18 ‘Food, Inc.’ Facts Everyone Should Know

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The Impact of 'Food, Inc.' Lives On

Food, Inc. revealed powerful truths about the American food supply, from the inhumane treatment of factory farmed animals to the dangers of GMOs. Been a while since you've seen the film? We've compiled some of the most shocking facts from the movie. Read them to remind yourself why choosing sustainable, ethical food is so important—then share the info with those you love. Click through the gallery to see 18 truths you'll never forget.

Growth of Factory Farming

In the 1970s, the top five beef packers controlled about 25% of the market. Today, the top four control more than 80% of the market.

Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Factory Farms Dominate

In the 1970s, there were thousands of slaughterhouses producing the majority of beef sold. Today there are only 13.

Photo: H. Armstrong Roberts/Getty Images

Monsanto in 1950

Prior to renaming itself an agribusiness company, Monsanto was a chemical company that produced, among other things, DDT and Agent Orange.

Photo: Apic/Getty Images

Lack of USDA Power

In 1998, the USDA implemented microbial testing for salmonella and E. coli 0157h7 so that if a plant repeatedly failed these tests, the USDA could shut down the plant. After being taken to court by the meat and poultry associations, the USDA no longer has that power.

Photo: Ralph Orlowski/Getty Images

Monsanto’s Soybean Monopoly

In 1996 when Monsanto introduced Round-Up Ready Soybeans, the company controlled only 2% of the U.S. soybean market. Now, over 90% of soybeans in the U.S. contain Monsanto’s patented gene.

Photo: Lauren Burke/Getty Images

Minimal Food Inspections

In 1972, the FDA conducted 50,000 food safety inspections. In 2006, the FDA conducted only 9,164.

Photo: H. Armstrong Roberts/Getty Images

Big Ag Controlling the FDA

During the Bush administration, the head of the FDA, Lester M. Crawford Jr., was the former executive VP of the National Food Processors Association

Photo: Scott J. Ferrell/Getty Images

Big Ag in the USDA

During the Bush administration, the chief of staff at the USDA, James F. Fitzgerald, was the former chief lobbyist for the beef industry in Washington.

Photo: USDA

The average chicken farmer (with two poultry houses) invests over $500,000 and makes only $18,000 a year.

Photo: Gary John Norman /Getty Images

Sewing Seeds of Discontentment

Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas was an attorney at Monsanto from 1976 to 1979. After his appointment to the Supreme Court, Justice Thomas wrote the majority opinion in a case that helped Monsanto enforce its seed patents.

Photo: Brand New Images /Getty Images

Huge Processing Facilities

Approximately 32,000 hogs a day are killed in Smithfield Hog Processing Plant in Tar Heel, N.C, the largest slaughterhouse in the world.

Photo: Winnie Yang/Getty Images

American Carnivores

The average American eats over 200 lbs. of meat a year.

Photo: Frank Herholdt/Getty Images

Illusion of Options

The modern supermarket stocks, on average, 47,000 products, most of which are being produced by only a handful of food companies.

Photo: Chuck Keeler/Getty Images

GMO Woes

About 70% of processed foods have some genetically modified ingredient.

Photo: Michal Baran/Getty Images

No Right to Know

The SB63 Consumer Right to Know measure, requiring all food derived from cloned animals to be labeled as such, passed the California state legislature before being vetoed in 2007 by Governor Schwarzenegger, who said that he couldn’t sign a bill that pre-empted federal law.

Photo: Guy Edwardes/Getty Images

Diabetes Rates on the Rise

According to the American Diabetes Association, 1 in 3 Americans born after 2000 will contract early onset diabetes. Among minorities, the rate will be 1 in 2.

Photo: Digital Vision/Getty Images

Foodborne Illness Becoming More Widespread

E. coli and salmonella outbreaks have become more frequent in America. In 2007, there were 73,000 people sickened by the E. coli bacteria.

Photo: Steven Taylor/Getty Images

Hope in Organics

Organics is the fastest growing food segment, increasing 20% annually.

Photo: Photodisc/Getty Images

Related stories on TakePart

• 18 Companies That Oppose GMO Food Labeling

• 'Food, Inc.' Chicken Farmer Goes Rogue – Says Goodbye to Factory Farms

• 5 Things I Learned From Visiting Food Inc.'s Joel Salatin

Related Gallery

9 Ways to Fix Our Food System See Full Gallery

Andrew Freeman is a California native with a degree in history from UCLA. He’s covered a wide range of topics for TakePart, but is particularly interested in politics and policy. Email Andrew |@natureofdabeast | TakePart.com

18 ‘Food, Inc.’ Facts Everyone Should Know

The Impact of 'Food, Inc.' Lives On

Growth of Factory Farming

Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Factory Farms Dominate

Photo: H. Armstrong Roberts/Getty Images

Monsanto in 1950

Photo: Apic/Getty Images

Lack of USDA Power

Photo: Ralph Orlowski/Getty Images

Monsanto’s Soybean Monopoly

Photo: Lauren Burke/Getty Images

Minimal Food Inspections

Photo: H. Armstrong Roberts/Getty Images

Big Ag Controlling the FDA

Photo: Scott J. Ferrell/Getty Images

Big Ag in the USDA

Photo: USDA

Photo: Gary John Norman /Getty Images

Sewing Seeds of Discontentment

Photo: Brand New Images /Getty Images

Huge Processing Facilities

Photo: Winnie Yang/Getty Images

American Carnivores

Photo: Frank Herholdt/Getty Images

Illusion of Options

Photo: Chuck Keeler/Getty Images

GMO Woes

Photo: Michal Baran/Getty Images

No Right to Know

Photo: Guy Edwardes/Getty Images

Diabetes Rates on the Rise

Photo: Digital Vision/Getty Images

Foodborne Illness Becoming More Widespread

Photo: Steven Taylor/Getty Images

Hope in Organics

Photo: Photodisc/Getty Images

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