Maria Chiorando,
PlantBasedNews.org
January 2018
Following the screening of Rotten, the program has come in for criticism from a number of vegan viewers, who claim it overlooks animals as victims of the food system.
The show focused on the food industry (Photo:Netflix)
A Netflix show that focuses on corruption within the global food system
has come in for criticism from number of vegans.
Rotten - a six-part series - debuted on January 5.
According to the network, the series 'dives deep into the food production
underworld to expose the corruption, waste and real dangers behind your
everyday eating habits'.
Food production
Each episode tackles a different aspect of food production.
Big Bird looks at chicken farming, Milk Money looks at how
dairy farmers are turning to producing potentially deadly 'raw unpasteurized
milk' in an attempt to boost profits, and Cod is Dead looks at
criminal exploitation within the fishing industry.
Criticism
Many vegans reacted to news of the show's launch with excitement.
But following the screening, the program has come in for criticism from a
number of vegan viewers, who claim it overlooks animals as victims of the
food system.
Among them are YouTubers
'That
Vegan Couple' who made a video about Rotten speaking about what they
believed its flaws to be.
Problems
While Natasha and Luca believe there is merit to the show, as it focuses
on food production - something that is often overlooked entirely by
consumers, there are problems.
In their video they say: "The negative is that [the show] focused on the
people within this food production system as being the victims, and they
ignored - by and large - the real victims, the animals, when it comes to the
chicken and milk episodes.
"They are definitely focusing on the human perspective when it comes to
being a victim of the food industry."
Terrible conditions
The couple make the point that conditions for humans working in many
sectors of the food industry are terrible.
They add: "It's terribly exploitative and not fair for anyone [working in
parts of the food industry focusing on animals].
"It's not fair for the workers and also for the farmers.
"It's not a good scenario for any being involved."
Not empowering
The couple believe the show did not empower viewers, and while it painted
a bleak but realistic view of production, it did not offer any answers.
"The solution is, of course, for many of the issues raised is eating a
plant-based diet," says Natasha.
Luca added: "For health, for the environment, and for the lives of animals
most importantly."
Number of animals killed in the world by the fishing, meat, dairy and egg industries, since you opened this webpage.
0 marine animals
0 chickens
0 ducks
0 pigs
0 rabbits
0 turkeys
0 geese
0 sheep
0 goats
0 cows / calves
0 rodents
0 pigeons/other birds
0 buffaloes
0 dogs
0 cats
0 horses
0 donkeys and mules
0 camels / camelids