Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Blog 9 You are what you eat!
After you have watched the film, Food Inc. answer the following four questions on our blog:
1. When deciding what to eat, how much should we consider the workers who pick, process, and transport it?
2. What individual and/or collective actions are you willing to take to improve our food system, and what would be their impact?
3. What are your values/commitments/goals regarding the food you eat on a daily basis? Have you been influenced by anything you have seen in the film?
4. How are the issues you see in Food Inc. related to other global issues you have read about or talked about in this course? Make at least one connection...
Food Inc. connections:
http://www.takepart.com/foodinc
http://www.monsanto.com/food-inc/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.texasgrassfedbeef.com/food_inc_review.htm
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1. When deciding what to eat, we should consider the workers who pick, process and transport it as a high priority. They should be up in the priorities of "how good does it taste and does it look pretty". Every time we choose what we eat we should think of the people that grow the food we eat. We should think how they are persecuted by big corporations and how much they want change like Kevin's Law. Like it was mentioned at the end of the video the consumer still holds a say in what is produced. If the product is not being sold big companies have to find other ways to make the food better. So, when we choose our food we have to choose the healthier organic food. With this we are raising our voices to be heard in the playing field that big companies have created witch is limited to what they want. But, we must unite and choose for ourselves. If farmers who have stood up and have lost almost everything, we who have nothing to loose (simply by choosing organic and healthier products) must also take a stand.
ReplyDelete2 and 3.
I as an individual consumer will start buying more things at local farmers markets. I will choose organic foods at stores. I also want to start buying only foods that are in season and that don't contain as many engineered chemicals. Also, towards the end of the film there was a part that showed milk that has not been tampered with. I would like to check that out at the grocery store next time I go. I really never even look at the label of milk but, I will start looking and seeing the difference of different products. In reality my changing of views of what I eat might not have a huge impact but, if enough people join in this struggles then it will have an impact. If big companies see consumers want more organic foods they will be forced to change the way they make their products. Along with this I will in my mind have the satisfaction of knowing that I am helping the environment along with so many people that are struggling in this battle against cruel companies and assembly lines. My family and I like to almost always make home cooked meals because apart form the fact that it is healthier we believe that sitting down at the table and enjoying a home cooked meal is also a way of making time for family in this fast paced world that gives us no time to take a break. So we rarely eat out. After watching this film and the statistics on how many health problems it causes and not only that but, that we as consumers influence fast food assembly lines by supporting and eating from their restaurants, I will definitely keep trying to stay out of fast food restaurants. Instead I will try to look for restaurants that are locally owned. All the cruelties I saw in the film from the cruel treatment of the animals to they way they have farmers controlled broke my heart. All this controlling and not caring for humanity or for animals is... inhuman. There are no words for the injustices going on in the food business and the justice system. It's all corrupted. There is no justice for small farmers or for anyone that is not a big corporation and since those are few the power rests with only those few. But, we as individuals and as consumers must unite and fight with those who wish to end this unhealthy corrupted system.
4. The issues seen in Food Inc. relate to the issue of McDonaldization. It all combines an undying unbreakable assembly. Even our food whether it be meat or vegetables. It all involves a process that benefits big companies and not the small owners or employers. Like Food Inc. spokes people people against McDonaldization are also having a hard time trying to make a change because the system supports big businesses. Like the website http://www.takepart.com/foodinc, which provides a thirty day challenge to help change, people against McDonaldization provide simple steps to help us leave the routine that has come to dominate our way of eating and our way of living.
1. When deciding what to eat, how much should we consider the workers who pick, process, and transport it?
ReplyDeleteWe should consider the workers who pick, process and transport the food we eat every time we set out to but food at our local stores and every time we go out to eat fast food. I say this because if those workers are working in unsanitary conditions and (for example) can’t wash their hands as much as they should then we are in very real danger of getting sick or dying from those conditions. Also we have to remember that their lives directly affect our lives; if they decide to take action against the companies by contaminating the food or stopping the production of food we are all in trouble of losing our ways of life.
2. What individual and/or collective actions are you willing to take to improve our food system, and what would be their impact?
I am willing to help with this food production crisis by shopping more at local markets. I am also willing to speak with my friends, family, and immediate circle of contacts in order to spread the knowledge about food production around. I believe that with small steps and the progression of knowledge can slowly begin to re-change our plight.
3. What are your values/commitments/goals regarding the food you eat on a daily basis? Have you been influenced by anything you have seen in the film?
I still don’t see a very big way in which I can really have a definite influence over this plight, but I do understand the standpoint better. I knew some of this type of “farming” was going on but I did not understand how it directly affected me before watching this film. I hate to say it but although I am a avid animal rights activists when it comes to dogs, cats, birds, or other domesticated animals that generally have contact with humans. I did not really feel much compassion for animals that I have always seen as just food items. I do feel a little guilty when I see animals in a demeaning or unjust situation but I still have too much of a dependence on them as a food product to really feel much in way of compassion or care for animals that I am going to eat. I do however feel a deep concern for those individuals who are almost forced to deal with these horrid working conditions just to continue producing the meats and food we eat every day.
4. How are the issues you see in Food Inc. related to other global issues you have read about or talked about in this course? Make at least one connection...
I think that the dramatic changes and de-humanization of the production of food shown in FoodInc. directly relate to the same phenomenon shown in the idea of McDonaldization. Where the main objective is cheap, efficient, production with little to no regard for human sacrifice or benefit.
1)With regards to the workers who pick, process, and transport our food, I believe we should feel some sort of obligation as to what kinds of conditions they are working in. Companies recruiting workers in Mexico and then using them almost like slave labor, with little to no regard for their safety or human dignity, need to be reprimanded by our government. Instead these workers come here to provide a service to US companies, who have recruited them, and are then treated like criminals by the INS with no ramifications for the businesses whatsoever! That is pretty outrageous.
ReplyDelete2)I think maybe we as individuals or collectively should start writing our Congressmen to express our desires to have laws, such as Kevin's law, passed which will help safeguard the quality of our food at the production level. It is crazy that people can die of e-coli and other pathogens but the USDA is powerless to shut down facilities even in the face of repeated violations. I think if there was enough of a public outcry things would change. Also, maybe a candidate's stance on food safety should be weighed as part of our criteria when we vote for the people who will represent us.
3)I normally check labels for food I purchase. Usually anything with high fructose or trans-fat does not make it into my basket. I am not a fan of fast-food. Also, about 2 weeks ago ,I asked my brother to build a greenhouse for me in the backyard so we could start growing some of our own vegetables again as we used to grow corn, tomatoes, etc., when we were younger. I do not eat a lot of meat and in the past had thought about trying to find one of those farms where the animals are grass-fed to buy my meat from. After watching this video, I definitely will be finding one soon. One thing I liked was that on these little farms like Polyface, the animals were treated humanely and were enjoying their life until it was time to feed me. In the huge corporate food factories the animals were living in disgusting conditions. I know they are ultimately food, however they are living, breathing, creatures who feel and should not be subjected to any more suffering than is necessary.
4) The issues in Food Inc. are related to McDonaldization with regards to the assembly-line procedures at most production plants and the one-task, repetitive nature of the employees jobs which makes them easily replaceable. I think also, with regards to the recruitment of Mexican Nationals for the meat-packing industry, there is some relation to slave labor as they are paid just enough to subsist, have basically no rights, and keep their job at the mercy and whims of their employers.
1. When deciding what to eat, how much should we consider the workers who pick, process, and transport it?
ReplyDeleteI think we should HIGHLY consider the workers. We should consider and research where our food comes from and what kind of conditions the place has. Even with information, we cannot truly know the conditions that the workers work in unless we go there. Many working conditions are unsanitary and a lot of workers in big corporations are treated unfairly. We should be very picky with the companies we choose to buy our food from based on the way their workers are treated and the conditions they work under.
2. What individual and/or collective actions are you willing to take to improve our food system, and what would be their impact?
I am willing to refuse to buy food from big corporations that have bad conditions and have sketchy things in the food they produce. Most of the time, I try not to eat anything that has ingredients that I can not pronounce in it. Also, I will let my roommates and friends know the risk and the problem with the food industry today.
3. What are your values/commitments/goals regarding the food you eat on a daily basis? Have you been influenced by anything you have seen in the film?
Again, I try not to eat food with ingredients I cannot pronounce in them. This video has justified my stance on not eating fast food because of the riskiness of the food that the restaurants sell and how bad it is for our bodies.
4. How are the issues you see in Food Inc. related to other global issues you have read about or talked about in this course? Make at least one connection...
This problem in the food market is similar to the coffee industry problems that I gave a presentation on with the working conditions.
This also relates to the issue of McDonaldization.
1. When deciding what to eat, how much should we consider the workers who pick, process, and transport it?
ReplyDeleteWe should always consider the workers who pick, process, and transport the food we eat. We should consider the unhealthy conditions they are forced to work under. We should think of them when we are buying food at the supermarket or eating food at home or a restaurant. We should remember that those unhealthy conditions can lead to a disease for them and the consumers.
2. What individual and/or collective actions are you willing to take to improve our food system, and what would be their impact?
I am willing to continue taking individual actions by continuing to buy from farmer markets as much as I can due to a small budget. Also, I am willing to try and make people around me aware of what is going on in the food industry. I believe small steps can take us a long way.
3. What are your values/commitments/goals regarding the food you eat on a daily basis? Have you been influenced by anything you have seen in the film?
My goals are to try and continue eating healthier food. I had never been the type to read the ingredients, but after watching the film I will be looking more closely to what goes in my mouth. I am not a big fan of fast food restaurants and I will continue to try and not eat there.
4. How are the issues you see in Food Inc. related to other global issues you have read about or talked about in this course?
This issue relates to the coffee industry and the Walmart video in that they show the poor and unhealthy conditions in which workers must work. It also ties with the McDonaldization when it talks about the meat industry and how it has become the most dangerous job. We can really start to see how everything really ties together.
1. I believe that we should consider the workers who pick, process, and transport our food when we are deciding what to eat. These workers play a very important role in providing us with food, so they should be considered in our choices. In the movie, they showed workers being arrested for not having proper documentation. I thought that was really sad, as they had been working for a long time without much pay to provide us with the food that we need. You would think that they would receive some consideration for working for us for so long, but it seemed as though they were taken away without many questions. Before we buy any food, we should make sure that the workers who provided it for us were treated the right way. Many workers aren’t paid very much and are forced to work in unsanitary conditions. The people who work so hard to provide us with the food that we can’t live without deserve more consideration than the majority of consumers give them now.
ReplyDelete2. After watching Food Inc., I want to try to improve our food system. Like it was mentioned at the end of the movie, we can all help by buying fruits and vegetables that are in season. I had never thought about the fact that most fruits and vegetables are available year round in the supermarket, even though that does not occur in nature. Buying foods that are in season will encourage more natural foods to be sold in supermarkets. Also, buying organic foods can help the major food companies see that we want our food to be made without pesticides and harsh chemicals. We can talk all we want about food, but what will send the biggest message to food companies is the choices we make in what we buy. Whatever we buy the most of, that is what they will make sure is available to us. If we continue to choose out of season and chemical laden food, then they will continue to produce food that way. If we choose to only buy organic food, it will eventually become more available and affordable to us.
3. Before watching the film, I never really thought too much about the food that I ate. After seeing the movie though, I am starting to put a lot more thought into it. The film really caught my attention about genetically modified food. I’m not sure that I feel okay with eating genetically modified food, but I realize now that I probably have been for years without realizing it. Now my goal is to buy meat that isn’t genetically modified. Also, I am now committed to only buying fruits and vegetables that are in season. The film influenced a lot of my thoughts about food, and made me think about things I’d never considered before.
4. I think that the issues I saw in Food Inc. are related to the problems we have seen in plastic and especially plastic water bottles. We know that plastic is bad for us and the environment, but it is very hard to avoid using it since it is so convenient. I believe that what they are doing to food is harmful to us, or will be harmful to us in the future, but since it makes growing food and getting meat more convenient we will have a hard time stopping it. The chemicals added to fruits and vegetables cannot be good for our health, but since we need more food to feed our growing population, chemicals are the easiest way to provide us with enough food. And while feeding cows’ corn isn’t good for them or us as consumers of their meat, we probably won’t stop doing it as the public is demanding more meat and feeding cows corn is an easy way to provide it. So with both food and plastics, we are currently in a battle of convenience vs. our health, and sadly convenience is winning.
1. We should take into consideration all the workers efforts such as the blood, sweat, and tears these people have put into making our food production. Most of these people are treated like slaves and even the farmers don’t have much say because the corporation controls their actions and if they don’t abide by these rules they could lose their lively hoods that’s why the farmers tend to keep their mouths shut and do what they are told instead of speak out. This was once a profession that had health benefits but all that has seemed to change when the fast food industry pushed for more demand.
ReplyDelete2. I think by choosing the right organic foods even though they are more costly certain ones seem to take care of how they process the food which is healthier/safer than the larger producers and treat their own employees with more respect. Breaking the normal routine and choosing healthier habit will benefit us all in the long run. This change in what we choose to consume as a consumer makes all the difference it may be small steps at once that eventually will lead into great leaps.
3. I have been greatly affected by this video but I knew what has been going on in this industry for a long time now due to friends and family with their own individual farming habits they always said homegrown was the best and I think for the most part they were right. Coming from a small town I used to eat only my friends fresh brown eggs they got from their own chickens and most the meals they cooked came from their own cows they raised with lots of care not like these large industries. Once I get back to living in the small town which I would like to someday do I would prefer to grow my own vegetables and have my own chickens which would allow me to be more self-efficient but also know where my food is coming from.
4. They made a prime example as how the fast food chains have helped to revolutionize the farming industry to keep up with demands which has affected the people who work for these companies. Also the products and animals aren’t really taken into consideration in how they are treated and processed. Mcdonaldization is a key factor in this and the two are very much linked in how they have changed people’s habits and their health but the consumer can make the overall decision on what goes in their own mouths by choosing healthier items.
When deciding what to eat I think we should consider the workers who pick, process and transport it. I think it would help us to better appreciate what we are eating and how blessed we are to have it. However, I’m not sure how realistic that is because I don’t think anyone really does. Eating is essential and part of our normal everyday routine. When we are hungry, food is there and readily available so we don’t give much thought to it. It’s a common place activity so it doesn’t cross our minds where it comes from. We no nothing about those that pick, process or package our foods. Most don’t have a clue where their beef or vegetables come from. We just trust it’s safe, it’s good or they wouldn’t be selling it to us. I think that is why the beef/poultry production/processing companies and others like it have gotten away with all that they have. Many animals are no longer “raised” they are “grown”, genetically altered and stuffed full of who knows what. Yum, I think not! The major producers are only offering cheap, genetically engineered, poorly produced foods because “we” as consumers are willing to buy it. If we opt for “certified organic” and are willing to pay a bit more for healthy food then that is what they will produce. We have purchasing power on our side and if we are willing to speak up and take action, then so will they. I actually have watched this movie numerous times before. The first time I was in shock but you have to watch it again to really process all the information. After watching this movie, as a family, we have made many changes. We purchase all our meat from an independent farmer who raises naturally grazed cattle. We get farm fresh eggs (which we personally know the owner) and if we buy from the store it’s brown, cage free organic eggs. Local farmers markets have the best in produce and we no longer eat fast foods. If we decide to go out for burgers and fries we go somewhere local versus a huge chain. I think everyone should value what they eat - it is so important to live a healthy lifestyle, to stay active and eat clean. So many these days put junk in their bodies because it “tastes better” or is “cheaper” but it actually does more harm than good. Food is fuel, your body like a machine - you should eat food that helps your body run properly. Nowadays, all weight sizes and age groups are affected by the chemicals, hormones and additives in our food. Recent studies show that there is a steady increase in cancer, heart disease, ADHD, autism, obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes, and the list goes on and on. Sadly, we now see these conditions in children. They are the ones we should really be concerned with. If we model poor eating habits and see nothing wrong with fast food, chemically processed food, genetically altered food, etc...then what hope do they have for living a long and healthy life. The good news is it’s never to late to make a change, to become more aware of what you eat, how it’s made, processed, packaged, to become active and most important to become healthy!
ReplyDelete1. When we decide what to eat we should consider the workers who pick, process, and transport the food heavily. It is important to be sure that the workers are using sanitary processes when they handle food products. Food products should be processed in a safe way that does not harm the product or the workers over seeing the food products. The way the products are transported should be taken into careful consideration as well because food products may not be stored properly and can potentially harm people.
ReplyDelete2. I think I would eat less fast food to limit my exposure to the “industry meat” because it can be potentially harmful. If more people stopped eating fast food then maybe less people would get sick.
3. Less fast food and more home cooked meals. Even though it may take more time home cooked meals should be safer than the ingredients used in fast food. Fast food restaurants operate more like a production plant because it is all about quantity instead of quality.
4. The issues in the Food Inc video remind me of the issues seen in the Wal-Mart video where someone was being taken advantage of. In Food Inc. the farmers who produced chickens were taken advantage of because they were never able to get out of debt. In the Wal-Mart video the employees in the stores were being over worked while they were off the clock and they lost some of their benefits.
1. When deciding what to eat, how much should we consider the workers who pick, process, and transport it?
ReplyDeleteIt something that most of us don’t really think about. I know that I haven’t really taken too much time to consider it myself. I know that the workers who pick and process food work long hours. The work that they do is difficult, laborious and that many times children are working right alongside their parents picking fruits and vegetables. They get paid so little so that we don’t pay as much at the checkout counter. I think that the whole system that is in place has to change, they deserve better pay and benefits for the work that they do because it is extremely important for all of us. If we purchase products from companies that value their workers then I think that is the better choice than simply going for who gives you the lower price on an item.
2. What individual and/or collective actions are you willing to take to improve our food system, and what would be their impact?
I think that an individual’s actions can have a great impact. Like the video showed, if consumers ask for and demand certain products then stores are going to stock what the customers are willing to pay for. If I only purchase items that I can feel good about, like grass fed beef, hormone free milk and local produce then I am making a difference because I am not spending my money on items that are good for no one but the companies that produce them. By buying locally from farmers markets I am helping small farms stay in business in order to produce goods that are better for me and my family.
3. What are your values/commitments/goals regarding the food you eat on a daily basis? Have you been influenced by anything you have seen in the film?
I’ve actually seen this documentary once before. I think the part that stuck with me the most, and still affected me this time around was hearing the part about the little boy Kevin dying from tainted meat that had E.Coli. Then the movie went on to explain that a reason why the beef is tainted with bacteria is that cows are forced to eat corn which isn’t broken down the same as grass which is what cows should be eating in the first place. The solution to the problem, ammonia cleansed filler for the beef, was just appalling. I made a commitment to not eat corn fed beef or feed it to my children. Yes grass fed beef is much more expensive but it’s a change that I felt that I needed to make.
4. How are the issues you see in Food Inc. related to other global issues you have read about or talked about in this course? Make at least one connection...
Well the issue of immigration came to mind. Meat packing companies employ immigrants and don’t provide them adequate safety or probably even pay or health benefits. In this class I’ve seen that these big companies have been a big reason why immigrants are forced to leave their countries to seek opportunities elsewhere. The companies push them out of their own small businesses, like agriculture, the growing of corn and other produce in their own countries. They can no longer provide for themselves or their families and have no other choice but to leave. A lot of anti-immigrant sentiments are rooted in the idea that they take American jobs but if you really look, America took their jobs, took their livelihoods away in their own country. How can you be angry or resentful when they have no other choice but to look here for any type of work in order to survive?
1.when deciding what to eat, how much should we consider the workers who pick, process, and transport it? Yes, I think when I am eating food sometimes at Fast food and restaurants, sometimes I consider wonder how the workers do it so fast and efficiently. Before I view this film I already have make some dramatically choice changes my eating habits such as no longer eat fast food all time. My concerned about food when deciding what to eat sometime when I go to fast food or restaurants I don’t know what’s the ingredients in it since they don’t tell you on the menu when you order, so I always ask before I order them. For example, I went to grady’s restaurant to order the teriyaki chicken with two side. When the food is ready I notice that there are pineapple and I can’t eat pineapple because I’m allergic it, will get sick and my skin will start itching. When I took the food back to let the employer know if they can remake my food and they will kind rude to me because they feel that I’m wasting their products. As for me I think I have the right to know what is in the food I eat.
ReplyDelete2. What individual and/or collective actions are you willing to take to improve our food system and what would be their impact? Yes, I think revealing many concerns about our food system and it reminds us that we all each have the ability to bring change to the system through our food choice when deciding what to eat. It’s exposing the food supply and how it impacts our life for better and worse. It’s true that fast food is cheap but consumers pay high price for it. I learn in film made sure to include a bit of hope regarding the future of food production and consumer protection by explaining what we can do to change food industries through our choices. The film show why so many people got sick from food poisoning, whether they eaten the spinach, tomatoes, cantaloupes, or meat. I think we should have the right to know what is in the food we eat. It’s sad to see that people die from the food they eat. It really changed the way I see food now and how aware are we about the food we consume every day.
3. What are your values/commitments/goals regarding the food you eat on a daily basis? Have you been influenced by anything you have seen in the film? My thought Food Inc was what an eye opener, it’s changing the way I eats and from where I will get food as much as possible I will buy from local store market. It’s good educates on where our food come from, most certainly will cause me to think about what I purchase at fast food, restaurant, groceries store and making more conscious food decisions.
4. How are the issues you see in Food Inc. related to other global issues you have read about or talked about in this course? Make at least one connection... one issue Food Inc related to class presentation about McDonaldization during the group discussion question such as “How do you think McDonaldization affects your everyday life?”It’s change how I think about food and feel about everything. I encourage everyone should watch this video to gain a better understanding of what we eat and how it affects our bodies and our world. It gives one a different view on how are foods are processed and introduce unsuspecting people about the food issues going on in the U.S and other parts of the world. There are a few things in life that contribute as much to who we are as what we eat and there are few ways that we can make as great an environmental impact as in our food purchasing decisions.
1. When deciding what to eat, how much should we consider the workers who pick, process, and transport it? I think that it is greatly important to think about the people who pick,process, and transport the food because all this food that we see is being distributed all over the world. Not once have i really thought about where this food that I'm about to eat came from, and i trusted the condition of the food to be healthy. After seeing the video it opened up my eyes and to hear that even if the animal was sick that it was still taken to the factory to be processed made me mad. so its greatly important to realize these three things because it makes us aware how the workers are trapped, the condition of the animals that we eat are gross and unhealthy, and how in the end it is ending up in our mouths.
ReplyDelete2. What individual and/or collective actions are you willing to take to improve our food system, and what would be their impact? I am willing to go to farmer markets , even though it may be a bit more expensive at least i know what well be going into my mouth because since it is not a corporation the farmers well be more likely to answer questions. This well be more healthy to me as in individual and one less customer to the big corporations.
3. What are your values/commitments/goals regarding the food you eat on a daily basis? Have you been influenced by anything you have seen in the film? I am going to be aware of what i eat now and look far beyond" their being a juicy burger on the table " , but yet really think okay where did this come from and maybe what did they do to alter it in anyway.
4. How are the issues you see in Food Inc. related to other global issues you have read about or talked about in this course? Make at least one connection... so This to me kinda connects with the Wal-Mart video we saw how big corporations are controlling everything including politics and its the same thing here like how in the video it mentioned how the farmers were stuck in debt because it cost maybe 300,000 to start up and then if they did not meet the demands of the company their contract would be terminated . It just shows how these big corporations are getting their way and people are suffering for it with bad working conditions , low pay , etc
1. When deciding what to eat, how much should we consider the workers who pick, process, and transport it? We should consider it every time we go purchase food, especially the people who pick it and grow it because that is how you know where you getting your food from and you can also consider.
ReplyDelete2. What individual and/or collective actions are you willing to take to improve our food system and what would be their impact? The consumers as in us we have to improve our food system and our food choices because we have let these big factories run our way of eating and controlled the food we choose because we want something cheap and easy it is harming us as well but we don’t see that in result.
3. What are your values/commitments/goals regarding the food you eat on a daily basis? Have you been influenced by anything you have seen in the film?
I learned a lot from this film especially now after seeing this video it has really affected me because I believe that even though we see good things in the market is never good for us. I believe that I should change my choices to organic foods and most likely always stick to the food markets because that’s always a good commitment to stick with.
4. How are the issues you see in Food Inc. related to other global issues you have read about or talked about in this course? Make at least one connection
Is really related because is in our everyday life and we have let once again a factory run our choices and our way of eating. It related because we should make a difference in our everyday life because off all the negatives we don’t see happening every day. Is just how McDonalds and Wal-Mart are all big factories in which it has taken charge of our way of eating and how we go for the easy way and never think of the consequences we are making.
In response to Ashleyt yes all the people who pick, process it are very important not just one person but everyone that is involve I also believe matters to us when we are deciding what to eat.
Wow, these responses are thoughtful and reflect some great synthesis between the issues of food and other issues we have studied this semester. Thank you for sharing your perspectives and keep up the wonderful thinking.
ReplyDelete1.I think that since food is important and necessary for all humans we as a whole should really think about all the workers who pick, produce, process, and even transport food. At times I think we are all a little selfish and at times I don’t think we realize what workers go through in order for us to have our foods and I honestly think at times we do not really care.
ReplyDelete2.I am willing to think about what foods I am eating and where I am getting my foods. I have always wanted to go to a farmers market and with the video I am thinking of visiting one soon. I think that as a whole if we all made these sorts of changes we could really impact and help the workers and the conditions and ways they are treated and live.
3.I honestly do not really think about the foods I am eating before I eat them. Usually whatever is at H-E-B I tend to just stick with the regular produce and meats that they provide. This film has really impacted the way in which I will purchase my food. I will also think about where it comes from and who is producing it.
4.I think that the Food Inc. film goes along with the horrible conditions that people in the coffee producing world deal with. Although their conditions may not be as extreme I feel that coffee producers and producers of foods are not really appreciated. I think that both industries deserve a lot more attention and much more appreciation than that of what they receive.
1. After watching the film, I feel we should take everything into consideration such as the process and picking of our foods. I did realize how awful the food I ate was being processed. I believe we are all surprised of how this film affected what we choose to eat.
ReplyDelete2. I would be willing to improve only buying products from producers whom are paying their workers for the hard labor they are producing. I would only buy from those producers that are providing good and safe working conditions for their workers and the products. I believe if this is something we all do, those companies who aren’t paying their workers fairly will eventually have to shut down since consumers are not buying their products.
3. After watching the film I will definitely more committed to buying specific products. One specific example is the fruits being sold. Such as strawberries being available all year round when they are seasonal.
4. Food Inc. described how unsanitary the working conditions were for processing the meat we eat. The film explained the diseases associated with the process. This made me think about the unsanitary working conditions for those who recycle our plastics especially recycling products that consist of lead. Many of the workers do not have the proper equipment or attire fit for the process.
1. When deciding what to eat, how much should we consider the workers who pick, process, and transport it?
ReplyDeleteWhen deciding on what to eat we should consider the people who pick, process, and transport these foods a lot. More than we do at least. But none of the people who work so diligently on these foods goes through our heads when deciding on what to eat or what we're going to cook later at night. I'm pretty sure this is no easy job and we should take into consideration all that these workers have to go through.
2. What individual and/or collective actions are you willing to take to improve our food system, and what would be their impact?
As consumers I think we just need to be more aware of what we're eating and where it's coming from. For instance, instead of eating a lot of fast food we could go to farmers markets or grow our own fruits and vegetables. Since almost everything in stores is being injected with harmful chemicals it's doing more harm than helping us. With that being said we could potentially better our health and become healthy individuals.
3. What are your values/commitments/goals regarding the food you eat on a daily basis? Have you been influenced by anything you have seen in the film?
After watching this film I have a better outlook on what I eat and where it comes from. I think I can take a little more time out of my day to eat healthier and really consider where my food is coming from. If I want to be a healthier person than I have to be willing to pay the extra money it might cost to have the proper foods I need.
4. How are the issues you see in Food Inc. related to other global issues you have read about or talked about in this course? Make at least one connection...
Issues in the Food Inc. film can be directly related to many topics we've covered in class. The one I thought about was similar to the same issues in the Wal-Mart video. We've allowed a big corporation such as this to control what we eat and how we spend our money without even realizing it. Like the people who worked at Wal-Mart they hardly got any benefits but most of us probably spend most of our time and money in there. Just like we do in fast food restaurants. What we think is good, at the time, is actually hurting us but we're not willing to change all because it's cheap and convenient. If we're willing to change I think these corporations would notice it and be willing to change some of their ways, products, etc.
1. When deciding what to eat, we should strongly consider workers that pick, process and transport it. The condition of the food should be at its best, fresh as well as sanitary. The transportation has a lot to do with this as well. Anyone who touches the food we put into our mouths before we intake it should take into consideration that other people are going to eat that food so it should be taken seriously.
ReplyDelete2. Well now that I know how badly large companies abuse the proper process food is supposed to be taken into. I think its smart to avoid that. Buying from local farmers is always a safe way to go as well. Just being more alert about exactly what we eat is an improvement in our own lives.
3. I would say that I am now going to reduce the amounts of fast foods I eat. Although I always knew that fast food restaurants were extremely unhealthy to begin with, I never really thought about things like I do now. Ill defiantly start staying away from that. I’ve also learned that buying fruits and vegetables that are in season is less risky. Its good to know that you’re eating something more natural versus something that’s been chemically processed differently.
4. I think that the Food Inc. video brings back the issues with McDonalds that we discussed. It’s very convenient to stop by a fast food restaurant after a long day at work or school and pick up something quick. It makes our lives easier although it’s not the best thing for us to be in taking. We are the ones that decide what we eat and making an individual change can make each of us healthier.
In response to David B:
You bring up a good point in your answer to question 4. Workers are being taken advantage of. The farmers are taking risks and know that they have to do things unnatural for the large corporations that buy from them. They have no choice but to do it for the sake of their families just like the workers at Wal-Mart who are desperately being taken advantage of.
1. It is very important to consider the workers who are picking, processing, and transporting our food. First off after watching this film you learn how these workers are mistreated and what insanitary places they work in as well as where our food is processed. Animals aren’t raised the way they used to be they are basically engineered to grow faster and fatter and without a care of all of the health risks they are imposing on us. People are made to work as if they are in assembly lines and our food is processed in these factories. Most farmers for example are giving their cows corn instead of grass which can cause e coli to produce in the cows.
ReplyDelete2. It definitely makes me consider shopping at a farmer’s market where things aren’t tampered with as much as all of these things we buy at a regular super market. Also buying organic foods and just pay more attention to the things we are buying and eating.
3. Well like I said before this movie was very eye opening and it’s making me reconsider what exactly I’m eating and what I’m buying from the grocery store. I want to find a farmer’s market and go see what they have to offer and hopefully buy more things from their and buy more organic foods. After seeing what happened to that little boy Kevin and how these companies do nothing about it in order to ensure it doesn’t happen again, that’s very scary to know we are living in a world where people care more about the billions their companies are making then the health of the people. Another thing that impacted me was the family with the diabetes father, it’s sad to hear how a dollar burger is way cheaper than vegetables at your grocery store and most people of course are willing to spend on a fast food dollar burger than they are on healthy foods.
4. Like everyone else has said the Mcdonalizaton presentation that was presented to us has a connection to the film and also the Wal Mart video we saw on how they take advantage of workers and most people care more about their billion dollar companies than they do about their employees.
1. All of the factors that lead up to a product landing on our kitchen table is important and should be considered. I think it is most important to consider the workers and process, since the workers are those who are directly affected by the consumption, usually in a negative way. Transportation is also extremely important to consider since pollution is already a problem that’s out of control.
ReplyDelete2. Personally, the one action that I consider myself capable of doing at this point in my life is buying organic food more often. And of course there is always bringing awareness to others about how their consumption affects the food industry and all of those involved. With more people aware, it may spur some type of movement that will create a food industry based on justice and not on convenience and a low price.
3. The things that I value in my food most are taste and cost. Like a lot of college students, I am on a very fixed budget, so I have to make sure I can afford to eat the food I am eating. I do splurge a tiny bit on certain items and buy organic, such as fruits and vegetables, because of the obvious taste difference. But I have never really considered the other impacts that it has on the food industry. I have definitely had my eyes open on one subject, since I major part of my diet is based on Tyson products, making me have to look for a replacement next time I go shopping.
4. Exploitation of workers is an issue seen in Food Inc and other global issues. Like the owners of the chicken ranches who are constantly in debt and locked into working for the big companies, this is like many different people who work for Wal-Mart and just in other poorer countries, who are in debt and ,constantly working, but not able to get out of the hole.
1. I think we should always consider the workers when it comes to pick, process, and transport the food. None of know where the food comes from, and we do not know whether it is safe or not. The workers do so much for us, that they deserve at least something. There are lots of germs out there especially during the transportation of the food.
ReplyDelete2. I think we should limit the amount of "industry meat" we eat because it is definitely not healthy for us. There are so many chemicals and gross things in it that it just makes me disgusted. Fresh fruits and vegetables are definitely the way to go these days.
3. I am definitely going to watch what I eat now thanks to this video. Yes a good hamburger is always enjoyable, but at the same time it is definitely not worth all the bad things that are being put into your body.
4. This video makes me think of the McDonalds presentation because it is almost the same thing. People keep eating all of these bad foods because they just like the taste. They don't realize all the damage they are doing to their bodies just by eating that one hamburger. People need to start realizing that fast food is terrible for us, and we need to start making more healthy food choices.
1. When deciding what to eat, how much should we consider the workers who pick, process, and transport it?
ReplyDeleteWhen deciding what to eat, I know it SHOULD be a priority to consider the workers who pick, process, and transport it because they definitely are taken advantage of and by not paying attention we are promoting this. But the fact is we don't. For me, it all has to do with time and money. First off, time is valuable because there's not much of it. With 40 hours of work and 15 hours of school, homework, sleep, and personal errands... I am left with little time to actually cook a meal or even eat it. My meals are often on-the-go, which means that the food I digest is some of the worst. It's all processed and probably has no real food in it after all the chemicals and everything that goes into it. But secondly, even if I did have time to eat a full, well cooked meal, I would need the money to purchase the ingredients. The fact is, healthy food is more expensive and it all has to do with the the workers, the way it's processed, and transported. The faster it is grown and transported, the cheaper it will be for me to buy. But the more time and effort goes into the food means there's a lesser quantity being produced, and etc. meaning higher prices.
2. What individual and/or collective actions are you willing to take to improve our food system, and what would be their impact?
I will try to make my meals in advance for the week so that I can try to set aside meals that will be both healthier for me and better for those that go through the trouble of producing all of the food. If people started to turn away from the processed food and turn back to organic foods, the profit for those farmers will start to increase and the cycle will start to go back to benefit everyone.
3. What are your values/commitments/goals regarding the food you eat on a daily basis? Have you been influenced by anything you have seen in the film?
My goal for the food I eat on a daily basis is to have more variety and color in what I eat. Going organic would be nice. Films like this one always bother me because WE DIGEST THIS FOOD! It's going into our bodies and it's not safe!!
4. How are the issues you see in Food Inc. related to other global issues you have read about or talked about in this course? Make at least one connection...
I think what stood out to me that we've read and talked about is the unfairness to the workers. Farmers being pretty much cannot farm anymore because processed food took over. And the meat packers are also being treated unfairly by being overworked and underpaid.
1.When deciding what to eat, how much should we consider the workers who pick, process, and transport it?
ReplyDeleteWe should always consider the work that is behind the piece of fruit and such. But in all honestly we don’t and that all goes back to being so naive until we see such a film that makes us realize what is going on around the word.
2. What individual and/or collective actions are you willing to take to improve our food system, and what would be their impact?
I really don’t know what we could do to improve. I mean we can protest all we want but companies and restaurant chains are still going to do what they want to do. But we can be a little smarter when it comes to things. If more people buy organic food or from local markets and such, maybe companies can see this change and want to make a change.
3. What are your values/commitments/goals regarding the food you eat on a daily basis? Have you been influenced by anything you have seen in the film?
Yes most certainly, I will definitely think twice about the fruit and food I buy. The film influenced me to be smarter when it came to things like that. I tried not to pay attention to the factories or animals that where getting killed just simply because if I saw it I would get grossed out and not want to eat anymore.
4. How are the issues you see in Food Inc. related to other global issues you have read about or talked about in this course? Make at least one connection...
I believe it goes back to the whole rights, and that we need to be more open minded about where we are receiving our goods from and who exactly is behind it. Are they in harsh environments are they getting paid what they would? All this should come to mind.
1.I think it is important to consider the workers who, pick, process, and transport our food, when deciding what to eat. I believe that it is always good to be informed and be aware of where the products we buy and use are coming from, and how they are produced. It is terrible the ways that many of these workers are treated, and I think everyone should be more aware of the conditions these people face, so we can think about that before deciding which products to buy.
ReplyDelete2.I would be willing to try and purchase more food from farmer’s markets where I know where the food is coming from. Also buying organic foods is something else I could do because if more people bought organic foods, companies would see this and start changing the way they make foods.
3.Before watching the film I did not pay much attention to what was in my food or where it came from. After watching this film, I will defiantly be more aware of where the food comes from, and I will try to eat healthier and buy more organic foods. I also will try to only buy fruits and vegetables that are in season because the film talked about all the stuff that goes into the fruits and vegetables that are produced out of season.
4.This video related to McDonaldization and the Wal-Mart video we watched because the workers were being taken advantage of and treated unfairly. In both industries the workers face unhealthy conditions and are worked very hard for very little pay. They are also connected because this is happening in both industries so that we can get the goods we use for cheaper prices.
1.After viewing the video and reading about globalization all over the world and how it is associated with almost everything we do I believe it is very important to consider those who are behind everything we have, it’s all thanks to them. No matter how important it is to even consider the part these people play, we just don’t! Most of the time it doesn’t even cross our minds, we buy what we want and then eat it without a thought in mind.
ReplyDelete2.The changes I am willing to make in my personal life would be to first start with myself. I would have to of course change my eating, thinking and spending habits if I wanted to someday make a difference in the society I live in. It wouldn’t be fair to say everyone else needs to change and then keep my habits the same. That would be totally dumb. Eventually one day the changes people see in me will inspire them to make a change as well.
3.Some things I can do differently is to shop at more local and farmer markets. Instead of just buying whatever I see, maybe research a little about the companies and what they are about. I would definitely base me decisions on what would benefit the workers, processors and those who transport it! I could really cut down on the fast-food. Yes it may be quick, convenient and cheap but it is also bad and unhealthy is so many ways.
4. The working conditions of these workers are very familiar with those in the coffee industry and the mine workers. It’s the same conditions but in a happening in a different type of industry.
1. When deciding what to eat, how much should we consider the workers who pick, process, and transport it? - When choosing what we choose to eat we need to consider where the food and especially the produce is coming from. What chemicals are put on the food? What are the working conditions for the workers that harvest and produce this food? As consumers we need to try our best to be educated about different companies and how their workers are treated.
ReplyDelete2)What individual and/or collective actions are you willing to take to improve our food system, and what would be their impact? I think that personally I can try to buy as much of my groceries at local farmers markets. That way I have a better understanding of where the food is coming from, what soil it is being grown in, what hands have touched my food and what chemicals (if any) were used.
3)What are your values/commitments/goals regarding the food you eat on a daily basis? Have you been influenced by anything you have seen in the film? I have been gluten free for the past 9 years so that dietary need requires that I stay committed to choosing gluten free foods. Since the recent boom in the gluten free diet there has been a drastic rise in the amount of gluten free foods that are available. However, some larger companies advertise that there foods are gluten free just to appeal to the market, even tho their foods are not %100 gluten free and people who are allergic end up getting sick. So I am already picky with what brands I choose to consume. But after watching this video I am also going to consider how the food was produced and how the workers were treated etc.
4. How are the issues you see in Food Inc. related to other global issues you have read about or talked about in this course? Make at least one connection...The issues that I saw happening in Food Inc. were very similar to the coffee industry. Workers working in poor conditions and being treated unfairly.
1. When it comes to the people who pick; process and handle our foods, we should really take into high consideration in what they are doing with it. The way that they handle what we are going to eat is something that should be taken extreme care of, the slightest mistake could send someone to the hospital. If someone is the least bit careful then they could potentially take out an entire city, maybe even to the extent of a country. The chemicals that are now being used in produce as a filler or to keep insects or growth hormones to make them grow faster can damage our health. When going to the grocery store we should look for organic foods. They are a little more expensive but it could really be a benefit of your health in the long run.
ReplyDelete2. What I can do to help this problem could be to grow my own fruits and vegetables in my backyard and shop for my meets at local markets versus HEB or Wal-Mart. Growing my own produce would help me keep an eye on what exactly I am putting into my body versus just going by the luck of the draw.
3. I have been influenced by what I have seen, I don’t really know what I could do to make a difference though. I could inform my family and friends of what is going on in the world and I could do my little garden thing, but I don’t think that it’s really going to make a difference. My family is still going to want to go to HEB at the beginning of the month for food, growing a garden takes time and I won’t always be so lucky. Usually organic food and local meat markets are more expensive than the normal running price that these mass consuming markets are selling theirs at.
4. It goes back to the whole Wal-Mart issue, it’s never going to fail because it’s so convenient. The prices are low and they’re always there. How can these problems end if we can never fully remove the corruption? It’s never going to work. It’s depressing to think this way but I’m not sure how we’re ever going to be this giant industry that runs the market at all times. They’re just too powerful to make them stop.
1)I think that after watching this, we as consumers should feel somewhat sorry and responsible for the conditions that some workers have had to work in. Some companies are basically treating workers like slaves with little regard to the lives of the actual workers.
ReplyDelete2)I think it’s a responsible idea for individuals to write congress to see what changes we can bring about. I think that if many individuals write about the same issues then someone will take notice and changes could be made.
3)Normally I check some labels for the food that I buy. Mostly I check milk, meat, and cheese, but besides that I usually do not bother checking into it because I’m usually in such a rush. I have gone to a few different farmers markets in Victoria but have not been to one in San Antonio. I think that soon I’ll be looking into it.
4)The issues in Food Inc. are related to McDonaldization with regards to the assembly-line procedures at most production plants and the one-task, repetitive nature of the employees jobs which makes them easily replaceable. This makes all workers jobs not safe and turnover is easily accomplished.
Marley – I agree that it is horrible to think about the corruption and how they run a giant industry with all the problems.