Food, Inc. 2 – A KIDSFIRST! Movie Review

Food, Inc. 2 is a timely and urgent follow-up to the Oscar®-nominated documentary from directors Robert Kenner and Melissa Robledo. In the sequel, Kenner and Robledo reunite with investigative authors Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma) and Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation) to take a fresh look at our vulnerable food system. The groundbreaking Food, Inc. ignited a cultural conversation about the multinational corporations that control our food system at enormous cost to our planet, workforce, and health. FOOD, INC. 2 comes “back for seconds” to reveal how corporate consolidation has gone unchecked by our government, leaving us with a highly efficient yet shockingly vulnerable food system dedicated only towards increasing profits. Seeking solutions, the film introduces innovative farmers, food producers, workers’ rights activists, and prominent legislators such as U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Jon Tester, who are facing these companies head-on and fighting to create a more sustainable future.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Selene W. comments, “Our lives depend on healthy food. I believe it’s imperative to watch the new documentary Food, Inc. 2 to learn about our food supply system one bite at a time by watching this informative and thought-provoking film.”

Food, Inc. 2

Selene W.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 16

Our lives depend on healthy food. I believe it’s imperative to watch the new documentary Food, Inc. 2 to learn about our food supply system one bite at a time by watching this informative and thought-provoking film.  You and your family can move forward by making choices to work toward a healthier future which is certainly my goal.      

Food, Inc. 2 is an update to 2008’s Food, Inc. which was a groundbreaking Oscar®-nominated expose on the multinational corporations that control our food supply.  There has been more consolidation in the food industry since 2008 and Food, Inc. 2 explores how our values should impact our food choices.  This documentary emphasizes the anti-trust and monopoly issues encountered in our agricultural system.  It highlights the profits of capitalism versus the sustainability of nature and how this directly affects the quality and nutrition of our food.  In addition, the movie makes the point that the agricultural labor force is essential, but is often treated as disposable.

Corporate profits have risen at the expense of both consumers and rural America’s farming communities. There are concerns for future soil and water quality which impact our food’s nutritional value as well as the effect they have on individuals and our communities. I value the information shared by Senators Cory Booker and Jon Tester as they work to improve access to healthy food and support our farmers.  The documentary is also interesting when it chronicles the food additives that affect our taste and metabolism.  Most other countries don’t have so many highly processed foods and multinational corporations are looking to change that in their zeal to increase corporate profits. Perhaps there will be added cooperation with international partners in finding ways to improve nutrition and agriculture globally in the future.  I enjoyed learning about the innovative farmers working to improve our food supply from the ground up or, in the case of a kelp farmer, by charting a new course in food supply. I learned a great deal from all of the interviews and contributors to this project and hope that, in the future, there will be more information available to us concerning the impact on health and our healthcare system tied to nutritional and environmental concerns.

Food, Inc. was released the year I was born and this new documentary, Food, Inc. 2 will hopefully provide further food for thought for a new generation or for those who missed the original film. There may be some viewers who feel that there is not enough differentiation between the original documentary and the new update but this makes it palatable for those of us who haven’t watched the original to understand the overview of the food industry and to inspire us so that hopefully our food supply can improve by replicating better standards and not from further consolidation.

Food, Inc. 2 gets 4.5 out of 5 stars from me and I recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. This documentary was released in theaters for special screenings on April 9, 2024, and will then be available digitally on April 12, 2024.