Earthlings and Our Food Choices: A Clearer Look at Where Things Come From

Earthlings is a graphic documentary that challenges viewers to examine how animals are treated in food, clothing and research industries. Since its release, alternatives to conventional animal products have grown, and global food waste remains a major issue - largely a distribution and policy problem. Informed individual and collective choices can reduce harm and shift markets.

Why watch Earthlings?

Earthlings (2005), directed by Shaun Monson, is a documentary that uses hidden-camera and archival footage to expose how animals are treated in food production, clothing, research, entertainment and pet industries. It is graphic by design; the film aims to prompt reflection on everyday choices and the systems behind them.

What the film asks of us

The documentary's central question is simple: if you knew how an item was produced, would you still buy or eat it? That applies to meat, leather goods, cosmetics and more. The point is not only about individual guilt; it is about understanding supply chains and holding systems to account.

Food, waste and access

Many commentators use the film to broaden the debate about food systems. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates around one-third of the food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted globally. At the same time, millions of people suffer from nutrient deficiencies and food insecurity. The problem is distribution, affordability and policy - not always total global production.

In the UK and other high-income countries, household and retail food waste are major contributors to the overall total. Exact percentages vary by study and year [[CHECK: Verify current UK food-waste percentage and most recent WRAP figures]].

Alternatives and choices

Choosing to eat less meat, buy second-hand leather goods, or prefer certified humane products are practical steps people take. Plant-based diets can meet nutritional needs for most people when well planned. Alternatives to conventional animal products have expanded since the film's release: there are more plant-based and cell-cultured options now than in 2005, though access and cost still vary by region.

Broader civic and ethical points

The film also invites broader civic reflection: how we treat neighbors, how we vote on food and agricultural policy, and how we respond to claims from authorities. Collective choices - policy advocacy, reducing waste, supporting transparent labeling - matter as much as individual ones.

Final thought

Earthlings remains a challenging, sometimes distressing, call to look closely at systems most of us accept without question. You do not have to adopt any single lifestyle, but informed choices - about food, clothing and civic engagement - change markets over time.

[[CHECK: Verify claim that global production exceeds demand by a specific multiple (e.g., "10 times") before citing that figure.]]

1. Verify current percentage estimates for UK food waste with the latest WRAP or UK government reports.
2. Verify any claim that global food production exceeds need by a specific multiple (for example, the earlier 10x figure) before citing.