the documentary, “Food, Inc.”, which can be obtained through your local library or through several online streaming services, including Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon (these may not be free). This 90-minute film discloses  some startling facts about our food. For example, in recent years there have been increasing incidences of food contaminated with listeria, E. coli and salmonella. When cases of contamination are recorded, the government requires that food has to be recalled, but this process usually only starts after many cases have occurred. There is also growing speculation that the food we eat contributes to various long-term illnesses that people are contracting.

“Food, Inc.” focuses on corporations’ involvement in food safety. According to the filmmakers, a handful of corporations control the food industry and they determine how our food is produced.  The workforce hired in slaughterhouses consists of low income, low paid individuals who apparently do not have the skills needed to do their job effectively, and they are at risk of being subjected to the diseases of the animals. For these corporations, profit is primary, rather than consumer health, the livelihood of farmers, the safety of workers, or our environment.

“Food, Inc.” also has a positive side, touching on the production of healthy food. So much more could be written but space is limited. We all would benefit greatly by taking the time to view this educational film! I’ll wager that there is a lot you do not know about the food you eat.