Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser

Author of the novel Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal Eric Schlosser is clearly no fan of fast food. Schlosser argues that fast food franchises are a major factor in obesity and the ill health of Americans. His main point throughout the book is that fast food chains have negatively impacted American culture and contributed to more urban and suburban sprawl. With his careful analysis and effective writing styles of rhetoric, Schlosser convinces you that fast food is indeed bad for our nation.

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

Schlosser was able to partially satisfy the criteria that a nonfiction book should include relevant anecdotes that help the reader connect to the fast food industry that causes health risks for its workers. He started the book off with chapter one solely on the relationship of Ray Croc, the owner of McDonalds, and Walt Disney. However, he was unable to incorporate the importance of the relationship into his overall claim regarding the disregard of workers and consumers health by the fast food companies. After he finished with the overly drawn out anecdote, he began to provide relevant anecdotes from actual workers in different jobs associated with the business. First he started with Elisa, a sixteen year old McDonald’s employee that wakes up at 5:15 every morning and spends seven hours behind the counter on her feet, and when she gets home her feet hurt. (pg. 68) He uses Elisa’s anecdote wisely since his readers can easily connect with her story

Also, he attempts to warn consumers about how unhealthy fast foods really are. He makes a strong point; there is a need for nutritional information about fast food. Having access to the information about the contents and nutritional values of fast food may help one make an informed decision about his food options. However, people need to take accountability for the choices that they make. Choosing fast food is not a forced decision. With the nutritional information and will power at hand, can turn their lives around. When someone walks into a fast food restaurant, he or she is not trapped in there forever; all it takes is for him or her put down the burger and walk

(2). Schlosser uses his analysis of the effect of fast food on america, to come to conclusion on how it is affecting america in general through society.itude of different examples. Schlosser starts his essay analyzing that fast food has taken apart of every americans daily life. He uses the appeal to emotions to bring in the example that the trip of going to fast food has become a mundane routine, like stopping at a red light, or brushing your teeth (2).

There were a few things I didn 't like about either the book or Schlosser himself. First, he was very liberal, and it showed throughout the book. He practically blamed both Bush administrations for every problem laid out in the book, then praised Clinton and his administration to try and stem the tide of the fast food giants. Then there was Schlosser himself. During his speaking engagement at the college, the first thing he said was that he wasn 't going to try to tell anyone not to eat fast food or go to McDonalds 's or Taco Bell or any other fast food restaurant. He then spent an hour trying to do just that. He said that people spend more time looking into buying a house than deciding what goes into our bodies. My first reaction was "Of course we do! A house costs tens of thousands of dollars, and a burger costs 99 cents." I know what he meant by it, saying that the burger will be with us for the rest of our lives and will affect our health in both the short and long run, but it 's not seen that way. If we have high cholesterol, we cal take a pill. High

1. Eric Schlosser chose the topic of fast food industry because he became quite inspired after reading an article about illegal immigrants in a strawberry field and how they a suffered in the process. The article was based on an investigation that was placed on the fields while they worked. It was also based on the immense impact that this industry had on society. Schlosser wanted to as said in his book “shed light” to the world on how successful hard working industry works. Also the way American industries portray and work in the diligent industry throughout the years . Since the fast food restaurants are known as one of the most active businesses which makes them a perfect example of what he was trying to convey.

Zinczenko’s rhetorical comments on the fast food industry are spaced throughout his piece. Zinczenko also states that alternative options are hard to find when fast food is readily available. “Drive down any thoroughfare in America, and I guarantee you’ll see one of our country’s more than 13,000 McDonald’s restaurants. Now, drive back up the block and try to find someplace to buy a grapefruit” (Zinczenko 463). This strong statement proves Zinczenko’s irritated tone throughout his piece. Zinczenko’s stand that the fast food industry is responsible for obesity.

Eric Schlosser’s Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal is a nonfiction book that seeks to educate the masses on the truth behind the fast-food industry. Schlosser uses a number of rhetorical devices, such as anaphora, to argue that fast-food companies and the government have stronger incentive toward economic gain than they do morality. Anaphora is often used to emphasize certain words or phrases to strengthen the author’s point of view. In his epilogue, Schlosser alludes to the corporate leaders of the industry stating that “they will sell free-range…. They will sell whatever” (Schlosser 269). This anaphora is used to show that even in the modern day, the businessmen

Schlosser employs anecdotes in order to evoke emotion from his readers to achieve his purpose. One anecdote the author includes is the story of Alex Donley, a six year old boy. Alex Donley ate a “tainted hamburger” from Jack-in-the-box that led him to become infected with “E. coli 0157:H7”(Schlosser 200). This disease obliterated his entire body and progressed rapidly. Alex died within five days. The author uses anecdotes such as Alex’s to evoke sympathy and fear from his readers, especially parents with young children. The stories make parents and anyone who buys fast food reconsider what they are putting in their bodies for if a young boy can die from a simple burger, then what’s to prevent others, kids, or even one’s self from becoming the next victim in the vicious industry that is fast food? The use of anecdotes ultimately helps the author unveil the beast that is the fast food industry by pulling on the heartstrings of Americans.

Many feel that the fast food industry is providing a valuable service by catering to consumer needs; that it is inexpensive and easily accessible. For people who don't have time to prepare meals, for households in which both parents work, there's no question it provides a service. But what is the true cost of this convenience? In the book, Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser reveals that the cost is the lives of the people who work in the meat processing plants. Meat packing is now the most dangerous job in the United States.

With this analysis alone it is fair to say the Schlosser’s argument is supported by history, employees of McDonalds and meat-processing industries, and others who have done the research as well. Although, "Fast Food Nation” is a sucessful factual and read it is motive driven and in return did receive some backlash from some articles, the fast food industry itself, and the corporate meat market as well. It is described for as an uncalled for portrayal of the industry. Terrie Dort, leader of the National Council of Chain Restaurants, discharged this announcement about Schlosser and his book: "Tragically that Mr. Schlosser's book, 'Fast Food Nation,' arranges the whole fast-food industry in such a negative light. The eatery organizations that contain the business give work to a huge number of specialists the nation over and offer purchasers a wide assortment in menu alternatives and costs.

Overall, the book has more strengths than it does weaknesses. Given the popularity of fast food by Americans and people across the world, this was information that needed to be spread to consumers everywhere. Schlosser does an incredible job of presenting the fast food industry from the grass roots up. But all of the problems that Schlosser identifies essentially bring up more questions than he can possibly answer in his book. The book proposes solutions to the evils of the industry but he doesn't really elaborate on the issues to make them understandable.

Schlosser also focuses about how the fast food chains market their products. "A survey of American schoolchildren found that 96 percent could identify Ronald McDonald. The only fictional character with a higher degree of recognition was Santa Claus. The impact of McDonald 's on the way we live today is hard to overstate. The Golden Arches are now more widely recognized than the Christian Cross" (P.4). By this quote you can see who fast food chains marketed towards. They did this because if children went they also

Fast Food Nation was an instant success after being published in 2001 and became an international bestseller. The book was one of Schlosser’s later works in his career. He quickly became recognized for his muckraking ability when he began his career in journalism in 1995. All of his pieces have been about controversial topics such as marijuana use and nuclear weapons. His investigative journalism is eye opening to the reader and provokes action.