What if Food Inc. Takes Home an Oscar?
Marlys Miller
| Tuesday, March 02, 2010
You may not care much about the Academy Awards, but this Sunday (Mar. 7) may be worth a bit of your time; at least pay attention to the “Best Documentary “ category.
Nominated for an Oscar is Food Inc.-- The film that “lifts the veil on our nation’s food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government’s regulatory agencies—USDA and FDA.” That’s a promotional line from the film that appeared in theaters for most of last summer.
While you’re not fooled by Food Inc. carrying the label “documentary”, most of the viewing public takes it more literally. The common logic is-- in order for a film to be set apart as a documentary, it has to be truthful—Food Inc. is a documentary, therefore Food Inc. must be truthful.
Between the theater release and DVDs, millions of people have already seen this movie. Too often they walk away believing American farmers are greedy, reckless with food safety and the environment and are forcing unhealthy products upon the public—and U.S. regulators are supporting all of it.
As an example of Food Inc.’s lingering lifespan, Chipotle restaurants’ Web site highlights the film and links to a trailer. If it takes home an Oscar on Sunday night, the film’s life will only become longer and more vibrant. The award will add credence to its painfully flawed messages.
It also will add to the notoriety to the journalist professor turned food expert, Michael Pollin, who already garners too much credibility for his “expertise” in food production. Pollan is featured heavily in the film and the script mirrors his writings. Walk into most any bookstore today and you will find nearly a dozen books on display, telling the public what is wrong about U.S. agriculture and food production, and what they should and should not be eating. Already a coveted and entertaining speaker and television guest, an Oscar would only polish his star brighter.
The film is filled with mistruths and misrepresentations. “Our nation’s food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, and the safety of workers and our environment.” Organic is the only sure choice, is one of the messages drilled home. Another tells consumers that they are the only hope to drive change, because the regulators and corporations are in control and don’t care.
This is one more in a long list of attacks on conventional agriculture, food production and the hardworking people trying to feed Americans and the world. Whether or not Food Inc. takes home that little gold statue, do your part to get accurate message out regarding U.S. agriculture and food production. The National Corn Growers Association has a factsheet addressing items in the film. A coalition of meat industry groups has a Web site dedicated specifically to the film’s misinformation.
Share these links with teachers, community leaders, journalists, grocers and others. Write about the truth on Facebook and Twitter, drop an informative note to a newspaper or magazine editor where you can reach out to consumers. Because if you don’t continuously work to clarify reality, films like Food Inc. will dictate a new “reality.”
