As for the movie Food, Inc., we recently watched it. It’s eye-opening, even if it is a bit sophistic. It would have been far more effective without all the trite grievances against ‘corporations’ and ‘injustice.’ Frankly, the narration reminded me of this. Viewers were left with the impression that only a union can prevent industrial exploitation of illegal immigrants. They never even mentioned programs like E-Verify as a potential solution because it doesn’t mesh with their politics.

Still, I think everyone should have a better understanding of what goes into processed foods and what they’ll do to your health in large quantities. The film Super Size Me made that point quite nicely, even if it was a little simplistic. Luckily, I think more people are starting to understand that something’s odd when chicken nuggets are shaped like dinosaurs and you can buy turkeys and hams with no bones in them. The entire concept of Whole Foods is that they sell only, wait for it, whole foods and not processed foods. If that’s what the people want, then so be it. Consumer demand will effect change in the suppliers.

Still, just because crops have become commodified and meat is butchered and ground in mass quantities doesn’t mean that we need to start wearing hair shirts, join a commune and dedicate our lives (and eating habits) to Gaia. Our society has more people than it used to, and we need to produce more food to feed them. It’s as simple as that. It’s just more efficient to do the messy stuff on a large scale. You might also be surprised to learn that when it comes to ‘corporate farming,’ it’s usually better for the environment. For a look at the other side of the controversy, read this: The Omnivore’s Delusion: Against the Agri-intellectuals