• Is it age appropriate?

  About our ratings

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  Not age appropriate for kids under 10, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 13.

• Is it any good?

  4.0

• Common Sense says

  Important -- and disturbing -- documentary about food biz.

Why We Rated This for Ages 13 and Up

The good stuff

• Messages:

  Despite emphasizing the gloom and doom of our country's dependence on a select group of multi-national corporations that monopolize our food industry, the documentary ultimately has a hopeful message: Pay attention to the food you eat, buy locally grown food, support independent farmers, make more meals as a family, and eat less (much, much less) at fast-food restaurants.

What to watch out for

• Violence:

  Disturbing scenes of a crowded chicken house and cattle factory, and even more disturbing scenes of various slaughterhouses that "process" chickens, pigs, and cows into poultry, pork, and beef. In one scene, a more traditional farmer and his workers slit the throats of chickens, but it's quick and not as gruesome as the slaughterhouse segments.
• Sex:

  Not an issue.
• Language:

  Nothing too alarming besides "stupid" and "damn."
• Consumerism:

  Several multi-national food corporations are discussed at length: Monsanto, Perdue, Smithfield, Tyson, ConAgra, and BPI in particular, as well as fast-food chains like McDonald's and Burger King and supermarkets like Walmart. 
• Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

  Not an issue.

What Parents Need to Know

About Food, Inc.

Families Can Talk About