Everyone has to eat, so food documentaries touch on a subject with widespread appeal. They tend to be informative, entertaining and frequently shocking. These films cover controversial issues such as the obesity crisis, factory farming and how common foods can be harmful to our health. Here are seven that represent the best of the genre. They can be downloaded from popular film subscription services.
King Corn (2007) looks into government corn subsidies and their effect on the American diet. The film follows two inexperienced friends who attempt to grow an acre of corn using typical modern farming methods. The subject matter is made compelling by the many distressing facts revealed about America’s dependence on this cereal grain. Amusing stop-motion animation is used to illustrate complicated concepts.
Killer at Large (2008) discusses America’s obesity crisis and its dire consequences for the health of the nation. It examines the social and political causes of the epidemic in a straightforward, no nonsense way. The film reveals how food manufacturers have influenced government eating and exercise guidelines. It also provides evidence that fear and stress among the US population have contributed to weight gain.
Food, Inc. (2008) looks inside America’s corporate controlled food industry. It investigates how multinational companies overlook health and safety issues in their quest to maximise production and profits. The film shows that livestock, agricultural workers, consumers and the environment are all adversely affected. It also offers examples of good farming practices and explains what individuals can do to make a difference.
Food Matters (2008) examines the connection between the foods people eat and the diseases they develop. It shows how a healthy diet and good nutrition can prevent or treat conditions such as diabetes, depression, heart disease and cancer. The film asserts that the American pharmaceutical industry conspires to perpetuate an unhealthy population in order to maximise their profits. It promotes the use of vitamins and minerals rather than prescription medications.
Dive! (2010) addresses the issue of grocery waste by taking viewers on a tour of trash receptacles. Film maker Jeremy Seifert dives into supermarket dumpsters along with his family and friends. They manage to find plenty of perfectly edible waste and are able to feed themselves on a varied diet of discards. The film makes the point that millions of impoverished and malnourished Americans would benefit if the 50% of produce that ends up in the garbage were diverted to them instead.
Farmageddon (2011) investigates the interplay of politics and agriculture as it exposes a series of government raids on innocent small farms. Interviews of farmers reveal chilling details of armed federal agents confiscating equipment, livestock and produce. The agenda appears to be one of putting family farms out of business to limit consumer choice and increase the monopoly of industrial agriculture.
Super Size Me (2004) is one of the funniest food documentaries ever made. Lawsuits against McDonald’s Restaurants for harming people’s health led film-maker Morgan Spurlock to conduct his own experiment. He tests the evidence by eating nothing but McDonald’s menu items for a whole month. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments before his doctor confirms that the diet has damaged his liver and heart.
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