Books, Reports, Websites, Movies, and More
Food is a broad topic. It touches everything from cuisine to climate change, hunger to factory and organic farms, pathogens to healthy arteries. Millions of books, articles, and websites could be listed here, so consider the items listed here as just tiny tip of the iceberg. We believe they are all interesting and informative in one way or another.
Some obvious advice when you are searching for online information: seek reliable websites. When exploring health issues, guard against unreliable medical websites and those pushing (usually unnecessary) dietary supplements. Some of the best starting places for information on any topic are websites sponsored by the federal government and established nonprofit organizations like the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Environmental Defense Fund, and ASPCA. Most trade associations and corporations have commercial interests that just might shade their opinions.
The National Food Museum does not necessarily endorse the content of these resources.
We welcome your suggestions of additional important and reliable items.
Agricultural Biotechnology
Agricultural biotechnology overview
An objective overview of a controversial topic, with a special emphasis on government policies (Congressional Research Service, 2021)
Environment/Climate
Food in the Anthropocene: the EAT–Lancet Commission on healthy diets from sustainable food systems
Food in the Anthropocene: the EAT–Lancet Commission on healthy diets from sustainable food systems – awesome, comprehensive, authoritative report on food, health, environment, population, and
Foods’ Effects on Planet
Compare effects of different foods (Washington Post) (subscription required)
Global Food Security and the U.S. Food System
This state-of-the-science assessment establishes the technical foundation for managing food security outcomes around the world and for preparing consumers, agricultural producers, and others in the United States for changing conditions.
John Oliver on Food Waste
A comedian’s wry eye on wasting food (Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, HBO, 2015, 18’)
Livestock’s Long Shadow
Livestock’s Long Shadow FAO’s comprehensive 2006 report on the impact of livestock on the environment
Tackling the climate crisis with a more plant-based diet
Tackling the climate crisis with a more plant-based diet. United Nations Environment Program (2018)
The Impacts of Climate Change On Human Health in the United States
It advances scientific understanding of the impacts of climate change on public health, highlights social and environmental disparities that make some communities particularly vulnerable to climate change, and confirms that climate change is a significant threat to the health of all Americans.
Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
The United Nations’ report on “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” offers 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Farm Animal Welfare
Animal Liberation Now, by Peter Singer
2023 edition of the Princeton philosopher’s classic book on speciesism and the terrible way animals are sometimes treated in testing labs and on factory farms.
A succinct profile of the welfare of animals in the meat, egg, and dairy industries
Humane Society of the United States
Farming
A Sweet Deal
An X-ray of the sugar industry’s environmental and labor practices (Netflix)
Beef Industry Claims It Is Sustainable
A message from the industry’s promotional arm (3’)
Dutch Farming
Efficient, productive, humane— the future of farming? (Dutch public broadcasting service) A Washington Post article takes an in-depth look at Dutch farming (2022; subscription required)
Farm Subsidies – a Quick Primer
Washington Post editorial, May 4, 2023 (subscription required)
Food and Farming of the Future
From robots in farm fields to 3D printing of fish (CNN, 2023; 23’)
Food Chains
Eye-opening, hopeful documentary film about farm labor, especially the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and Napa Valley workers; participants include Eva Langoria and Eric Schlosser (2014; 83’)
Food for Thought, Food for Life
Beautiful film advocating local, sustainable agriculture. 22’
Food Forward
PBS series of videos mostly on environmentally sound farming (13 25’ episodes)
Global Mega-Farms
This video of a speech by George Steinmetz, a National Geographic photographer, shows stunning photos from his Feed the World, which sheds new light on today’s mega-farms. (2022)
Global Mega-Farms II
Astounding photos by George Steinmetz of food production around the world.
GMO: To Label or Not
The Commonwealth Club of California’s 2012 debate on whether foods containing ingredients from genetically engineered crops should be labeled. A national law took effect on
Harvest of Shame
Landmark CBS-TV documentary about the plight of migrant farmworkers (Thanksgiving Day, 1960; sponsored by Philip Morris, with host Edward R. Murrow smoking a cigarette; 52’)
Kiss the Ground
A Netflix film, narrated by Woody Harrelson, that advocates regenerative agriculture and a more-plant-based diet
Modern-day Slavery on American Farms” in Georgia (USA Today, 2022) and in Florida (Coalition of Immokalee Farmworkers)
“Modern-day Slavery on American Farms” in Georgia (USA Today, 2022) and in Florida (Coalition of Immokalee Farmworkers)
Toward Sustainable Agricultural Systems in the 21st Century
Summary of the National Academy of Sciences’ 2010 report
X-Ray of Beef Industry’s Campaign to Counter “Mis-information” About Beef
The Guardian, May 3, 2023
Food, Culture, Art
Immigrant Food Cultures in New York and Other Cities
Fascinating profiles (text, videos) of Chinese, Ethiopian, and other food cultures. Cooked up by Eater and MOFAD.
Food Industry
Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal
Eric Schlosser 2012 insightful book is more about the plight of food workers than fast food.
Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health
Marion Nestle, the prominent New York University food-studies professor literally wrote the book on the politics of food.
How To Eat: All Your Food and Diet Questions Answered
How to Eat: All Your Food and Diet Questions Answered, by David Katz and Mark Bittman. A concise guide on how to eat healthfully that cuts through a
The Jungle
American packinghouses that endangered consumers, harmed workers, and were cruel to the animals.
Food, Nutrition, Health
1969 White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, and Health
The landmark conference that led to the hugely successful “War on Hunger.”
Blue Zones: How to Live to 100
Beautifully filmed Netflix documentary series with Blue Zones author Dan Buettner
ChopChop
An award-winning quarterly magazine that uses cooking and food preparation to get kids interested in healthy eating.
Decoding symbols on food labels
Excerpted from How to Be a Conscious Eater, by Sarah Egan
Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025
A statement of nutrition advice and America’s basic nutrition policy
Edible Insects
In-depth report on an eco-friendly source of protein (UN, Food and Agriculture Organization; 2013)
Food 2050
Food 2050 This series of 10 beautiful 7-minute videos, produced by the Rockefeller Foundation and Media RED, that document the efforts of 10 global visionaries
How the Other Half Eats: The Untold Story of Food and Inequality in America, by Priya Fielding-Singh
How the Other Half Eats: The Untold Story of Food and Inequality in America, by Priya Fielding-Singh.
Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation
(University of Washington) county-by-county color-coded maps of the United States showing the life expectancy, mortality rates, and risk factors for disease.
Junk-food Makers Reveal Their Thinking
Interviews with industry executives show how companies placed profits over public health.
Poisoned: the Dirty Truth About Your Food
Foodborne illnesses—2023 update (Netflix, 84’)
Salt Wars: The Battle Over the Biggest Killer in the American Diet
Salt: The Forgotten Killer, by Michael F. Jacobson, the founder of the National Food Museum, explains the evidence demonstrating that a high-sodium diet contributes to
USDA Food Availability Database
The best information about how much of which foods Americans have eaten since the 1960s
Hunger
Farmlink Project
This inspiring video shows how a student-founded nonprofit is reducing hunger and preventing food waste. (22’, promotional)
History of the U.S. Food Stamp Program
History of the U.S. Food Stamp Program “Food stamps have all but eliminated the severe hunger and malnutrition that we saw in the 1960s.” (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 14’, 2007).
Hunger in America
May 21st marks the 50th anniversary of the CBS News documentary “Hunger In America.” The 1968 special revealed widespread malnutrition in graphic detail, and in the years that followed, Republicans and Democrats came together to tackle the problem.
Organizations Fighting World Hunger
U.S. Agency for International Development, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Global Alliance for the Future of Food, World Bank, United Nation’s World Food Program
Other Food Museums, Exhibits
Florida Modern-Day Slavery Museum
A creative exhibit-on-a-truck produced by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (Florida farmworkers)
Food and Activities for Kids
Terrific San Francisco science museum with dozens of hands-on activities for kids…plus this excellent guide to food activities for kids.
LAM Museum
This Dutch museum boasts the world’s largest collection of artworks on the theme of food, drinks, and consumption.
The Food Museum (online only)
Amazing, amusing, eclectic collection of videos, photos, and articles
The Saint Louis Science Center has a science-oriented indoor and outdoor “Grow” exhibit about agriculture.
Dig in and learn about agriculture.
The Southern Food & Beverage Museum
Celebrating southern food culture with exhibits, lessons, talks
What’s Cooking, Uncle Sam?
The National Archives’ wonderful 2011-2012 exhibit with fascinating old documents and photos.
