food inc.
Why is Wal-Mart getting into organics?
- Because it is the fastest growing part of the food industry, and they care about what their image and customer needs are.
How many slaughter houses are there today (2006)?
13 slaughter houses.
How much meat does an average American eat per year? Explain how this is possible.
200lbs of meat per person per year. This would not be possible without the feeding of corn to animals.
How many inspections did the FDA conduct in 1972 versus 2006?
50,000 in 1972 → 9,164 in 2006
How many investigators does Monsanto have?
75 investigators.
How did the price of oil affect the price of food?
As the price of oil increases, the price of food increases, due to the need of transportation of goods from farm to consumer
Why is corn produced below the cost of production?
Because you can produce 200 bushels per acre. They are being payed, or subsidised, by the government to overproduce corn.
What does Moe Parr do for farmers?
Cleaning the seeds so they can be used again.
What killed Kevin?
He got E. coli (0157:H7) from hamburgers.
Where does the industrial food system keep leading the author Michael Pollan in his search to discover the source of our food?
It keeps leading him to a cornfield in Iowa.
Why is there so much controversy over labeling food?
It may create fear in consumer minds.
What makes the industrial food system dishonest?
Its not priced, produced, or labeled honestly. We don't know where the meat/produce is coming from.
What law is being proposed to give power to the USDA?
Kevin's Law
Who is the largest purchaser of ground beef in America?
McDonalds was the largest purchaser of ground beef.
What happens if a farmer saves their seeds?
Monsanto sends their investigators out to check them for patent infringement.
How many products does the average modern American supermarket sell?
On average 47,000 products.
How much does one chicken house cost?
One chicken house costs: $280,000 - 300,000.
What does the food industry say causes obesity?
Personal Responsibility and income level.
Name three products that Monsanto makes.
Round-up, DDT, Agent Orange
What three tastes are hardwired to seek out?
Salt, fat, and sugar.
What happened to Oprah when she talked about not eating burgers on her show?
She was sued by the meat industry for disparaging a food product.
How might manure find its way into your ground beef?
Since they stand in manure all day E. coli ends up being spread to the cattle which end up in the meat when they're slaughtered.
What put Mexican corn farmers out of business?
The U.S was able to grow cheaper corn.
Describe the conditions in Carole Morison's chicken houses.
The conditions are: dark all of the time but had open windows, dusty, over-crowded, unsanitary, and feces everywhere.
Who said the USDA could not shut down a plant that continuously fails inspection?
The courts said USDA could not shut down a plant that continuously fails inspection.
When did the fast food industry get its start?
The fast food industry got its start in "the drive in"
Describe the system of grass fed cattle.
The free range cattle is doing everything naturally (fertilizing and maintaing grass) by normal ecological processes because it is eating naturally (Grass).
What types of images are used to sell food?
The imagery of "Agrarian America." Pictures of farmers and green grass, animals, and crops.
Describe chicken growth in the 1950's vs. today.
They are raised and slaughtered in half of the time as before and are twice as big with larger breasts to produce more white meat. (used to grow in 3 months → now 49 days)
Why are snack food calories cheaper than fresh produce?
They can be mass-produced and are heavily subsidized.
In the 1970's how much of the beef packing industry was controlled by the top 5 companies?
They control 25% of the market.
Today, the top 4 control how much of the market?
They control 80-85% of the market.
Describe how chickens are slaughtered and processed on Polyface Farms.
They cut the chickens head off and then wash them and feathers them outside. Processed in open air.
What type of system was applied by the McDonalds brother in their restaurant in order to keep prices low and speed up service?
They fired all of their car-hops and got rid of most of the items on their menu. They brought in the industrial system and applied it to fast service food, conformity, and cheapness.
How much does a typical two chicken house grower earn in a year?
They typically earn $18,000 a year.
How did Monsanto gain so much control?
Through Supreme Court decisions and political connections in Government during Clinton and Bush Administrationst.
Who told Vince that he couldn't show the inside of his chicken houses?
Tyson representatives told Vince he couldn't show the inside of his chicken houses.
How far away do workers have to travel to work in Smithfield's slaughterhouse?
Up to 100 miles.
Who has been buying organic food companies?
Walmart, Pepsi, Colgate, and other conglomerates.
How can we vote for a better food system?
When we purchase goods and services that are locally grown and safer or even grow your own garden.