Food Inc.

After watching “Food Inc.” in class last Thursday, I really got to thinking about whose responsibility it is to inform us about the food we eat. Back in the old, old days every family had their own garden and supply of livestock so there was never much worry about where food came from. Now though, there isn’t enough space in the world for every person to have their own little farms so we have to rely on mass-produced goods.  The problem is that large corporations who cater to our dietary needs end up with almost complete control over the farms actually producing the raw goods. In order to meet certain corporation standards, farms use huge amounts of chemical fertilizers, hormones, pesticides, antibiotics and a slew of additional unnatural additives in which we ingest.

            So whose responsibility is it to tell us about the food we eat? Is it up to us to investigate production details? Should the government mandate practice standards and “warning labels”? Should the media do more to reveal the truth behind our food? Or should it be the farmer’s job to tell us what goes into the food they produce? Personally, I think it should be a combination of all four with a little extra emphasis on ourselves.

            When food is mass-produced as necessary goods for the public, it becomes government responsibility to ensure public safety. This can be done by mandated health and safety standards for the consumers, producers and products themselves and insisting producers make important product information readily available to the public.  The government should also keep a check on large corporations’ use of mass food products and their influence on farms. Producers should provide the public with annual farm reports and labeled product information including chemical and production processing details. Media can better do its part too by not falling victim to major business’ paychecks and promoting real, honest practices and nutrition options.

            The ultimate responsibility however, is in our own hands. We are in charge of our own bodies and health and need to be more responsible for the choices we make. In several ways, the last few generations have come to fit their stereotypes of not assuming personal responsibility and placing fault on everyone but themselves. It is easy to forget that we as consumers ultimately have the purchasing power to make serious societal changes. The purchasing and lifestyle decisions we make will eventually be reflected in the companies we buy from and ultimately what is sold. At first, this may be a difficult switch for many Americans to make because of the “fast food cycle” that keeps the poor buying cheap fast food. However, a wise 13yr old once said,

            “You can pay the hospital or you can pay the farmer”.

The little extra efforts to support honest, healthy lifestyles can and will eventually make all the difference in what is advertised, talked about, produced and available to us. We just have to realize that it is time for us to assume responsibility and make the change.