Water Planet Challenge

More Food, Inc. Lessons From Participant Media

The documentary film Food, Inc. provides a critical look at the industrialized nature of our country’s food supply. It explores the relationship between how our food is produced and human health, workers’ rights, animal welfare, and other issues. While revealing many concerns about our food system, Food, Inc. also reminds us that we each have the ability to bring change to the system through our food choices. The film's official Discussion Guide, developed by The Center for Ecoliteracy, is designed to help instructors maximize the educational impact of
Food, Inc. for their students. Courtesy of Participant Media, here are excerpts from that guide, each aligned to a single chapter in the film. These discussion questions and activities suggested in each will help students:
•     Think through their own perceptions, ideas, and solutions so that they are better prepared to make thoughtful choices about food.
•     Make connections between ways of thinking about the food-related issues presented in the film and the big questions we face in life.
•     Develop the knowledge and skills they need to participate in a meaningful public dialogue about food and food systems.
•     Take action to address food-related issues in their own lives.

Chapter 1

Fast Food To All Food / ¿Sólo La Comida Rápida?
The first chapter of the film provides a brief history of the fast food industry. It depicts how fast food has transformed not only what and how people eat, but also farming practices and the entire global food system. This discussion guide uses the focus question: Do animals have the right to a certain quality of life?

Chapter 6

Hidden Costs / El Precio Oculto
The sixth chapter of the film takes a look at the economics of our food system and some of the market forces that influence food companies. This discussion guide uses the focus question: Does it matter to you which food companies produce your food?

Chapter 8

The Veil / Abriendo Los Ojos
The eighth chapter of the film explores why consumers are unaware of the details of how food is processed and what it contains. This discussion guide uses the focus question: Should a company have the power to decide what information to give consumers about the food it produces?  

Chapter 9

Shocks To The System / La Semilla De La Acción
The ninth chapter of the film touches on some of the other major issues raised by our current food system, including the possibility of a world food shortage, the tremendous amount of energy that goes into food production, and the impacts of industrialized food on our health and environment. This discussion guide uses the focus question: What individual or collective actions are you willing to take to improve our food system, and what would be their impact?