Concept #1: Food in Your Life
In-Class Activity
“Food, Inc.” Video Activity
Directions:
Watch the movie “Food, Inc.” As you watch the movie gather the information
needed to answer the questions below. Write your answers to each question in the
spaces provided below.
Introduction: (1 point each)
1. The average American supermarket contains approximately how many products?
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Fast Food for All: (1 point each)
2. In what decade of the 20th century did the industrialization of food begin?
_____
3. Which fast food chain is responsible for the industrialization of food?
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4. In 1970, what percentage of meat production was controlled by large
companies?
_____%
5. Today, what percentage of meat production is controlled by large companies?
_____%
6. Name the largest meat packaging company.
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7. How long does it take Tyson to grow it’s chickens?
_____ days
8. Do Vince’s chickens ever see light (circle one)?
Yes No
9. What is the result of how rapidly chickens are grown?
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10. What could potentially happen to human beings with the use of antibiotics in
chicken products?
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11. How much does a poultry house cost a farmer to build?
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A Cornucopia of Choices: (1 point each)
12. What crop do most of our foods come from?
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13. What is the percentage of land being used to grow corn?
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14. Name two foods (that you didn’t already know) that are produced by corn or corn
products.
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15. How many pounds of meat does the average American eat each year?
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16. What does C.A.F.O. stand for?
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17. Why do we feed corn to cows?
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18. What are cows actually supposed to eat?
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19. Which cow is more likely to have e-coli (circle one)? Grass-Fed Corn-Fed
Unintended Consequences: (1 point each)
20. Name one other food that e-coli has been found in?
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21. What food-borne illness was caused by peanut butter?
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22. How many slaughter houses are in the United States today?
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23. On average how many cows are in one hamburger?
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24. What did Kevin die from?
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25. How long did it take the FDA to issue a recall on the meat that killed Kevin?
_____ days
26. What year was microbial testing instituted?
_____
27. How long does a cow need to be on a grass-fed died to begin to shed e-coli?
_____ days
28. What is added to meat filler at the industrial level to kill e-coli?
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29. What percentage of hamburgers in the United States is ammonia-cleaned filler in
them?
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30. Why are unhealthy foods cheaper?
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31. What are the three tastes that humans are “hard-wired” to crave?
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32. How many Americans born after the year 2000 will contract type 2 diabetes in
their lifetime?
_____ in _____
It’s in the Grass (1 point each)
33. What were the culture results of the chickens that were processed outside?
_____ CFU
34. What were the culture results of the chickens processed in a factory?
_____CFU
35. Name the largest meat processing plant in the United States.
________________________________________________________________
36. How many hogs are killed at the Smithfield plant per day?
__________ hogs
37. Which U.S. President took on the “Beef Trust” to make working conditions in
meat processing factories for workers?
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38. Who are the meat packaging industry’s largest customers?
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39. What government policy allowed tor the meat packaging industry to hire workers
from Mexico?
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40. What is the growth rate for “organic” foods in the United States?
_____%
41. Why has Wal-Mart started selling organic products?
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From Seed: (1 point each)
42. In what decade did the government begin to allow companies to patent “life?”
_____
43. What happens to a farmer if they save a Monsanto-patented seed?
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44. How many seed cleaners are left in the state of Indiana?
_____
The Veil: (1 point each)
45. Which Supreme Court Justice was an attorney for Monsanto?
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46. Name the two Presidential Administrations that had ties to Monsanto.
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47. What percentage of food in the supermarket contain G.M.O.’s?
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48. Name the talk show host that was sued for what she said about Mad Cow
disease on her show.
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49. Name the two laws that allow food producers to sue individuals for what they say
about them?
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Shocks to the System: (5 points)
50. How do you think you can change the way food is produced in the United States?
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