FOOD, INC (USA 2009) ***
Directed by Robert Kenner

FOOD, INC. is a documentary that has clear goals - to expose the bad guys of the food industry and to scare and hereby convert anyone watching the film to change eating habits in order to lead a healthier life and consequently change the planet.  These be high hopes!

Though the general feel throughout the film is generally bleak, Kenner’s film is in actuality quite optimistic.  For one, it ends of a high note with information on how individual can make changes and affect the food industry.  Though the film discredits companies like Monsanto and particularly the fast food chains, it is extremely forgiving with companies that convert, in particular Wal-Mart for now offering only organic milk in its dairy department.  Kenner credits Wal-Mart for listening, thus also encouraging his audience to do the same.

Because there has been already so much information on the evils of the American food industry, a lot of the footage of FOOD, INC has been seen at one time or other, if not more by certain members of the audience.  A bit of film is devoted to the controversial Monsanto Company that engineered genetic seeds and its unethical practices.  Though a fair potion of this segment of film has already more thoroughly in the recent documentary THE WORLD ACCORDING TO MONSANTO, one still forgives Kenner for repetition as genetically engineered seed and animal growth hormones go both hand in hand with what Kenner is demonstrating happening in the food industry.

Kenner opens his film with an effective surreal segment of FOOD, INC with men in suits carrying suitcases walking in agricultural fields deserves mention.  He then delivers information, used and familiar about America’s food industry from bad to good and finally to offer what people should and must do with 3 clear instructions that accompany the film’s end credits.  In terms of what the film attempts to succeed and achieves, Kenner deserves full marks – though he uses harsh tactics (like extensive use of the dead boy’s mother) to drive the point home.  Sometimes, this is necessary.

No matter how much one already knows goes on out there, Kenner’s film still contains interesting facts that is not known.  (No one can know everything.) For example, if you have not heard of Kevin’s Law, this film might do well to make this law a household term and the unfortunate Kevin a martyr for the course.  Like the ads go, everyone who eats should see this film.