After viewing the selected chapters of Food Inc. on Thursday, I was struck with a buffet of emotions. How sad is it that a little boy (and many other children) have died after eating a hamburger in a popular chain restaurant! How horrific are the jobs of the workers who handle tainted meat on a daily basis! For this question post (sorry it's coming so late) I want to see some emotion in your responses. What do you truly feel about America's food industry? Show me by answering these questions...
1) Keith Ludlum in the film says, “They have the same mentality toward workers as they do toward the hogs.” What do you think of this statement? If it is true, how might that influence the treatment of both workers and hogs?
2) Whether or not you think illegal immigration (or the influx of undocumented workers) is a problem, how is illegal immigration connected to the food we eat?
Try to touch on both "sets" of questions, but instead of just answering them to answer them, leave a response that might ignite a good discussion for class. We will be going through a few of the responses right away on Thursday.
I agree with the statement that the meat packing industry has the "same mentality toward workers as they do toward the hogs." I think America's food industry has become so focused on profit by mass producing over the quality of the product. Along with this thought comes the fact that the workers in these plants are essentialy treated as animals. They are walked all over! The conditions are disgusting and often unsanitary, the hours long and the work repatative. I can not imagine doing something like spliiting cow ribs apart for hours on end each day! I was shocked when the video talked about how they would get workers from mexico to work in the facotries who evenetually would be deported by border patrol. The cycle then continued! This is a great example of how the workers are basically hearded like animals and then deported, like an animal would be slaughtered. I feel if the emphasis was put on quality of a product that treatement of animals and workers would improve.
ReplyDeleteIllegal immigration has a high connection to the food we eat. Many of these immigrants are basically used to do any job that we would not want to do. They are essentialy the main worker on the meat that we consume. With the conditions they are under (low wage, unsanitary conditions, fast pace, repetation, long hours) I can see how they may lack on making sure that everything is done completly sanitary and correct. They are working to feed their families and if the food is found to be tainted the CEO of the company will be sued not the workers specifically.
I would have to agree with Keith Ludlum's statement, “They have the same mentality toward workers as they do toward the hogs.” The pigs are treated poorly, and the workers are too; in class we discussed how little these workers are paid to do this type of work. It truly is heartbreaking to see truck loads (literally) of pigs being brought into a factory to be slaughtered and then they are sprawled out on conveyor belts and hung from hooks. It's beyond unnatural. The workers that do those things are so desperate for work that they'll do them for low wages and the meat industry takes advantage of them so they can save money. I get it that money is important to people but I think it's unbelievable to take advantage of people like that.
ReplyDeleteIllegal immigration is connected to the food we eat because most of the meat is produced and packaged by these people. We can buy meat cheap because producing it in a factory increases the rate of production and also because illegal immigrants work for lower prices. If these people weren't producing the meat, then American citizens would have to step in to do it and the meat industry would have to increase their salaries to at least to minimum wage; that would make the meat more expensive. Although Illegal immigrants take up some jobs that Americans could potentially have, their hard work should at least be appreciated, considering they're making the food that feeds most of us.
I have to say that I think it's true that workers are treated like the hogs. The company views the workers as being disposable just like they view hogs as disposable. The hogs are treated poorly by the workers on farms to the slaughterhouse and the workers are treated poorly by the company. Workers aren't allowed to do, say, or talk about many things and they don't get a good salary for the dangerous work that they have to do.
ReplyDeleteIllegal immigration in connected to the foods we eat because companies in the United States will send buses into Mexico and bring workers back illegally to work in their factories for a very cheap wage. Yet, it isn't the companies bringing the workers into the states getting in trouble it's the illegal immigrants. I don't get this fact. How can people causing the problem at times get away fine while the illegal worker don't? These people are working in our factories doing dangerous work that is not paid well. This doesn't seem fair to me. Even if the illegal immigrants know that they shouldn't be coming here factories are giving the opportunity to people who may be desperate.
I completely agree with the statement that the meat industry has "the same mentality toward workers as they do toward the hogs." I believe that the production of food in this country is completely driven towards mass production. How fast can we make it in the factories? How quick can a person cook this food at home? These questions I feel drive our food industry these days, and I don't believe we are benefiting from them in any way. These questions are based on how hard a food production plant can push their workers, and because of their little to no benefits, the workers are forced to create food that is less than quality. I disagree with the cycle of rotation a production company uses by shipping in workers from Mexico, only to have them deported shortly after. If this is the means of mass production, why waste time and money finding new workers? The quality of food never changes, so why should the workers?
ReplyDeleteIllegal immigration is connected to the food we eat directly through the production plans employment of them. They use a cycle of deportation, and employment to reduce the time it takes to produce "food." Before watching this video I was completely unaware of the way meat production companies ran their businesses. The fact that many other Americans who are allowing these businesses to thrive have no idea as well, is completely inhumane to the American people. We should have the right to know where our food comes from, and based on the companies quality seal I believe they should with stand their promises and produce quality food in a quality environment with quality workers.
I agree with Keith Ludlum's statement " They have the same mentality toward workers, as they do towards hogs." Since this is true the both the workers and the hogs get treated poorly. They allow the workers to work in such dangerous conditions and be exposed to harmful things like disease and dangerous equipment, it is an equally bad environment for both the workers and the pigs The pigs are packed together and slaughtered in huge groups. They treated like some kind of product instead of a living animal.
ReplyDeleteThe workers work for such a low wage, because in the workers situation they are willing to do just about anything to provide for themselves and family and the meat industry takes advantage of that. It seems like the factories care as much for the workers as they do to there pigs and other animals. It seemed like in the video the factory didn't even care when some of the Illegal immigrants were shipped back to mexico, the factory just goes and gets more people to take their place. This influences the food we eat because it makes it cheaper because the workers are willing to work for less. Its really sad how we as consumers eat meat that comes from a place where the workers are treated just like the animals they slaughter and where the animals are treated like products instead of living things.
In Food Inc. Ludlum states that "They have the same mentality toward workers as they do toward the hogs." No matter how much we try to deny this to ourselves, it is true. The conditions these pigs are raised in are awful. They are packed in so tight they can't even move, they have to lay in their own poop, and if one animal gets sick imagine how fast it would spread to the rest of the animals. When I saw how the people that worked in the slaughter house were treated it made me cringe. I had to look away from the screen several times. They are people being treated just like the animals they have to cut up. It makes me feel so bad for these people becuase the fact that they are willing to work in these conditions says something about the overall condition of their life. And what they are willing to do for money.
ReplyDeleteIllegal immigration is definitely connected to the food we eat. These people are in desperate need of money (obviously, otherwise they wouldn't take jobs like these). And the big business owners know this. Thats why they are willing to send bus loads full of undocumented workers up to their factories. No matter what they ask of their workers, the workers will obey becasue they need money to survive. I think when businesses use undocumented workers it promotes worker abuse. It influences the food we eat because it makes everything cheaper. Companies pay these workers a very low wage. The companies aren't worried about the workers needs and if the workers complain they know they can find someone else to fill in their spot without loosing any sleep over it.
I think the statment that "they have the same mentality towards the workers as they do toward the hogs" is true. The meat making industry doesn't care about the rights or feelings of the workers or the animals. It is all about money and how much they can make by paying lower than minumum wage. The factories don't care if their product isn't healthy, if the animals and workers are being treated cruelty, and if the conditions of the factory are unsanitary to work in. It makes me scared to think this is what America has come to. We have worked so hard in our country making rights for working conditions and minimum wage. It makes me wonder why these rules aren't being enforced and why all that matters is money. This makes me scared for our country and our rights as Americans.
ReplyDeleteWith illegal immagration, they work the jobs that most Americans would not. Also factory owners are able to make much more profit because they are able to pay illegals very cheap wages. If rules were enforced by the government in factories, then rights for workers would be enforced as well. We wouldn't need to get illegal immagrants to do these jobs for us. Legal US citizens could then have these jobs and get paid fairly and keep the factory in check so that there are healthy and fair working conditions. If the workers that work in factories are American citizens then they have the rights and opportunity to speak up and tell when something is wrong. When we have illegal immigrants doing these jobs they have no voice and therefore cannot complain about working conditions.
That is so sad, but I have to agree. To say a human is equivalent to an animal and such a dirty animal at that, is just wrong. This shows the companies obviously do not care about their employees; they are easily replaceable, cheap, and stripped of rights. The companies almost act as though they are separating themselves from the workers and products, like they want nothing to do with them. It just so happens the companies are in the business of food, and they need people to do the dirty work for them. The leaders of the companies are in it for the money.I think workers want to refuse to work but rely on that income too heavily to quit. Quite honestly, if we(Americans) want anything done to positively influence treatment of both, WE have to say something. The companies aren't going to listen to cheap labor or hogs.
ReplyDeleteThe food companies have eliminated the need of imported meat/fresh produce, consequently putting foreign farmers out of business. These companies realize that and offer them jobs in factories. These jobs do not have protection because illegals are not citizens and have no rights. In addition, Americans wouldn't even dream of doing these jobs because we think 'We are too good for that'- kind of the same mentality the companies have. Interesting. Thus, illegals are the people killing, processing, and packaging our food. Once again, Americans need to decide. Do we want our borders secured or processed and accessible food?
I do agree with the statement. This influences the treatment of workers and animals because they are replaceable, it doesn't matter if the workers get hurt or don't like the conditions because they can't do anything about it because then they would be deported. The government allows these large companies to bring in illegal immigrants because then they will make money, even though it is against the law. I don't think illegal immigration has as much to do with the food we eat, but how are food is prepared and packaged. This is at the fault of American's who say they would never work in a meat packing plant, a jobs a job if you have a family to feed. I disagree with what Whitney said " Americans need to decide. Do we want our borders secured or processed and accessible food?" American's can have secure borders and accessible food, but they have to do the work, reform of the food industry will only come from those who have a voice in our nation, and the only way they will realize that reform is needed is by working a job that may not be the most glamerous or easy. By allowing illegals to work these jobs Americans are choosing to have unsantiary conditions for their food.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Keith's statement, "They have the same mentality toward workers as they do toward the hogs." Both the pigs and workers are treated poorly. The workers are being paid nearly nothing for the work and the conditions they have to work in. They receive little to no benefits. The workers are taught to not talk about anything. The production of food in the United States is all about mass production. We want our food fast. I believe the way our food industry is operating is only hurting us!
ReplyDeleteIllegal immigration is highly connected with the food we eat everyday.
They are brought from Mexico to do the work that us Americans don't want to do. They work under horrible conditions, get paid a low wage, work long hours, and have to work at a fast pace. They are working to take care and feed their families. The workers do not go up and beyond because they have nothing to look forward to. Each day the workers are happy they have a job and hope they will not be sent back to Mexico.
I agree to the statement as stated. They obviously don't care about the workers, let alone the products they're making. It's all about the money and the cheaper more fast they can produce their product the better! Obviously the way the workers are treated reflects on how they treat the hogs just because the hogs are the only thing the workers are "above" in a sense so then they don't feel like the bottom of the food chain in the factory.
ReplyDeleteIllegal immigration is related to the food we eat since no one wants to get paid for that labor at minimum wage- immigrants will since it's a job. therefore it's cheaper and the companies can mass produce faster increasing their income.
In the movie, the owners of the company treat their workers just as horribly as they treat their pigs. I believe this is because they innitially treat the workers with a lack of respect and since an animal has no "emotions" or "feelings" they feel they can treat them even worse. It is a constant cycle of mistreatment that will doubtibly ever end. The workers want to make money and if not giving their workers the best conditions, that is OK because it saves them money in the end.
ReplyDeleteThe use of illegal immigration is definately a problem in industries such as the food industry. The workers are too afraid to tell anyone what exactly is going on so instead they just put up with the poor treatment in order to avoid any run-ins with the law. The workers also see the conditions in which the animals are being treated. Even though they know it is wrong and know that it is not right to treat an animal like that, they do not want to risk leaving their homes and families. I think it is sad that the owners need to resort to that level of poor treatment in order to save a buck and to keep a worker quiet. Owners should not be hiding anything that goes on in their factories. The poor treatment of the animals and workers need to stop, it isn't right how someone can treat another breathing thing this way.
I think that is so ridiculous and wrong. If they are treating the hogs with disrespect and abuse then they are treating the workers with disrespect and abuse. Just because many of the workers are immigrants does not mean they should be treated wrong. That also goes for the hogs there are ways to kill animals that is simple and not abusive. They also treat the workers and the hogs in the same way in the sense that when their gone either passed away or taken to jail for being immigrants they are replaced instantly. Along with the hogs there is always another hog their ready to take the place for the last one that just got butchered. It is an endless supply of workers and hogs. Which sounds so wrong.
ReplyDeleteI am not a fan of illegal immigration the people working at the hog farms and other factories should be American citizens who need work. But because many Americans would rather not be in that kind of industry immigrants are pulled in. They are somewhat important because without them there may not be enough workers to fulfill the entire tasks that need to be done in these factories. They are connected to the food we eat because these people are the ones who are cleaning them and butchering them. If those industries are not getting their workers they need they are not just going to shut down they are going to find people to work for them and so why not give immigrants jobs. It is too bad those immigrants aren’t given the same job opportunities in their own country and have to fear about being arrested or taken away here in the U.S
I believe this statement is exactly true, both the workers and hog are both treated poorly. The workers are probably always treated poorly so that is all they ever learned. So in return they treat the hogs poorly as well. This will be an never ending event unless someone steps in and teaches them are to respect each other.
ReplyDeleteIllegal immigration is clearly a problem here in the United States. Unfortunately, the immigrants do all the labor work for crops and food. Most these immigrants are picking crops or frying the food. With out them who knows if we would even be supplied with food?
I agree that the quote, “They have the same mentality toward workers as they do toward the hogs” is very true in the plants and factories where huge amounts of animals are slaughtered and mass amounts of food is produced. The workers are paid unfairly and expected to do one task multiple times in such a short period of time. The work is dangerous and unsanitary conditions. This mess is due to the massive amounts of animals that are coming through the prodcution line each day. Because the company is only interested in money,the quality of eaverything goes down, including the treatment of animals. The animals are treated with no respect whatsoeves. This needs to change but I do not see a change occuring anytime soon because the companies are making a lot of money this way.
ReplyDeleteImmigrants working for these kinds of businesses is a way for the company to pay them less money. The workers work hard to get the work done because it is an oppurtunity to start a new life here in the United States or to raise money to send back home to their family. The workers are unaware of the rough conditions from the start and that is wrong. I don't believe the companies are doing anything ethically.
I think it's very true that the meat industries have the same mentality towards the workers as they do the hogs and I think it's absolutely terrible. Just from watching the Farms Inc. video, anyone can obviously see that the workers and the hogs are not treated how they should be treated. There are so many workers that the industry doesn't really care about what happens to them. They're just another worker.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure they go through workers pretty quickly which is why they hire whoever they can get which is often times illegal immigrants. The immigrants need any job they can get and they are handling a lot of the meat that people eat every day often times unaware of the harsh conditions they are working in.
I agree with the statement that meat idustries view their workers and their hogs the same, and i think it's wrong. These people are doing work that you would never in your life want to do, and they're doing it for a very small amount of money. Not only that, but if the meat companies didnt have workers then they would be out of business. They should be treating their workers with respect and dignity and thanking them for 'taking one for the team' and doing the dirty work so that other people dont have to.
ReplyDeleteI think that if there were no illegal immigrants working in our food factories, that a lot of places would have to shut down until they found some other source for workers. Though i dont support illegal immigration, it is a fact that a lot of factory workers are illegals and if we didnt have them then there wouldnt be enough people to function. People get super mad when they think about illegal immigration and Mexicans using up all of our [America's] money and blah blah blah but in reality most illegal immigrants are almost doing us a favor by working those nasty jobs because when they do them, that means that we dont have to.
There is a lot of truth in that statement. Not only do the workers have to function in the same disgusting environment that the hogs live in, but they also get payed in wages that are not fit for human beings to live off of. While I find it morally wrong to keep animals of any kind locked up in the conditions they do, I also find it wrong to make worker perform jobs like that for such small wages.
ReplyDeleteI feel like the illegal workforce is fueling the corrupt food corporations in many ways. Without the large amount of cheap labor they get they would not get to operate the way they do. WIth American workers come standards and unions that would prevent low wages and awful working conditions. If the standards of production were held in check then perhaps we would finally see a change in the way our food is processed which might lead to a healthier nation down the road.
I feel that the workers are treated not much different than the hogs. The head corporation really don't care about what happens to the workers, much like they don't care about the pigs. If they really cared, the workers they bring up from Mexico wouldn't be arrested and sent back to Mexico because no one else is willing to work under the crappy working conditions that they have.
ReplyDeleteThe illegal immigrants are the ones that are producing the food that comes from most of these major "producers." When they come up, they only work for so long before they get arrested for illegal immigration. If the companies tried protecting their emplyees, they might actually have better facilities, not like that would really ever happen, but one could wish.
I think they do treat the workers the same as the hogs. If they change anything it would be to make it appear as if they treat the workers better. The hogs will continue to be murdered with no say at all. At least the workers can speak up if they want or quit and this may be the only job the have but they DO have a choice. Honestly I would rather die and go hungry living on the streets than work there. As for immigration, I think it can be bad for our economy but at the same time I sypathize with the immigrants because they need a better life and we can provide that. The food industry loves them because they can get away with paying them horrible wages for horrible jobs that no american would take. Possibly if there was less illegal immigration the companies would be humbled a little bit, but I doubt it.
ReplyDeleteI fully agree with Keith Ludlum's statement regarding the treatment of the workers as well as livestock...these food businesses are in it for the money, and the money ONLY...despite what they try to portray to the consumer. You have a handful of executives hiring out minimum (if not less in some cases) wage jobs to: those who settle for these positions, those who do it to make ends "meat", and the undocumented workers who do the job to provide for those back home and a chance at the "American Dream", just so that they (the executives) can make the big bucks while their "dirty" work is done for them. These companies follow/maintain the bare minimum (often times it is below the bare minimum, and goes unnoted/neglected by those in the positions to maintain the regulations) as far as the working conditions, safety of the livestock, the approval(cleanliness, safety) of the final product produced, etc. Many executives will come back and say the worker has a choice to do the job they do....BUT DO THEY REALLY?! With our economy as it is/has been, these positions are often a "last resort" in order to just BARELY make it by. I feel that if the companies stuck to the illegal immigration laws, they would be forced to change their ways, which would lead to better working conditions and products, which would finally decrease the unemployment rates and percentages...but that's probably exactly why they won't do it-they don't want to change their ways.
ReplyDelete1.)I agree with Ludlum's statment regarding the treatment of workers and livestock. The works and the pigs are treat like they are nothing. All the company is looking for is a way to make money faster with less effort.
ReplyDelete2.) The way that illegal immagrants are treated by these companies is just wrong in everyway. These immagrants are coming to the States to work for these compies because the companies came to there homes in Mexico to hire them. Although they are being paid poorly the immagrant need the money so they leave there homeland and work at the factories getting paid very little. When the immagrants are there for awhile the company tells the police that there are illegal immagrants in certain places and there are taken back to Mexico. The company just uses them for cheap labor and then send them home when they get more people from Mexico to take there place.
1)If they think the workers are so easily replacable. Then they don't need to care how well they're treating them cause if a worker decides to quite they'll hire two cheaper workers to replace the one that left. With the new workers comes inexperience and not the same work ethic of a more seasoned worker in that job area. By that time the worker will get stressed out from being under paid, poor working conditions, and having an employer that just doesn't care for the worker like they should.
ReplyDelete2)Immigrant workers are mainly hired for there special features. Usually they don't speak english, have a current job, reserve funds(money in a bank), or own anything of value. This makes them willing to do almost any job to make a living for them and their familiy. Also, there is more than enough workers coming from Mexico with laws that were pasted about trading with Mexico.