I just watched a screening of FOOD, Inc. and am grateful for the education about how food is "manufactured" in America and the negative environmental impacts surrounding those practices. I am struck by the comment made towards the end of the movie about how 'the people' changed the tobacco industry by no longer settling for the regulatory endorsement of an adverse health product. I believe it is time to do the same for the adverse and morally wrong unhealthy food manufacturing that is occurring now.

With my heightened awareness, I reflect on the past several years of e.coli poisonings, salmonella poisonings, and now the recent recall of many products containing HVP, manufactured right here in my hometown, Las Vegas. (Incidentally, the plant, Basic Foods, is shut-down!)

To be honest, I never gave much thought to these poisonings; didn't consider it could happen to me. I think my stomach is strong as steel - I love my food super super spicy and my father's cooking didn't kill me growing up - so it must be.

But now, I wonder if most of this country's health problems stem from the crazy practices that make up our nation's food production. For example, 76 million are sickened, 325 million are hospitalized and 5,000 die each year from food-borne illnesses, a product of factory farming. And speaking of factory farming, I was disgusted at the way chickens are raised for food - in the dark, genetically modified to grow bigger breasts, making them too heavy to be able to walk, and stuck full of antibiotics to prevent disease from living in such crammed conditions.

Within Wikipedia's definition of factory farming it says:

"There is a continuing debate over the benefits and risks of factory farming. The issues include the efficiency of food production; animal welfare; whether it is essential for feeding the growing global human population; the environmental impact and the health risks."

I'll stop there - watch the movie and decide what is right for you.