This film discusses a lot about the food industry and how it has us brainwashed. A few of the fantasies that we live in are that green pasture we think farm animals are on before they are slaughtered, that cheap food is better food, and most importantly the scientific methods that are used to make food survive certain conditions such as pesticide resistant soybeans and antibiotic feed fed to animals.
Run in chapters, this movie goes from how the food industry began its factory system. The chapters are, "Fast food - To all Food," "A Cornucopia of Choices," "Unintended Consequences," "The Dollar Menu," "In the Grass," "Hidden Costs," "From Seed to the Supermarket," and "____."
Beginning from McDonald's in 1954, the factory system to food was born. It was abundant and cheap. According to _____, it was a "mentality of uniformity, conformity, and cheapness." Back then, workers were taught to do just ONE thing continuously for a low wage. Now in the present times, McDonald's is the largest purchaser of beef, potatoes, pork, chicken, tomatoes, lettuce, and apples. The top 4 beef packers control 80% of the market in comparison to the top 5 beef packers who controlled only 25% in the year of _____.
Moving onto the farmers, they are not exactly having a life either. The typical farmer owns 2 chicken houses worth over $500,000 in debt and onmly earns $18,000 not to mention the fix ups if the company asks for it. It is a never ending catch 22.
Another realization is the power of corn and soybeans in the industry in general. The majority of products has either a corn based product or a soybean based product. Most of these products have both. Even our sources of meat contain corn from beef to fish. That being said, cows are meant to eat grass, not corn. Due to the corn diet is why there are plenty of E. Coli outbreaks that are pretty deadly. The E. Coli tends to be acid resistant and antibiotics are not effective. The outbreaks are caused by the mass production and lack of quality. It all gets mixed in and a scary thought to think is that 1 hamburger patty includes the meat of over 1000 cows.
Health is not a concern to the corporate companies. An example in this movie is the Gonzalez family. They spend their days eating off the Dollar Menus at different fast food joints.