FOOD NEWS: A Conversation with 'King Corn' Filmmaker: Part 2

[Songbird808]

I wish I could afford food that was more healthy. But, it's more expensive to eat food that is not processed, let alone organic.

Also, I'm allergic to fresh fruits and vegetables. And I'm not kidding. Had a few pieces of chopped carrots and celery that I didn't know were in the macaroni salad I was eating, and I caused me quite a bit of greif.

If I don't eat altered food, I'll starve. . . .if I do, I get a poisoned liver.

Wonderful.

[DBKK]

@Songbird808 ur allergic to fresh fruits and vegetables lol? nice troll

[Songbird808]

@DBKK

You think I'm kidding? You're the troll. Get your facts straight. 

[Chadolution]

I'm a vegetarian, and the only corn that I eat is organic corn... NO high fructose corn syrup. I used to drink a 2-liter of soda pop every day, and it made me fat (280 pounds) Thanks for telling the truth.

[mikeygeneral]

He doesn't like corn, But he's an alcoholic?

[johnkimk7]

Now its easier to understand the experiment of SUPERSIZE ME. When Morgan Spurlock visited the doctors and they examined his liver after a while into his experiment. He basically killed his liver after all the fast food and it is because of the high fructose corn syrup made with fast food which will kill your liver.

[healthfreak18]

Although there are few, you do not have to be wealthy to be healthy. Sometimes people who are middle class pay a ton of money for crap but don't realize they could be spending much less. I know because I've been there.

[AbeLincolnisBack]

Excellent, young man.  I speak on this topic as well.

President Lincoln

[silverblue73]

'tard

[russianRshit]

Why does he automatically associate poverty with minorities? The fattest people I see in America are people in the bible belt regions of the south, who are mostly white. Its actually quiet racist to thoughtlessly associate poverty with minorities which isnt even the reality of American society.

[maynardhs79]

He didn't just assume it. There is an overwhelming amount of data that shows 1) Obesity and poor health is associated with income level and 2) income level is associated with status as a minority. Does it mean all minorities are poor or that all minorities are obese? No. But the statistics show that minorities suffer disproportionately from poverty and poor health.

[AcaiBerryMONAVIE]

MAN MADE SUGAR IS EVIL- ban HIGH fucken fructose

[GusBulltamer]

there's no profit in a healthy America. Keep eating the poison HFCS. Stay away from raw foods. Do your part for the economy. Be a fat patriot!

[MrJayy7]

in a nut shell...

[free2hug]

Corn on the brain. If you are concerned about high fructose corn syrup, join a campaign to get cola companies to switch to beet or cane sugars at thepoint[dot]com and search for corn syrup ...I just signed my name.

Hopefully this starts the path to better corporate responsibility. Cola companies seem to use cane or beet sugar in countries outside the U.S. Why not in the US?

[burntvirtue]

"The challenge we face is to be able to grow cheap, HEALTHY food for everyone"

That will never happen because the government wants us eating this garbage food, and watching garbage T.V., and going to throw our money away by expecting garbage, profit-driven medical centers to cure the ailments that the food gave us with other chemically created "medicines", and teeaching our kids to do the same so we perpetuate this horrible cycle, and stay stupid and fat while the elite stay rich and fit.

[madtairam]

GMO and Hormones all the way man - always wanted to be Superman!

[mac1flow]

I grow my own corn these days. Rainbow corn grows strong these days. :-)

[thrivesurvive]

As a raw vegan, I don't eat corn at all (except for the one-two cooked vegans meals I have every week), and the occasional raw corn I add to salads (which is hopefully non-gmo, assuming that still exists ion this country). You eliminate all the bad stuff when you eat raw veggies. I use agave nectar for a sweetener. Or dates.

[funnyguise]

"You eliminate all the bad stuff when you eat raw veggies."

Only if you're fortunate enough to live nearby a fresh produce market and especially organic because, unless you're washing all your veggies wish dishsoap (petrochemicals) you're eating a ton of pesticides and herbicides. It's a strange world we live in.

Everyone here should do a search for "deliberately dumbing down"

[renetrice]

Eating less processed foods is much better for us all... but all of us can't afford it. That's the problem.

[VeiledGlory]

Amen on the two-food system! There needs to be some equalizing for local food systems!

[funnyguise]

support the small hemp companies that are doing it! HEMP is the future of mass food production.

HEMP HEMP HEMP HEMP HEMP HEMP

look it up!!!!

[datmorganman92]

i lvu!!! HEMP is incredible 4 the environment!!!!! could seriusly help global warming!!!!

[crackerwiz]

It's not that hard to avoid it, just eat real food.  Most processed food will have it in it. It's funny how some people are just waking up to this. Eat whole organic raw food. Avoid hydrogenated oils, milk, sugar, and white flour/non whole grains.

[cookingupastory]

That's what Curt discovered, he was eating real food! If on the road and he stopped for a quick snack, prior he might have opted for fast food, during his month of no corn by-products, he would get a banana or some carrot sticks. A change in eating habits, yes, but one that was doable.

[bratfink74]

Why throw out your toothpaste? You don't eat it, do you? It won't cause diabetes if you don't eat it.

[cookingupastory]

I believe, bratfink74, he was just trying to keep away from anything that had HFCS as an ingredient for one month. It was another example how HFCS has permeated so many products, even toothpaste (which surprised me, but when I stopped to think about it, it does kinda make sense because it does taste a little sweet; not tart, not bland, and not bad).

[bratfink74]

Ah, ok, thanks. Wow, It seems nearly impossible to avoid HFCS! I wonder if HFCS might be added to some foods and then not mentioned on the label (which, of course, would be illegal) just to make them seem less junk-foody.

[Rateman10]

High fructose corn syrup is real problem for a lot of people these days. Read the labels and Stop using it. Stop eating fast food and watch your health improve.

[monkeypayson]

About a year ago we found that my son, who is in the Autism Spectrum, is allergic to something in GMO foods. We had to cut out everything with corn syrup and soy in it, except for those soy products labeled "Non-GMO". As a result, we are all eating better and feeling TONS better and... for the first time in my life, I've become politically active. Because, although I never realized it before my son's life was at risk: food is a political issue.

[eclectro]

As someone who has gotten very sick over this issue, I understnad it. It may interest you to know that corn/soy is present in MANY soaps, hair cair products, and pet food. All, if which you handle with your hands, will continue to make you ill. Also, I have yet to find a doctor who can diagnose me.

[monkeypayson]

Hey Electro,

Yes, we found that out too. We've had to rearrange our entire budget (we go without a lot of things we thought we needed) in order to go all natural. We are lucky because where we live there is a good deal of awareness around this issue. We are working with two doctors, one a psychiatrist who works with supplements and one a naturopath, who are both on top of the GMO issue. I wish you luck. It's not easy. Get active too. (When you feel well enough. :)

[blackberryjuice1]

Obama should hire this guy to head the Department of Agriculture!

[eltearpdx]

FYI King Corn is scheduled to air on Public Television's "Independent Lens" series in April of 2008. If you missed the theatre run of this great documentary, or it never made it to your town, don't miss it!

[cookingupastory]

Thanks, eltearpdx, for the info!

[toughfarmingboy]

I understnd that our food has alot of corn syrup, but its not like eating dessert all the time....you body needs the high fructos syrup, but not all the time.

[eltearpdx]

lol noone NEEDS high fructose corn syrup -- our bodies need nutrition, not just calories. We could all eat quite well without HFCS ... if processors would just stop adding it.

[Iowarch]

Agribiz has the answer, turn all the corn into fuel, it is more important to fuel your car than it is to fuel your body. Consequently people will starve from lack of real food.

[parduspilot]

I'd like to know for sure one way or the other if all the intensive farming has reduced the mineral (macro and trace) nutritional value of our foods due to the quality of the topsoil. So far I haven't heard this touched on in the videos.

[cookingupastory]

Interesting question. I have a guess, but that's not necessarily the correct answer. I'll ask around. Anyone else have input/knowledge in this area?

[guacamolecestsibon]

Okay...I know i have been posting comments on here left , right and center ...But then the topic of dicussion is just so important.

Yes..extensive farming does leach out the topsoil minerals and thus the next crop product(food) might end up low in quality.

[cookingupastory]

That would be my guess, guac, because it makes logical sense. But do you (or anyone else) know if studies have been done?

[guacamolecestsibon]

An apple and lil soy milk in a carton pack..good to go.I drink the unsweetened unflavored silk organic soymilk.

I find that unflavored stuff is far more healthy than some other fruit juices or even sweetened and flavored milk- which are "suppossedly healthy" but then they are full of citric acid, coloring, sugar(again-high fructose corn syrup ) and what not.That leaves little room for the actual fruit juice.

Just a few suggestions to get started.

[cookingupastory]

Thanks! Might be a good time to start a few new good habits... Happy New Year!!

[guacamolecestsibon]

heya again

just came back here coz i read your reply and wanted to respond

While travelling..the safest food choices one could make is "Fruit"- Apples and bananas are very good as snacks while on the move.They are available at airport foodstands too,not to mention school cafetarias. I always keep a couple of firm Granny green apples inside my bag or backpack while i am out of home..They don't bruise(unlike a banana) and they are filling and nutritious at the same time.

[parduspilot]

You certainly are going for the sugar-containing foods. Is it okay to live on dessert food?

[guacamolecestsibon]

Sugar is not bad at all..Infact sugar is our chief energy source.

The key rule is..eat complex sugars rather than simple sugars.Also eat natural food where there is a balance of fiber and sugar--Like an apple perhaps?Banana has cellulose and disaccharides...which yet again aids in bowel movement.

[guacamolecestsibon]

I definitely need that sugar to keep up my energy levels-I deliberately choose banana primarily because it is a chief source of potassium and sucrose --which would keep me going till i am able to sit down and have a decent lunch.

[guacamolecestsibon]

The common misconception is that sugars are bad.

sugars are not bad..but eating sugars in excess of one's daily requirement is what makes one obese.Same holds good for any type of food-proteins too.

If you eat more than you are burning each day..the excess goes and gets stored as fat in the body.

BTW..thanks for interacting this way.I am glad that we are able to have useful discussions here on Cookingupastory's video page

[cookingupastory]

okay by me! I think it is important to start a conversation, share viewpoints, and start making positive changes in our daily lives toward a better way of living for everyone. Thanks for adding to this (hopefully!) ongoing dialogue!

[guacamolecestsibon]

Actually..it is very easy to eat for a whole month without having to use HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP..

The cardinal rule is to eat fresh food .Not use ready made sauces..make things from scratch at home .fresh fruits or even frozen fruits and vegetables are okay.just make the sauce from real tomatoes and herbs..rather than pouring it out form a can or bottle.

I don't drink soda.. i am a vegetarian so the beef part of it totally eliminated

there ya go..gist to healthy food and a healthy life

[cookingupastory]

I agree with you wholeheartedly, guacamolecestsibon. I think the big challenge, for many, is when we eat out...restaurants, conferences, meetings, school cafeterias, other houses. And for those eating on the fly (not a good choice I know) and finding something quick, but 'healthy'. Thoughts or suggestions?

[samm1809]

this has inspired me.........to start a corn farm and get damn rich...

[cynicallisa]

Ha ha! Yeah, maybe I should thank the squirrels and chipmunks that get a hold of the corn in my birdseed mix and "plant it" for me. I should be generating revenue from that corn!

[felipe20064]

Two) the land is 100% paid for and he has an high income else where. or three) the farmer lives elsewhere with money and just does the farming as a hobby. If you own money on your land, you are doing EVERYTHING you can to get your money back which usually means... get big and loose the nostalgic "family farm"

[felipe20064]

The undefined "family farm" as it is touted in political and media circles does not exist today. If you see a farm with a family happily growing food and raising cattle and pig, that farmer is probably doing is because one) he has a job else where that pays really well and does not NEED to worry about his income.....

[rgm1984]

Wait..what's wrong with corn now? It's just the corn syrup that's in everything that is a problem?

Interesting video. I liked it.

[taragolden]

try eating only or mostly raw foods.. its only PROCESSED foods that have corn..

[DrkstrInc]

I eat whatever I want, I could care less if what I'm eating is killing me slowly.

[Denisehealthnut]

Affordable is key, I am one of those obsessed people who only eats organic and I just paid $9.83 for less than 2 pounds of grapes at wholefoods market and I thought to myself what about regular people with children how can they afford to eat healthy foods? This is a big problem. I don't eat corn at all, or processed foods. If it's packaged chances are it's not good for you.

[cookingupastory]

Most families can't afford the higher priced foods. That is one of the reasons great consideration ought to be put into the current Farm Bill. Perhaps subsidizing organic farmers might lead to more affordable prices for good, clean food instead of processed foods with high amounts of salt, fat, or HFCS. Help fight the obesity epidemic.

[cynicallisa]

By the way, I did comment on changing the farm bill as you say here, via an Oxfam comment process. Later I read that despite all statements to the contrary, the farm bill wound up looking pretty much like the previous ones. I don't think we should give up, but clearly it will take awhile. Then again, "Supersize Me" did change the fast food industry so maybe this will too.

[cookingupastory]

Yes, it will take some time to change the mess that has been created, but I think the conversations have started and awareness has begun reaching larger numbers of people. And, like you said, I think this film will help in that direction too.

[communitywork]

There is so much imported junk food and breakfast cereals in the Philippines from the United States. This informative video has made me more conscious of the food I eat and share with my friends.

[cookingupastory]

Unfortunately, for those of us who live in the US, this appears to be predominantly an American 'problem', to my knowledge. And, as you point out, those countries that import food made from here. What, besides sugar, is used to sweeten foods in the Phillipines (if you know)?

[Denisehealthnut]

No, because the U.S exports tons of food to other countries, especially poor countries.

Correction, not food, but genetically modified crap that will kill these people just like it's killing Americans slowly with the diabetes, heart disease, cancer etc. that Americans suffer from

[iguanahotsauce]

I met him in person and talked to him about king corn. Corn really is everywhere and it is hard to find items without corn in them

[parrot201]

Wow, corn is EVERYWHERE. IN the most unlikely foods.

[cookingupastory]

I'm amazed corn, in its various forms, was able to make its way into so foods.

[Urgelt]

Superb videography, superb message.

It's not a message we'll ever hear on mainstream media; processed food manufacturers have too much sway there.

YouTube offers the potential to get the truth out - and you're the one doing it. Kudos!

[averagebetty]

Fast food is so easy. Real food requires more planning and preparation. Making healthy food affordable, convenient and tasty to a generation addicted to sugar, salt and convenience is a challenge. Very corny situation we have gotten ourselves in.

[cookingupastory]

It is pretty crazy, averageBetty. And you're right, it takes a little extra time to pland and prepare, but the outcome is so much better, IMHO.

[teresaveg]

I am in Iowa... I only buy local and organic from the coop in Iowa City. People WANT this change. Farmers here are being taken over by greedy factory farm owners and Monsanto. Until Monsanto goes under... our land continues to be poisoned. You really should hook up with the Dave Matthews Band. He has a farm and believes in the same things you are talking about.

[dionysusstar]

Looking forward to the documentary coming out. More and more it seems the future is to take agriculture into our own hands. Those of us who cannot afford sustainable organic foods will have to grow our own in order for it to be affordable. Thanks for posting.