Food Inc is an Academy Award nominated documentary made in 2008 by Robert Kenner. It includes interviews with Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation) and one of my 'heroes', Michael Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma). Not sure why it has taken two years for Food Inc to make it into Australian cinemas but it is a must see now it is screening.
One of the closing quotes is "You have a choice. Three times a day" and that is so true. We will not eat chicken again unless it is certified organic from a supplier we know or it is a chicken we have killed on the farm. There was nothing much really new in the movie that we had not seen or read about before. However, the truth behind the US food industry and the collusion (corruption?) between industry and government never ceases to amaze and confront us.
It started us thinking about who really owns who. For example, Macro Wholefoods is now owned by Woolworths and their products are still marketed in their same green packaging. They still command a premium price but how can we be sure that their products are the same and not compromised by being part of a larger supermarket chain? Thomas Dux is a brand also owned by Woolworths. Prices are higher and store layouts better but are their fruit and vegetables any fresher than in the Bondi superstore? Are the suppliers different?
I have begun to get really irritated by the "brand" marketing that goes on, particularly in banking. Westpac owns Bank SA, St George and BT Funds Management. Why do they insult my intelligence by telling (selling) me that St George is different? It is no longer a small regional bank that cares for customers. It is part of a major financial company that will destroy service and makes monstrous profits while crying foul and poor to the government. NAB is no better with U Bank and CBA is the worst of all with its appallingly awful advertisements for CBA (Determined to be different? Hardly!!) and for Bank West (Do they think I am stupid? Why promote accounts with talking horses, squirrels, goldfish and flowers?)
The problem is that there is increasingly less real choice and while I could bank with Members Equity or a Credit Union I am also pragmatic about risk after the Global Financial Crisis, which is far from over by the way. The only difference now is that it is country sovereign debt at risk as all the banks have offloaded the risk and their toxic waste portfolios to the public taxpayers.
It is the same with breakfast cereals, washing powder, soaps, media and so on. It really means that as consumers we must exercise our power and buy from local Australian owned suppliers. After Food Inc we will buy organic, buy at local farmer's markets, grow as much of our own food as we can, avoid any corn by products and "change the world one bite at a time".
Bon appetit.....and happy banking!!
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