Food Inc.

Today in school I watched a movie called "Food Inc." which was aired on WTTW a number of years ago regarding the production and safety of food.  It is also a book.  I watched it with my eighth graders, and had an extremely intelligent discussion afterwards about cost of food to producers, what its effect is on consumers, how they interact with food, what they knew prior to the movie and anything they'll talk away from having watched it.

Personally, I find it extremely disturbing.  Having tried to educate myself on food warnings, problems, dangers, I have lightly touched on all these subjects at some point, but never cease to be amazed by the stories that uncover more.  I already abhor sucralose, aspertame, etc, and refuse to knowingly ingest it (of course there are times when I probably do and do not realize it or can't avoid it).  However, I read another book which really struck a chord with me called Skinny Bitch, a book about going vegan.  I absolutely LOVED the book, and did successfully turn vegan for 6 weeks, until my body went through shock and I had to stop because I was having daily debilitating migranes.  Since, I have worked on trying to revamp my system slowly instead of quickly shocking it.  However, it talks to great lengths about different food dangers, the inside look at slaughter houses, and one side of the research of food.  I loved it, and think more people need to be aware about what they're eating and how to better approach food. 

And it's scary to think that so many people are unaward and how much the industries don't want us to know.  Are we becoming big-brother like?  Or are we becoming ingorant bystandards, allowing a few to make decisions for the masses.  If you look at government that follows this path, it's called Socialism, not democracy.  Is that where our food is headed?  Or, if you believe in capitalism, do you believe in social responsibility?  If we can make more money of faster / bigger / cheaper etc, do we have a responsibility to our fellow man to make sure we are producing food that is safe for them to eat?  Do we go back to the 1930s style of agriculture and have less and more expensive food for consumers?  But that food would be safer....so where do you find a happy medium? 

Tough choices.  What did you let pass through your mouth today?