Monday, August 12, 2013

Seven Informative And Alarming Food Documentaries

By Nita McKinney


Everyone has to eat, so food documentaries touch on a subject with widespread appeal. They tend to be informative, entertaining and frequently shocking. These films cover controversial issues such as the obesity crisis, factory farming and how common foods can be harmful to our health. Here are seven that represent the best of the genre. They can be downloaded from popular film subscription services.

King Corn (2007) shows how government subsidies encourage the mass production of corn and looks at major role this grain plays in the American diet. The film charts the journey of two friends who set out to grow an acre of corn using modern farming techniques. The subject matter is approached in a compelling way with stop-motion animation used to illustrate complex concepts. Many distressing facts about the population's reliance on corn are revealed.

Killer at Large (2008) takes a straightforward, no nonsense look at the obesity epidemic and its dire consequences. It examines the political and social causes of this national health care crisis. This film investigates how food manufactures have manipulated the US government's official recommendations for diet and exercise. It also examines the evidence that stress and fear contribute to the population's increasing weight.

Food, Inc. (2008) looks inside America's corporate controlled food industry. It investigates how multinational companies overlook health and safety issues in their quest to maximise production and profits. The film shows that livestock, agricultural workers, consumers and the environment are all adversely affected. It also offers examples of good farming practices and explains what individuals can do to make a difference.

Food Matters (2008) explores the various ways that foods influence people's health for better or worse. It shows how the right diet can prevent or treat conditions such as depression, diabetes, cancer and heart disease. It accuses the pharmaceutical industry of conspiring to perpetuate poor health in order to maximize profit and promotes the use of nutrition, vitamins and minerals over conventional medications.

Dive! (2010) takes viewers on a journey through the dumpsters of America to address the issue of wasted groceries. Film maker Jeremy Seifert and his family and friends dive into trash receptacles and manage to feed themselves on various perfectly edible items needlessly discarded by the supermarkets. The film points out that 50% of all produce ends up in the trash when it could be used to benefit millions of poor, malnourished Americans.

Farmageddon (2011) investigates the interplay of politics and agriculture as it exposes a series of government raids on innocent small farms. Interviews of farmers reveal chilling details of armed federal agents confiscating equipment, livestock and produce. The agenda appears to be one of putting family farms out of business to limit consumer choice and increase the monopoly of industrial agriculture.

Super Size Me (2004) is one of the most entertaining food documentaries available. After several lawsuits were brought against McDonald's Restaurants for allegedly harming people's health, film-maker Morgan Spurlock decided to test the evidence. He performed an experiment on himself in which he ate nothing but McDonald's menu items for a month. The health outcomes are scary, but the film is full of laugh-out-loud moments.




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