Essay An Analysis of Eric Schlosser's Fast Food Nation

The investigative journalist, Eric Schlosser, has written a book to illuminate an epidemic that started in America and is now becoming one of the world’s largest problems. In Fast Food Nation, Schlosser frames today’s Fast Food giants in history,American entrepreneurialism, and over consumption in respect to consumer and employee wellbeing. The power of all modern Fast Food giants combined have eclipsed the power of any one government. Marketing has become a key component to luring consumers to fast food. Schlosser makes the argument that a once All­American ideal, fast food has grown too big to control.

Eric Schlossers book Fast Food Nation is not only an expose of the fast food industry but also shows how the fast food industry has shaped and defined society in America and other nations as the fast food culture spreads globally. He connects the social order of society to the kind of food it eats and the way it eats that food, and relates fast food to other social processes and institutions. His facts are based on years of research and study, and are presented in and easy to follow narrative. Schlosser is so thorough and convincing in his argument, it's impossible to

The All-American meal takes more out of Americans to make then at first glance. Eric Schlosser’s book Fast Food Nation delves deep into the intricate workings of the fast food industry to expose mistreatment and cruelty towards workers in the business, just as Upton Sinclair had done in the early 1900’s regarding the meat packing industry. Schlosser is able to bring light to the darkness behind the All-American meal through extensive research and personal confrontations of which he has high regards for.

The fast food industry both feeds and prays off the young. Pioneers in developing marketing strategies to target children, the fast-food chains have even infiltrated the nation's schools through lunchroom franchises and special advertising packages that answer public education's need for funds; in every way possible, giving the children a loyal friend to rely on. In many franchises, teenagers are perfect candidates for low-paying, low-skilled, short-term jobs and constitute a large part of the fast-food chains' workforce; and often practically run individual locations, having more responsibility than most adults.

The story of the fast food industry and its effect on the world is well told in the book Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser. Schlosser makes the claim that, what started out as a special treat for the kids eventually ended up defining a way of life. During a brief period of time, the fast food industry has helped transform not only the American diet, but also our countryside, economy, workforce, and popular culture. The book thoroughly describes how important the two factors of money and power are in today's society. The book clearly establishes the broader thesis that as consumers, we should know what we eat even if it makes us uncomfortable by the knowledge.

Schlosser, Eric. Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2001. Print. While I was looking at the cover of the book, I noticed that it included the words “All American Meal”, and I wondered what that meant. For me when I hear those word I picture a McDonald’s, or any other fast food restaurant. Why is that? Is it because the United States comes in at 12th for the most obese country, with 35% of the population in overweight (Worldatlas). Or is it because we have made a name for ourselves, by being the country that consumes the most fast food (Economist)? In the first chapter of the book The American Way, Schlosser is disscussing various fast foods we eat such as McDonald 's, Domino 's, and describes how fast food has impacted American lives, such as obesity in all age groups due to the appeals to younger children. He talks about the McDonald brothers and Carl Karcher and how they established McDonald 's and Carl 's Jr.

He wants to show a personal account of the difficulties that everyday people endure trying to accommodate different aspects of a fast food meal possible to the consumer. By stressing this, Schlosser also shows the need for the sanitation of fast food to be dealt seriously. He directs these ideas towards the less informed of American society. Schlosser wants to reach out to those that wish to become more informed of the fast food aspect of America, and to Americans, fast food has become a normal aspect of life. Even Professer Pothukuchi, of Wayne State University agrees that “fast food is destroying us: individuals, communities, work and family life, and indeed, our very connections with the world” (Pothukuchi 1). This book is intending the audience to steer away from what seems harmless, because fast food seems innocuous, when in reality is the opposite.

They also offer a false sense of control. You appear to have many choices - a Big Mac, a cheeseburger, a quarter pounder, a double quarter pounder or a "Big 'N' Tasty" - but they're all pre-packaged, frozen, pre-cooked hamburger. If you want to be radical, have fried chicken, fried fish pieces, even flatbread sandwiches. But you have no control over portion size, or the way your meal is cooked. One of the ways we learn who we are is by the choices we make. Americans let this happen. Now fast-food corporations are infiltrating our public schools, in the form of funds in exchange for advertising. The deliberate marketing soft drink and fast-food companies direct at the youngest of children is wrong. It seem that Americans have just become so used to the fact that McDonalds is always there for when they are running late and do not have time to fix dinner. Or to calm their children down if they are acting up. Fast food industries make it so easy for people to be lazy. The number of obese adults and children in America has risen directly alongside the increase of fast-food restaurants and has extracted high personal, physical, and financial cost to the nation. In the end Americans are like guinea pigs for the fast food industries, being used to see what they can do and how far they can go.

Fast food has came to be very popular in today 's society even with all of the negative affects that it carries with it. In 1970, there were about 30,000 fast-food restaurants in the United States; that number increased to 222,000 by 2001 (Therien,1). With the increase in fast food restaurants the number of people that are obese has also increased and fast food options provide a quick, effortless meal (Sharkly, Johnson, Dean, and Horel,1). Many people like convenience after a long day of work even if they know that fast food is highly processed and contains large amounts of carbohydrates, added sugar, unhealthy fats and salt (Carey,4). Fast food doesn’t just affect a person’s body weight, it also has the possibility to affect academic performance (Woodhouse,1). Fast food often contains too many calories and not enough nutrition (Pietrangelo,1). If fast food is consumed on a daily basis, obesity will come to be a factor in someone’s health history. Many different contributors have lead to the fast growth of the fast food industry. Will people learn how horrible fast food is for themselves? What has caused this fast food revolution to grow at such a speedy rate, and what could be done to amend some of the issues that have surfaced with it? The intriguing, cheap price of McDonald’s and other fast food chains is very tempting. Therefore, it is important for everyone to be more aware of one’s own choices and set a better example for others.

“A nation 's diet can be more revealing than its art or literature” (Schlosser, 3). Historically, few trends have been as popular in the United States as fast food. From Burger King to Taco Bell to McDonald’s, it seems that numerous fast food restaurants dot every corner; in fact, specific restaurants have now even joined forces, so that a Taco Bell and a Pizza Hut might coexist within one building. Statistically, Americans eat a great deal of fast food, and the industry is extremely profitable. People enjoy this food because it is inexpensive, convenient, and designed to satiate desires for strong flavors, especially tastes for salt and fat. However, this food comes at a higher cost than the low prices on menus would indicate; due to its contributions to the obesity epidemic, the dangers posed to teen workers at restaurants, and the targeting of children and poor communities, fast food poses a significant danger to the citizens of the United States.

Throughout many years, food has grown to become a more controversial and celebrated subject in America. On the one hand Maxfield and argues we should eat whatever we want while Pollan declare that we must have control over our diet. Furthermore, there are some people such as Aaron E. Carroll that go both ways in this issue. However, these opinions become heated when it comes to food and obesity. Even though these writers share similar feelings, they take different approaches to this issue. The articles showcase the various dilemmas and the people involved in the business of fast food. Each and every day, franchises like McDonald’s and Burger King gain more customers and money. No matter what, McDonald’s and Burger King will always be

Fast food restaurants are something that everyone is attracted to in the modern times as they want to avoid the tedious work of cooking at home after a long and tiring day at work. To add to that, these restaurants are clean! What could possibly go wrong then! Eric Schlosser, in this book tells us about almost everything that we need to know about fast food chains, restaurants and driveways that have been coming up and making large amount of profits day after day. Schlosser mentions about the history of these fast food restaurants, however, this is not something I will be dealing with in depth in my research work.

At the beginning of the introduction Schlosser shares common experience that he and many of the public share such as explaining the whole experience of purchasing fast food. Since it is evident that this a relatable experience us, as the readers, find it easier to trust him. Schlosser than states his long-held interest for fast-food and how social, economic, and technological factors can affect what food people choose involve in their diet. He provides evidence of the many ways in which fast food chains have changed the “hourly wage of the average U.S worker” and how much money is being spent on fast food restaurants rather than fresh ingredients by families. Not only does he describe the impact it has on the nation’s diet, but he also explains how fast food chain’s intense advertising and marketing, for example McDonald’s have managed to influence children all over the world.

As general prices have risen and wages have fallen consumers have changed their spending habits in particular food. This has lead fast food joints to profits, proving that there is an upside to our low economy Today's industry faces high real-estate prices and highway strips teeming with fast-fooleries, there is now one restaurant for every 2,700 Americans, compared with one for every 7,000 in the late 1970s (Clark). Chains have been branching out into sports arenas, airports, hospitals, colleges, turnpike stops, mall food courts, kiosks, airline in-flight meal services and even zoos. Although critics would argue that fast food has caused an unhealthy society, it is important for society to acknowledge the positive aspects of the fast food

The fast food empire is one of the largest and highest earning industries in the world. Yet even with the lime light constantly on it, fast food organizations continue to poorly treat workers, serve unhealthy food and find ways to carry out corrupt business. This paper will discuss these hidden secrets and also compare and contrast the differences in the book “Fast Food Nation” and the movie “Fast Food Nation”. The book and movie follow the same ideas but both uniquely describe and display the workings behind the fast food business, thus giving the widest possible perspective on the industry. By examining the images of the movie and the descriptions of the book, we can truly see why the United States has become a fast food nation.