Comments on: Important but Flawed: A Review of Food, Inc.

By: Zack

Zack — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 04:12:21 +0000

Really excellent review. “Variety” and “Hollywood Reporter” couldn’t have said it better. I look at the film as a “humane meat” ad disguised as a “documentary”.

They show the horrors of factory farming to stun the mainstream audience, “See, this is what you are purchasing with your hard-earned dollars: torture and misery.” Then they quickly add, “But don’t feel guilty, just buy organic Polyface type “products” and eat all the meat you want with a clean conscience.” They also scare the viewer with fears of ingesting factory farm toxins. They suggest consuming Polyface type meat is like eating a feast in the Garden of Eden, all natural, all healthy.

No one ever asks the most fundamental question: What gives us the right to exploit (dairy and egg industries) and murder animals just because we can build hellpits like slaughterhouses?

Their premise, that animals are “products” and “resources” is what is really wrong to begin with. Until animals are viewed as individuals with the inherent right to live their own lives without satisfying human desires, exploitation will continue. It’s just like how you can’t have “a little slavery” if you want to talk about real freedom.

Btw, the most useful anti-humane-myth resource I’ve seen is HumaneMyth.org. It was created by the filmmakers who just released “Peaceable Kingdom: the Journey Home”. The Downloads page has free slide shows about Happy Cows Myth and Cage-Free Eggs Myth as well as posters and web banners. etc.

Thanks again for your great review and speaking the truth.

By: Rick

Rick — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:56:21 +0000

I saw the film. It is good to get people thinking about their food and where it comes from. Howeve, like most films of this nature it basically presents only one side of the food dilemma. By 2050 the world’s population will grow by 50% to 9 billion. Food demand will increase 70% or more (people with rising incomes consume more) and the last time I looked they “ain’t making more land”. Pollyanna, er Polyface Farms, isn’t going to feed the world…but technology will. But I suppose the real message is to do away with all farm animals and eat squash and soybeans. I cannot contemplate a world without farm animals – how dreadful! And please don’t argue that you will still maintain pigs, chickens, turkeys, ducks, cows, sheep and steers anyway. They are not pleasure animals and are expensive to feed and maintain!

By: Sue

Sue — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:27:45 +0000

Showing the horrors of factory farming is important. But I agree that ending this film with a “happy farm” will mislead people. Farmed animals are always abused and slaughtered well before their natural lifespan is over. And not mentioning the huge negative impact raising animals for food causes is ignoring the elephant in the living room. Good idea to hand out vegan brochures – I’ll be there to help.

By: Tricia

Tricia — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 03:29:19 +0000

I just saw Food, Inc. and I agree with absolutely everything you just said. As a vegan this was a really frustrating film to watch. The place where I went to see it is showing the film for one more week. I’m going back with the brochures to pass out that you suggested. Thanks!

By: Louche

Louche — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 18:36:04 +0000

This review is much appreciated. However, I am not sure that linking to Vegan Outreach is the most appropriate thing to throw in there. Vegan Outreach supports “humane” measures. There are plenty of other guides out there that you could link to, such as the Boston Vegan Association’s or Gary Francione’s. While you may argue that it is appropriate because the organization has “vegan” in its name, and it has lots of colorful pamphlets to choose from (thanks to its size) and what not, I still warn against this. When I first went vegan, I was the minority who went and researched to no end… initially, it was like being bombarded with messages for “humane meat” and “ethical eggs.” Of course the first thing I did was advocate these things instead of veganism. And do you think any of them even considered going vegan? Nope! Just like Food, Inc., that was harmful. Now that I had advocated these things, they didn’t want to hear a thing about how purchasing them was harmful and jerked back into pure defensiveness.

Now for the majority of people who don’t care as much as I did or weren’t willing to do the research I did? I don’t want them to see “humane” anything endorsed on a website I recommend. They might never get past it. Just a caveat! Vegan Outreach does endorse veganism, above all (unlike PETA), so it’s not nearly as bad (from what I know).

By: ARPhilo

ARPhilo — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:23:11 +0000

I haven’t seen this film yet because I was afraid to for this reason. I could see myself seeing the same horrid footage from farms as I have seen for years and then hear about “happy meat” after that. So, I don’t think I will see it after this. It really is sad how caring people can waste their efforts because they don’t want to give up simple luxuries of suffered flesh.

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:59:12 +0000

Excellent review Glenn. I’ll be sure to pass it on. The movie does not play in Ottawa until mid-August, but we’ll be outside with Vegan Outreach leaflets for sure.

By: dawnofanewera

dawnofanewera — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 19:27:40 +0000

Thanks for the review. I’ve been curious.
Good that it at least causes people to think about where their food comes from – that’s the first step. A lot of people may draw vegetarian/vegan solutions from the film on their own.

By: Glenn

Glenn — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:55:00 +0000

The film does offer some solutions – I just think they aren’t really solutions. Buying local alone won’t get us out of this mess.

By: KCEE

KCEE — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:55:31 +0000

Great review. I have not seen it yet – going tonight. I am disappointed that they didn’t offer suggestions. American people need to be told what to do. What a bummer. This movie could have reallllly made a bigger impact. I am bummed.

Thanks again for your review.