Food, Inc. The Companion Guide

Finally, it’s in my hands.  I’ve been waiting for what feels like EONS for my copy of Food, Inc. (Edited by Karl Weber) to arrive.  I first laid eyes on this delightful book on a shopping trip to Whole Foods Market and was prompted by husband to not buy it that day because surely we could get our hands on it for less.  Once again, he was right.

The book is a companion to help one further explore the issues raised in the documentary, Food, Inc. Starring Eric Schlosser and directed by Robert Kenner.  I haven’t yet had the opportunity to watch the documentary, but I’m near to frothing and not sure I can wait for it to hit DVD and my Netflix queue.

The companion book contains 13 essays to explore the facts behind the problems we see in the news every day, issues like hunger, human rights, tainted food and pollution.

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Chapter five details The Ethanol Scam, “The huge corn ethanol mandates imposed by Congress in the early years of this century may be the single most misguided agricultural program in modern American history.”  The essay by Robert Bryce then goes on to state, “In May 2008, the Congressional Research Service blamed recent increases in global food prices on two factors: increased grain demand for meat production and the biofuels mandates.”

Step back into Chapter Four and take a look at Hazards of Genetically Engineered Foods and Crops by Ronnie Cummins.  Here we find a take I haven’t thought of (and isn’t that why we read?)… food allergies could be caused or worsened by Genetically Engineered (GMO) Foods.  Makes me wonder if this is part of why my 7 year old has so many food allergies?

And then take a step forward into Chapter Nine and explore Ten Steps to Starting a Community Garden by the American Community Gardening Association.   Here we find ten simple steps (about 2 pages in length) to help every community start gardening with limited resources.

Wrapping up Chapter Thirteen, we get Produce to the People, A Prescription for Health.  Yes, indeed… the local Farmers Market may help make you healthier. Can you imagine a world where medical professionals prescribe healthy greens instead of drugs? I can, and I like what I see.

This book will be on my bookshelf for years to come (that is when its not being borrowed by any one of the friends who filter through the house each week).

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