In the past couple of years we have been trying to eat healthier. We’ve cut back out eating out, have been purchasing less prepackaged foods, and last year took a stab at gardening. Since moving to Austin, we’ve found more affordable options available in the way of organic food. (What organic food we could find in West Texas tended to be almost prohibitively expensive.)
This evening, we watched an eye-opening documentary called Food, Inc. which looks at the monopolistic practices of major food producers. After watching this, the thought of eating a hamburger and French fries makes me feel a bit ill. But then, Super Size Me had a similar effect, but Food, Inc. was much more powerful. The film took a decidedly less overtly political stance than Super Size; instead plays out like a great work of investigative journalism. In many ways it seems like an update to the Jungle Upton Sinclair’s expose of the meat packing industry. And in many ways, the film illustrates that in many ways, the industry hasn’t changed–or has, rather reverted back to the ways in which it once operated.
The film also looks at the somewhat mafia-like business practices of agricultural biotech firm Monsanto, as well as some of the strange laws that have been put in place to protect these businesses (and highlights the members of the DC elite who have strong ties to said businesses.)
So yeah… It may be time to start another garden, and possibly start eating a vegetarian diet.
