Food, Inc.: A Participant Guide: How Industrial Food is Making Us Sicker, Fatter, and Poorer-And What You Can Do About It

Its rare that I learn as much about a subject as I have from Food, Inc. Accordingly, even though this is far from a perfect book, I give it my highest rating. The "book" is actually a series of essays written by a selection of very knowledgeable persons and groups, detailing the adverse effects of the industrialization of the food industry. Each of the articles takes a slightly different tact, but collectively, they comprise a very effective attack on the large, multinational food and farming corporations and the governmental agencies which are supposed to be regulating them. The book describes their decimation of the environment, the adverse effects of their practices on the health of our citizenry (obesity and the effect of the pervasive use of pesticides, hormones and antibiotics), the harm their activities cause to the economies of the poorest of the third world nations (and the resulting increase in malnutrition and starvation), and their shameful disregard for even the most basic welfare of the animals that grace our dinner plates. On the negative side, many of the essays are duplicative, and others are obvious and repetitive. Additionally, the editors who selected the writings don't even make a pretense of subjectivity. Notwithstanding these negatives, the book nonetheless very powerfully and effectively argues that when it comes to farming, agriculture, and other aspects of the food business, the old ways are most certainly the best.

Watching Food, Inc. was a life-changing experience for so many of us who are committed to the idea of living a healthy lifestyle centered around consuming real, whole foods that are preferably sourced locally where we live and without all the modern-day industrialized practices that dominate much of what is called "food" in the United States in the 21st Century. This powerful documentary shone a great light on problems like factory farming while extolling the virtues of choosing more organic vegetables and grass-fed meats for optimal health and longevity. It's a deep subject that warranted even further discussion which is why FOOD INC.: A PARTICIPANT GUIDE was created. Featuring many of the major players from the film--namely Eric Schlosser, Michael Pollan, Marion Nestle, Joel Salatin, and more--this book includes some poignant essays designed to make you think about how Americans typically buy what they think is "food" and what REAL food looks like by stark contrast. It's funny, our grandparents from just a couple of generations ago didn't have to call what they ate "real food"...they simply called it "food." It's time we return to those days again and books like this one along with the companion DVD Food Inc.: A Participant Guide: How Industrial Food is Making Us Sicker, Fatter, and Poorer-And What You Can Do About It will help make that happen.

This book is a companion to the movie of the same name, and for maximum benefit you need access to the movie, however is it useful and informative by itself. If you are interested, really interested in what you eat and what our food choices (or forced lack of choices) mean, this is a good, easy read. The UPC on the cow on the cover (cleverly the UPC for the book) says a good deal about our modern food system; it provides food that is largely manufactured, processed, grown or raised in ways that are at stark contrast what most of us think looking at foods in the grocery store. In many cases, as the subtitle says, it is making us sick, fat and poor, and doing much the same to the rest of the world. Another excellent book, more detailed, for further reading on this general topic, would be "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Micheal Pollan, which I also bought from Amazon.com.

I bought the book because I didn't think that the movie was going to play around here but than I found out that it was and WOW!!! The book and the movie go hand in hand. Our lives have changed as a result for the better. We need to know where our food is coming from and when we find out we must make a choice as to whether we are going to continue to poison ourself and promote the horrible things done to the animals, food, farmers and factory workers (when we buy these things we are promoting them) or make the changes and only eat what we grow ourselves without pesticides and such, organic, and from farmers who are raising happy cows, chickens etc that are eating what they should and treated with respect. I look forward to feeling good when I am old due to making the changes necessary so than I will not have the cost of meds (not that I would use them) to treat the illnesses I get due to poor diet. We will never eat fast food again or buy meat from the grocery store now that we know what we are actually eating (feces, ammonia, hormones and antibiotics to name a few). Ignorance is not bliss. Americans are poisoned and you can see by looking around you at all the health problems. Go see the movie (documentary) and get the book because the books always have more in them. It actually cost less to eat healthy when you consider the cost later in life from eating badly, it cost your health and money because you have to now treat your health problems with expensive meds. Choose your health over your cravings please. God provided us with things that grow naturally. Fruits, veggies, nuts, grains etc and we don't need poisonous pesticides. Meat is good if it is humanely slaughtered and feed the right diet minus the hormones and antibiotics. Support the local farmers. Here is the link to see the trailer for the [...]

I loved the movie, and having reading to augment the information was fantastic. Not every article was relevant to me, but I really enjoyed the vast majority of them. I would highly recommend the read if you are interested in food.

J'ai pas lu le bouquin mais j'ai vue le DVD. Ce documentaire est a voir absolument. Reportage édifiant sur l'industrie agro alimentaire et ses dérives très dangereuses pour notre santé.

An eye opener to an industry allowed to do what it wants to sell you whatever it takes to get you to give over your cash. A lobby with more power than you can imagine. And naturally politicians willing to do anything for "their" constituents. Good read if maybe a bit repetitious pertaining to the pervasiveness of the industry in pulling the wool over the average Dick and Jane.

aware of most of the things written but good to see it in print

I was thrilled with this book during the first 2 or 3 chapters. They were powerfully and accesibly written. Subsequent chapters disappointed, and were more a means for the airing of very specific and narrow concerns. They were too detailed and confined in their scope, and were more a critique of industry practices, rather than having a direct bearing on the food we eat.