Eric Schlosser: Facts And Summary

Food Inc. is an informative and revealing documentary film, aimed to expose the dirty truth of the industrial food industry in America. Directed by Robert Kenner and produced by Michael Pollan, this film informs the American people exactly what they are eating and how it’s affecting them, by painting a more realistic picture of the food industry, than that of an agricultural society. With the use compelling images, such as cattle being raised in grassless, manure infested fields with industrial factories in the background, and stories and interviews from farmers, government officials and victims throughout the film, Food Inc. reveals the horrifying immorality of the food industry, to ignite anger and disgust from the audience toward the unethical

Eric Schlosser's purpose in writing Fast Food Nation is to inform the American readers that they personally withhold the power to change solve the nation's fast food crisis. Schlosser exerts and Authoritative tone in his passage, "how to do it, which guarantees the reader that demanding the fast food industry to change will yield amazing results. The authoritative tone embodies the reader with a sense of reassurance and safety. Schlosser wants the reader to know that, "Even the anticipation of consumer anger has prompted McDonald's to demand changes from its suppliers" in the past (269). The reader is provided facts that make them believe that they have leverage over the industry.

In Michael Pollan’s essay “Escape from the Western Diet,” he directly to Americans about the western diet and why he believes they need to escape from it. The reason Americans should escape the western diet is to avoid the harmful effects associated with it such as “western diseases” (Pollan, 420). To support his view on the issue, Pollan describes factors of the western diet that dictate what Americans believe they should eat. These factors include scientists with their theories of nutritionist, the food industry supporting the theories by making products, and the health industry making medication to support those same theories. Overall, Pollan feels that in order to escape this diet, people need to get the idea of it out of their heads.

Fast food nation: The Dark side of the All-American meal. Eric Schlosser Author of fast food nation the Dark side of the All-American meal introduces the book to the readers as a book about the horrors of fast food. Schlosser tell us how horrible the fast food industry is and the truth about what is happening in the food industry and also what is happing to our world. Schlosser has many good points about how our world revolves around fast food and how unhealthy it is for us. This book opens up your mind to avoiding fast food more often.

Novelist, Eric Schlosser, in his novel, “Fast Food Nation”, expresses how fast food has spread. Schlosser’s purpose is to make us see how addicted we are to fast food. He adopts a shocking tone through the use of diction, Logos, and diction in order to get people to make better choices. For starters, one of the strategies that Schlosser used in this text is diction. Diction can be defined as style of speaking or writing determined by the choice of words by a speaker /writer.

Rhetorical Analysis: “Why McDonald’s Fries Taste So Good” When it comes to writing, the hardest part is getting the audience interested in what you have to say. Four techniques writers use to attract readers are the use of ethos, logos, pathos and Kairos in their text. Ethos is a method used to gain trust in the author. Logos uses facts and statistics to add credibility to the author. Pathos is used in stories or experiences to connect the readers emotionally to the text.

Schlosser’s book is a popular read for anyone. Fast Food Nation can be compared to The Jungle, which it is. Each book having a similar goal, to expose the meat packing and slaughterhouses to the public. Upton Sinclair’s, The Jungle, and Eric Schlosser’s, Fast Food Nation, show the lack of food quality and safety of the

Author, Eric Schlosser, in his nonfiction exposé, “Fast Food Nation”, reveals the sickening truth about the fast food industry. Schlosser’s purpose is to expose the secrets that the fast food industry hides. Schlosser utilizes a serious tone, shocking diction, and exact details to educate his audience on the fast food industry. Throughout his book, Schlosser adopts a serious tone to communicate the facts to his audience.

People of America were utterly disgusted by the uncleanliness of the production of the food they ate. “I aimed at the public's heart, and by accident I hit it in the stomach” (“Muckrakers” 121). America felt betrayed and were confused by the lack of empathy or care given by major meatpacking companies. Public outcry over the contamination of their food was not fully supported by the person that incited it because he intended for the attention to go towards the terrible conditions that the workers in production industries go through. Their customers sought to seek regulation of the meatpacking industry due to the contamination of their food.

“Back around the turn of the last century, the average farmer could feed six or eight people. Now the average American farmer can feed 126 people” (Kenner). The standardization of fast food reconstructed the food preparation system. McDonald’s Speedee Service System introduced manufacturing production lines into a restaurant, transforming the farming into a food industry. (Knox, 341) Even though most food sold in supermarkets and restaurants is cultivated on corporate lands, surprisingly, farming is still believed to be a family business with locals living in small farmhouses.

In Fast Food Nation, he uses evidence from the USDA to ensure his writing is credible and trustworthy. He also makes sure to include evidence from the FDA, which is also a reliable government agency, further proving and solidifying his argument. He interviewed people who have either been effected themselves or a loved one who has been effected by illnesses or diseases caused by the fast food. Because Schlosser uses interviews with normal people, the reader better connects with and understands that these problems are real and can happen to anyone at any time. In addition to agencies, Schlosser also produces information based on interviews with doctors and average people who have been affected by the fast food industry.

“‘If they’ve got a pulse… we’ll take an application’” (Schlosser 162). Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the American Meal by Eric Schlosser and The Jungle by Upton Sinclair convey corporations treating the public inhumanely. The books discuss how the companies will fix their prices, the lengths they will go to avoid unionization within their establishments, highlight how their employees are struggling to survive on their low wages, and provide a look into the risks of working for these corporations.

I. Introduction A. Hook/Attention getter: “Fast food” is named as fast food because of the whole process from ordering, preparing and serving the food just take several minutes. B. General statement: Fast food is becoming more and more popular among people around the world because of the changing of lifestyle from the past times to the present times. C. Thesis statement: Due to the convenient, affordable price and good taste of fast food, consumption of fast food is rising according to studies but it also brings negative effects on our health in the long run. II. Body A. Topic sentence: Fast food restaurant such as McDonalds (McD) or Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) are available almost anywhere in the world, and you can even get it with a simple phone call and get it delivered right in front of your door step or by ordering through their websites without leaving your work desk.

“Don’t Blame the Eater”, written by David Zinczenko, is a short article discussing how fast food is the main cause of childhood obesity. This article came about in relations to two kids filing a lawsuit against McDonalds for making them fat. He begins his piece by sympathizing with these individuals because he used to be like them. Zinczenko then informs the reader of his background and how he fell into the category of being dependent upon quick and easy meals. In an attempt to provide a valid argument, he debates on how kids raise themselves while their parents are at work and that the nutritional values are not labeled upon prepared foods.

While researching information on this project, the information I found included many things the fast food industry keeps from us that we often do even think about. For example, a food product can be labeled as “sugar free” but can be substituted with other things such as, agave which is often worse due to its high concentration in fructose syrup. Another example would be that, Gerber uses fruit pictures to claim its Gerber’s are made from real fruit when in reality they are filled with corn syrup, syrup and grape juice concentrate. These are known as “calorie distracters” and work really well on people who refuse to give up eating fast food. Whether they know that fast and processed foods are unhealthy or not, they are satisfied by knowing that a label says “sugar free” and therefore it is okay for them to consume it.