Q: In the film, author Michael Pollan says, "We've skewed our food system to the bad calories, and it's not an accident." What does he mean by this?
I couldn't agree more when Michael Pollan states this in the film. Our food system is made mostly of fatty, unhealthy foods. When watching television, I noticed I see more commercials for McDonald's and Wendy's than I do for vegetables, or even organic food. Americans want bigger portion sizes, tastier meals, and in the cheapest way possible. In a way the food industry is catering to our needs. They are giving us what they think is going to make us happy. It's sad that one trip through McDonald's drive through costs $10 and can feed a family a four, but one trip to the grocery story to buy vegetables and fruits can cost $25 to feed that same family. Our food industry needs "changes at the policy level so that the carrots are a better deal than the chips" (Michael Pollan). Unfortunately, I don't think these changes are going to occur unless people start realizing that they should be eating what they deserve, which is healthier and safer foods. In a way the consumers are to blame for our food system; no matter what people still settle for unhealthy foods, regardless of health concerns.
Q: Do you think healthy eating should be a right, a responsibility, or a privilege?
Healthy eating should be a right, and in the American Food Industry we are losing this right, if we haven't already. For example, Barbara Kowalcyk lost her two year old son to contaminated meat. This should be the American Food Industry's main concern; keeping people safe. However, it seems their main concern is how to produce food as fast and as cheap as possible. This is where the food system is skewed. Yes, we want affordable food, but sometimes there needs to be sacrifices; we need healthy, safe food more. I'm not saying that there should be sky high food prices, but there should be a balance. And yes, I know there is healthy food out there (organic), but is there enough? The industry's top priority should be how to get healthy and safe food, while endangering less lives. Factories and plants are not being watched closely enough, and sometimes not being watched at all. How are the animals treated behind closed doors? We should have a right to know where and how our food is being produced. We should know how unhealthy or healthy our food is. It's scary to know there are so many rights protect the food, but there are not enough rights that protect the consumers of this food.
However, eating healthy cannot fully rely on the American Food Industry; after all they are not the ones who are putting food directly in mouths. It is up to each and every person to make sure they eat healthy. They need to have responsibility and control over what they are eating. Everyone should have a right to know what they are eating. Maybe if more people had the right and knew what they were putting in their mouths they would be more responsible when it came to eating. This is almost impossible, but if our country came together and ate only healthy foods instead of supporting hamburgers and french fries then the industry would panic.
Eating healthy should be a right and a responsibility, but it should not be a privilege. Everyone needs to survive in this country. Maybe some families can afford more healthier foods than other families, but regardless there should be healthy food on the market available to all consumers.
Q: What do you think about Oprah being sued for saying she wasn't sure if she wanted to continue eating hamburgers, as described in the film? What do you think about a law that prevents you from saying something negative about a particular food item?
The first amendment in the Bill of Rights talks about freedom of speech. Once again, why are there so many rights that protect food, but hardly any rights that protect it's consumers? Shouldn't people be protected, not the food? If hambugers are endagering people and taking lives, than the rest of this country should know about it. The industry is more worried that they are going to lose business, but they should really be worrying about losing the lives of those who support the success of the business. Oprah was only trying to get the word out into society. The industry saw this as a threat and decided to sue, which they should not have been allowed to do. Consumers don't realize how in the dark they are when it comes to knowing about their food. Take time to watch this documentary and learn about what you are eating.