s e m o n i a n

“We have hit the wrong bulls eye so perfectly,” says owner/farmer Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms, Virginia who feeds his livestock gras—the way nature intended—in the documentary, Food, Inc.

Food, Inc. filmmaker Robert Kenner set out to expose America’s industrialized food system and it’s effects on our health, environment, economy and workers’ rights.  Even though one billion people worldwide do not have access to food—including 36 million Americans—we are battling an epidemic of obesity, diabetes and other health issues as a nation.

Here are 6 things we can all do to hit the right bulls eye:

1.  We need to educate ourselves more on nutrition and push congress to start serving healthy meals in our school systems. One-third of our children and adolescents (one out of two of minorities) are overweight or obese. The processed and high calorie foods that most of our children and lower income communities are living on are contributing to serious health issues like diabetes, heart problems and cancers. Sign the Child Nutrition Act petition right here.

2.  Buy organic and/or locally grown produce. The average food product travels 1,500 miles to get to your local grocery store! That transportation accounts for 30,800 tons of greenhouse gas emissions every year. Stay away from pesticides, as they have been linked with cancers, autism and other disorders.

3.  Stay away from genetically engineered meat and produce. Just two years ago, in January of 2008, the FDA approved the sale of meat and milk from cloned livestock, despite the fact that in 2007 Congress voted twice to delay the FDA’s decision until additional safety studies were completed.

4.  Do research on the farms and meat you purchase and support. About 10 billion animals are raised and slaughtered in the US annually. Nearly all were raised in inhumane conditions, that are also dangerous for their workers, pollute the community and our food system, and contribute to global warming.

5.  Demand that restaurants list their ingredient lists and nutritional labels so that we become more aware of what we are putting in our bodies.

6.  Support national food safety legislation and farm worker protection. We can make a difference in numbers!

If you haven’t already seen Food, Inc., I urge you to. We are all affected by our food system. The more transparent we can make it, the healthier a nation we will become.

Enjoy Your Food.

Loren Brill
Baker & Food Consultant