They say that if you like eating sausages, you shouldn't see them being made. General wisdom does not record if this applies to burgers.

Food, Inc (2008) (trailer; offical website; book) takes the view that it's important that you see how burgers are made, at least in the USA. This documentary, made in 2008 but just released in New Zealand, covers many of the aspects of the industralisation of food production (in the USA). From subsidised corn production leading to excessive quantities and thus corn being used in everything. Through very intensive meat farming, and on into fast food production.

In the process it shows us the effects of increasing concentration of food production interests. As big business is want to do, there are a small number of companies trying -- and largely succeeding -- in cornering the market in entire classes of food. Leaving them able to dictate to everyone else what will happen.

There are some promising notes in the film, including a farmer passionate about natural food production (imagine: grass feed beef), and the increase in consumer interest in organic food. Even Walmart is paying attention to organic food (although the surprise for me was that Walmart was in the food retailing business -- it appears they are into food retailing in a big way, like everything else retail they're doing in a big way). But overall the message is "wake up, vote with your dollars".

While there wasn't much in the film that I hadn't seen in other documentaries or read in books (including Eric Schlosser's "Fast Food Nation"; Eric was co-producer and one of the main interviewees in "Food, Inc"), it was encouraging to see it in a film in a mainstream theatre with a general release. Although it's a little discouraging that IMDB suggests it has only seen a limited release in the USA so far. Hopefully it'll get a wider release in the USA.

It's somewhat reassuring to know that New Zealand food isn't, yet, as heavily industrialised. But concerning to think that New Zealand has generally followed the USA in all sorts of trends, good and bad. Increasing pressure for more food, more cheaply, seems to inevitably lead in the direction of extensive industralisation.

Mostly I'm left wondering how we got the point where "cheap" is considered (by many) the most important criteria for food.