Food, Inc. Discussion Guide - TakePart

C H A P T E R 5In the GrassS y n o p s i s o f F i l m C h a p t e rThis chapter of Food, Inc. explores differences between smallscalefarming and industrial farming, and introduces issues ofworkers’ rights and immigration. The chapter opens with anorganic farmer comparing his farm to industrial agriculturepractices. After showing the small-scale butchering of someof his chickens, the film moves to show the large-scaleprocessing of hogs in the biggest slaughterhouse in the world.The film portrays that while the unskilled laborers in largeslaughterhouses have one of the most dangerous jobs in theU.S., they have low wages, little job security, and no union torepresent them. It also describes how meatpacking companieshave actively recruited workers in Mexico, where 1.5 million farmjobs have been lost since 1994, partly due to U.S. policies. Thefinal scene of the chapter shows immigration agents arrestingmeatpacking workers at a trailer park.NOTE This chapter of the film includes brief footage of achicken being killed, as well as some disturbing images of aslaughterhouse kill floor. Let students know that they can closetheir eyes during these scenes. You might also allow individualsto opt out of watching the chapter if it would upset them.R U N N I N G T I M E : 1 3 : 4 4 m i n u t e s5 5F o o d , I n c . D I S C U S S I O N G U I D E© P a r t i c i p a n t M e d i a