Food INC.

[W5INC]

PBS is running a TV show about how your food is produced right here in the USA. Large corporations control huge amounts of the food chain and it is very interesting to see some of the products and how they are produced.

Corn and the corn by-products are used in 1 form or another in about 90% of every item in a supermarket. Corn has been kept @ artificially low prices with subsidies. 1 of the more interesting facts is when cattle are taken to the huge feedlots and fed corn to fatten them up before being slaughtered. The corn produces E-coli in the cows stomachs. To prevent human contamination of E-coli 1 of the largest hamburger produces in the US (70% of the patties made) actually washes the beef in industrial strength ammonia in a mechanized ballet that is hard to believe. Numerous factories around the country can be controlled from this 1 control room. The food produces have taken this approach from Walmart. Walmart controls each stores A/C, lights, freezers and other infrastructure variables from their control room in Ark.

The chicken producers who have developed chickens that reach maturity in 45 days instead of 93 days. The cost to the chicken is the slow development of it's internal organs when compared to it's body mass. These chickens can only walk 2 to 3 steps then flop to the ground. The chicken's lungs and heart can't supply enough oxygen and blood to let the chicken walk around naturally.

The Monsanto company that was granted rights to soy bean seeds(Supreme Court decision) that Monsanto developed to be resistant to RoundUp weed killer. The Monsanto seeds are planted then the fields are sprayed with Roundup to prevent weeds that hamper the soybeans growth. Thousands of tons of Roundup are used in this endeavor every year in the US. In 1984 when Monsanto was first granted rights to the seeds they developed 14% of soybeans were grown from their seeds. Today's % is in the 98% range. Monsanto can claim a farmers crops if the farmers neighbor is using Monsanto's seeds and the pollen from Monsanto seeds gets wind carried to neighboring fields.

This program sheds light onto a slice of American industry that is kept in the dark for various reasons. It also explains what vegetable laws are and how the food producing giants use these little known laws to keep the status quo. Great program from PBS and should be a must see for everyone who eats food produced here in the USA.

[K8MHZ]

I caught part of that.

The part I saw was the one about the farmer that processed his chickens outside.

The government ordered him to stop, instead he challenged them with laboratory testing.

His chickens had a number of 133 (ppm??)

Chickens processed in an FDA approved indoor facility had a rating of 3600, even after chemicals (bleach, ammonia) were used for mitigation.

I don't know where they found this particular farmer, but he was every bit as articulate and knowledgeable as any college professor.

[AD7N]

This PBS show is not only on TV! They often publish their (full length) documentaries on the web: http://video.pbs.org/video/1472879887/

[N0SYA]

"Monsanto can claim a farmers crops if the farmers neighbor is using Monsanto's seeds and the pollen from Monsanto seeds gets wind carried to neighboring fields."

I consider this to be a crime against humanity and nature.

[AD7N]

A small family farm with hand-milked dairy cows is actually pretty darn rare today!

[K4KRO]

Don't worry! There will soon be another multi-trillion dollar bureaucracy formed to do something about it. The only problem will be that you can be fined or imprisoned for growing your own tomatoes.

[KB9BVN]

My advice is for everyone to start growing their own food. We always have a garden in the warm months, can't beat fresh veggies.

[AD7N]

Obesity, Diabetes... from fat and sugar spikes. Diabetes is endemic in our society:


source: CDC

Growing one's food is pretty darn healthy, and seed stock is relatively cheap. (Don't give me Monsanto excuses! Go to your local farm store and buy a bag of seeds.)

[K3XR]

Let's see...if you attack BIG FOOD, that's ok...just don't try to attack BIG GOVERNMENT you could have your post deleted.

[AD7N]

Let's see...if you attack BIG FOOD, that's ok...just don't try to attack BIG GOVERNMENT you could have your post deleted.

HOW you attack big government is the $64 million dollar issue!

Here's the difference between an insightful post on the issue and one that's not:

We need to increase more lobbying for healthier food. Contact your representative and demand better USDA inspections. Hold them accountable!

VS

'em BIG GOVN'T ain't doin crap! They're just a buncha billion dolalr burocratic lazy asses who don't do jack. Whata buncha poopoo heads. Vot'em out goshdarnit! And all they do is trash our tax dollars on useless burocratic meetings. Whuta Buncha blasted burocrats!!!!!!!!!!!

See the difference