Last night I saw Food Inc., the new documentary on our industrial food system, and I think it’s a movie absolutely everyone should see. It stylishly weaves together the whole (often sad) story of our food into a more approachable format than say, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, so that a much wider audience will know the high hidden costs of cheap food.

Go see Food Inc. It’s the most important movie of the year, a 21st century The Jungle. And try to take a friend who loves fast food. After watching stories of the animals, laborers, farmers, and consumers that have been harmed by agribusiness giants aided by our government, it’s hard to imagine anyone leaving the film thinking our food system is on the right track. Hopefully, when enough people know what they’re eating, we’ll reach a tipping point and the system will have to change. Food Inc spotlights Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms and the CEO of Stonyfield Farms organic yogurt who are exemplars of what is possible when we change the food system and put health before greed.

Unfortunately, I still left the theater angry at all the injustices, but I’m working on transforming that into something positive. I’ll be more determined than ever to plant gardens and teach people that you really are what you eat. And the Alamo Drafthouse, where I saw it, also serves up a locally sourced vegetable plate to go with the screening, so at least I didn’t leave hungry.

Food Inc Preview:

UPDATE: If the movie wasn’t enough, this morning we were greeted with news of yet another massive beef recall because of e. coli.