FOOD INC.

Food Inc. / Directed by Robert Kenner, Produced by        Robert Kenner and Elise Pearlstein. Dogwoof Films, River Road Entertainment, Distributed by             Magnolia Pictures. Release date(s)               September 7, 2008 (TIFF), June 12, 2009 (United States). 93 minutes. --  Reviewed by Deborah Brunn Nix Merwin.

Several years ago I started hearing about a film called Food Inc. and finally took time to view it last year. I was stunned. Having been in the 'natural food' business for 24+ years, and a professional nutritionist, and a vegetarian on & off most of my adult life, and a passionate animal lover, and an active environmentalist, I was stunned by what this film revealed to me. Actually I was horrified. I spent the next 3 months and over 100 hours researching everything in the film. I studied as many perspectives as possible via books, articles, films, as well as talking directly to food manufacturers, farmers, and other retailers, always hoping to be convinced that the film was exaggerating or simply inaccurate. The fact is that in the 16 months since I first watched Food Inc everyone I have met who has seriously looked into the USA food industry to the extent that I have has come up with the same terrible conclusion. If I buy or eat any food product that comes from a USA restaurant or grocery store that is 'conventionally grown or factory farmed' it means that I am supporting and encouraging the most horrific animal abuse in history; I am contributing to a major ecological disaster; and I am risking my own good health in the process. It also means I am helping to finance the huge profits of a billion $ global corporation like Monsanto so it can destroy small businesses while taking over the pure heritage seed supply of the world.

To continue to buy and eat products from the American conventional food industry goes against everything I believe in, especially what I believe about myself, so last year I made a commitment to consciously choose to buy and eat only organic, non-GMO, pastured-fed, and ethically, sustainably grown food. This means I no longer eat out at non-organic restaurants and I avoid sharing meals with many of my family and friends. I have become a member of a local organic buying club and grow some veggies on my own. Although it has proven very challenging I am in the process of transforming my health food store into a 100% organic place to shop. The word 'natural' means nothing anymore and even the word organic is being mis-used. A product can say organic and create the illusion that it is safe but unfortunately one organic ingredient does not compensate for the 10 other toxic ones. This is an insult to the consumer and it is absolutely unacceptable.

To be honest, as much as I enjoy eating, it has not been that difficult to keep my personal commitment. My desire to stay healthy and live up to my own ethics makes it very clear about my choices. What is actually a struggle for me is knowing that there are many people I care about who are still clueless about what is happening to our food supply. Many have never heard anything that has caught their attention or they may have heard some negative rumbling but have chosen to ignore it (like I did). Others have bought into the myth that organic foods are too expensive for the average person. The same average person who manages to buy their children the latest computer, cable TV, cell phone or ipad, and who can afford soda, junk food, alcohol, cigarettes, or recreational drugs. Doesn't it make more sense that those of us on a limited budget should spend our hard-earned dollars on fresh, healthy food to protect the quality of life for ourselves and our families?

Food Inc. inspired me to open my eyes and look further outside my own box. I only wish I had paid more attention long before now. I have the greatest respect for all of the people who, for decades, have attempted to bring this awareness to the American public and I wish them continued success. "May the Sleepers Awake!"