Oscar nominated Food Inc attacks industrial farming

The film examines large-scale agricultural food production across the US and concludes industrial farming is often unhealthy and environmentally-harmful.

Food Inc., which has been nominated for a 2010 Academy Award, says the nation’s food supply is controlled by a handful of corporations that put profit ahead of consumer health.

The documentary was produced by the same company that made An Inconvenient Truth, which was widely criticised by global warming sceptics for exaggerating the human impact on climate. Likewise, Food, Inc. has received a strong reaction from the food industry for painting a simplistic picture.

Terry Jones, NFU head of government affairs, watched the film. He said it was ‘thought provoking’ but ‘fails to recognise the challenge that society faces in producing more food while impacting less on the environment’.

He also told potential viewers of the film to understand the distinction between US and UK food production.

“There are some big differences between the UK and US food systems especially when one considers the structures that regulate food safety.

“Many of the methods used in the US, such as hormones in meat (and milk) production are banned in the UK and across Europe.”

But he said the global demand for more food did mean industrial farming and innovative technology had a place in modern agriculture.

“We can’t pretend that with the current need to increase food production to feed the world’s growing population that moving to small-scale production, or ignoring scientific or technological advancements, is the answer.”

Mr Jones urged UK consumers concerned about the standards of food production to look out for quality standard labels in the shops.

“British farmers work to some of the highest welfare standards and stockmanship in the world and are rightly proud of what they do in caring for their livestock and the environment.

“Consumers wanting reassurance that the food they are buying has been produced on a farm which has been independently inspected should look out for the Red Tractor logo,” he said.

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