‘Inconvenient Truth’ Producer Takes on Food Industry

One of the producers of Al Gore's “An Inconvenient Truth” has homed in on another target: the food industry. And even Michelle Obama, perhaps the nation's leading nutrition celebrity, isn't spared in the takedown.

January 21, 2014 | Source: Politico | by Helena Botttemiller Evich

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One of the producers of Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” has homed in on another target: the food industry. And even Michelle Obama, perhaps the nation’s leading nutrition celebrity, isn’t spared in the takedown.

The film, “Fed Up,” which is produced by activist Laurie David and Yahoo’s Katie Couric, made its exclusive debut at the Sundance Film Festival this weekend and has already kicked up a PR battle with the food lobby, which is working to counter the movie’s message that the food industry, like Big Tobacco, bears great responsibility for the nation’s health woes.

Though tackling childhood obesity is her signature issue, the first lady is not portrayed as a hero in the film.

Michelle Obama declined to be interviewed for the project and “is portrayed as a patsy,” according to one review of the film. The creators contend the first lady’s Let’s Move! campaign has been co-opted by the food industry and crippled by lobbying despite her good intentions. The East Wing did not respond to a request for comment.

David told POLITICO that reaction to the movie has been “wonderful,” noting that all of the showings at Sundance sold out.

“People seem very emotional — and people have said to us that this movie has completely changed the way they look at what they’re eating,” said David, formerly married to Seinfeld creator Larry David. “We really hope this movie is going to start a movement.”