A PfP Films Production in association with Werner Pro

Poisoned for Profit

A Summary of the Documentary - Runtime 135 minutes

Most Americans do not realize to what extent eating common processed foods poses a serious risk to our health. Although many of us may have a general notion that eating foods with artificial ingredients is not very good, few are aware of the staggering numbers of people who, as a result, are suffering and dying every year from afflictions such as, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. Many are shocked to learn that hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. are dying annually from diseases resulting from an improper diet and eating processed foods.

Poisoned for Profit examines this issue and asks the question, "If this really poses such a serious health risk, then why is it allowed?" It is clear that the major food corporations have enough money and influence over our government and regulatory agencies to the point where the priority is more often the interests of those corporations as opposed to our health. In addition, there is a form of self-censorship which is in practice here. The major food corporations are one of the main sources of advertising revenue for mass media. Therefore, television news, newspapers, and magazines are reluctant to cover this issue, and if they do it is usually done only on a superficial level. Journalists have been threatened with termination, and have actually been terminated, when they have been too persistent about covering such stories which would offend these powerful sponsors. There are experts in the field – doctors, university professors, nutritionists, authors, and others who are speaking out, but not being heard.

Poisoned for Profit has created a venue for some of these experts to speak out and be heard. Could additives such as, high fructose corn syrup, MSG, aspartame, sodium nitrite or nitrate, hydrogenated oils, trans fats, and artificial colors be considered poison?  Listen to doctors, nutritionists and public policy advocates discuss this issue and how processed foods in general can pose a serious risk to our health. Random interviews have also been conducted on the street to hear what people from various backgrounds think about the issue. In addition, we have met with individuals who have suffered from diseases related to a diet high in processed foods.

For example, one such individual has explained that several years ago he was diagnosed with terminal cancer and was told by American doctors that he might survive another six months if he underwent some terribly disfiguring surgery. Instead, he went to a hospital in Mexico, was told that his cancer resulted in large part from his diet, and underwent treatment which included a drastic change in what he was eating. This person was completely cured, without any surgery, and is in good health today. We also visited this hospital, Oasis of Hope, in Mexico.

In Poisoned for Profit three families were challenged to not eat any foods with specific additives for a week to demonstrate how difficult it is, since these harmful additives are in so many foods that we commonly purchase.

Also, appearing in the documentary are several short animation pieces, to introduce, or emphasize, topics covered.

Poisoned for Profit will leave viewers with no doubt that this is a very serious issue which is not getting the attention it deserves. This is not just a health issue that affects some other people. We are all being put in danger.  Hundreds of thousands of  people a year are dying from cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer for the sake of profit. After understanding the real danger, we hope that viewers will make some changes in their lives, and demand that the food corporations, our government and regulatory agencies make some significant changes as well.