Chicken factory farm in Florida
Watching the film, Food Inc, really opened my eyes to how much of the food industry the government controls and regulates. The film exposed large factory farms and feeding plots where about 80% of the meat in the United States comes from. The footage clearly showed huge violations of animal rights and abuse.
So why has nothing been done to sue these giant corporations? A large chunk of the U.S government is composed of individuals who used to hold high ranking offices in these large corporations. These government employees use their power to cover up the disgusting truths about the food industry. They also make situations involving regulation and law suits fall in favor of the industries to increase profit.
How does the government do this? One prime example is the government pays farmers to over produce corn. As a result 30% of the land in the U.S is covered with corn crops. 90% of all products on a grocery store shelf contain corn, and the thousands of products on average come from a handful of industries.
A second prime example is McDonald's. McDonald's is the largest producer of beef, potatoes, apples and tomatoes in the U.S. McDonald's is also responsible for 90% of the countries new jobs. Do you think with our current unemployment crisis President Obama wants to negatively impact the cooperation responsible for the creation of 90% of new jobs? Would the government want to hurt one of the largest purchasers of goods in our current economy? Of course not! If McDonald's purchases its food from these major factory farms the government will not negatively impact the farms out of fear of hurting the biggest cooperation in America.
The grocery store is also a great place to find all the politics surrounding food. Next time you’re in a grocery store look at the price of broccoli verses the price on a bag of chips. It’s clear why the lower class doesn’t eat healthy; they can’t afford it! If you had $20 to feed a family of four would you spend it on vegetables that would fill up 2 people or chips, ice cream and hotdogs that would fill up all four? Most of the processed food contains some type of corn, which the government intentionally creates a surplus of so that is why it is so inexpensive.
Also when you’re walking in the grocery store check out the food advertisements and coupons, 95% of them will be directed at women. Why? Food companies know that it is mostly women that do the shopping, cooking and coupon cutting for families so of course their ads are directed at women. As sexist as it may sound it has worked for food companies for almost a hundred years so why change now?
Between power, politics, class and gender there is more behind your breakfast, lunch and dinner than you may think. People need to be made aware of the truth behind their food to make a revolution in the food industry.
Want to know what the government is hiding? Check out this video. (Note is is one of few videos that were on public viewing because most others had an age restriction due to graphic material):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcDofVsvMgQ
So why has nothing been done to sue these giant corporations? A large chunk of the U.S government is composed of individuals who used to hold high ranking offices in these large corporations. These government employees use their power to cover up the disgusting truths about the food industry. They also make situations involving regulation and law suits fall in favor of the industries to increase profit.
How does the government do this? One prime example is the government pays farmers to over produce corn. As a result 30% of the land in the U.S is covered with corn crops. 90% of all products on a grocery store shelf contain corn, and the thousands of products on average come from a handful of industries.
A second prime example is McDonald's. McDonald's is the largest producer of beef, potatoes, apples and tomatoes in the U.S. McDonald's is also responsible for 90% of the countries new jobs. Do you think with our current unemployment crisis President Obama wants to negatively impact the cooperation responsible for the creation of 90% of new jobs? Would the government want to hurt one of the largest purchasers of goods in our current economy? Of course not! If McDonald's purchases its food from these major factory farms the government will not negatively impact the farms out of fear of hurting the biggest cooperation in America.
The grocery store is also a great place to find all the politics surrounding food. Next time you’re in a grocery store look at the price of broccoli verses the price on a bag of chips. It’s clear why the lower class doesn’t eat healthy; they can’t afford it! If you had $20 to feed a family of four would you spend it on vegetables that would fill up 2 people or chips, ice cream and hotdogs that would fill up all four? Most of the processed food contains some type of corn, which the government intentionally creates a surplus of so that is why it is so inexpensive.
Also when you’re walking in the grocery store check out the food advertisements and coupons, 95% of them will be directed at women. Why? Food companies know that it is mostly women that do the shopping, cooking and coupon cutting for families so of course their ads are directed at women. As sexist as it may sound it has worked for food companies for almost a hundred years so why change now?
Between power, politics, class and gender there is more behind your breakfast, lunch and dinner than you may think. People need to be made aware of the truth behind their food to make a revolution in the food industry.
Want to know what the government is hiding? Check out this video. (Note is is one of few videos that were on public viewing because most others had an age restriction due to graphic material):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcDofVsvMgQ