Anyway, this week, let's look at some close reading aspects:
- Analyze the arrangement and order of Schlosser’s book.
- What organizational trends (how fast food companies are run) coincide with the arguments he makes?
- Why does he use an overall specific diction (word choice and vocabulary)
- and a predominating tone (an expression of his attitude to his audience)?
- What words does Schlosser use most often?
Now, I don't want you all to go back to a just answer each question format, like week one. I would rather have some "I agrees" and "I would like to adds". I realize that most of you have finished the book by the comments you have made. But I am interested in what diction and tone you see in the book. This book could be really "heavy", technical, and hard to read. However, he has made the topic engaging to the average reader. How was that accomplished?
An example of diction is to call the chemists who develop the tastiness of fast food "flavorists".
I am also interested in how you will use this information in your life. It has, for example, made me very picky about where I eat out. Those of you who have been in my class know that I will only eat hamburgers at In-n-Out Burger. I know they are the only fast food restaurant to use grade A beef and all fresh ingredients. But, you know, that burger is pretty darn tasty. I wonder if a flavorist has gotten a hold of their beef...
I believe next Monday is our last blog. If you are still reading, finish by then! I do miss seeing your smiling faces - BTW. I'll be in Orlando Florida for an academy conference most of this week, but I'm taking my computer so I can check up on my class. : ) Oh - and did any of you look at last week's food picture - and note the lack of decomposition? No one said anything... so I wondered.
If nothing else, Fast Food Nation has intensified my disgust for fast food, and society as a whole. I find it infuriating that the same companies who advocate healthy eating and healthy living, deceive and manipulate public opinion and allow people to believe that they are doing something good for themselves when in reality it is just the opposite. Although there is plenty of articles and books bringing devious companies to light, how many people would actually read them, and how many of those non-readers are obese or have other health issues? All this being said, the more permanent impact Fast Food Nation has made on my life is to not trust any food which does not come out of my own kitchen, and to just stray away from fast food chains, which evidently is not hard since I am so cheap.
ReplyDeleteNonetheless, on to the actual questions; personally found the arrangement of this book frustrating;to me it always seemed that as soon as I was drawn into whatever extremely interesting thing Schlosser was speaking on it would change to something seemingly unrelated. However, now I see that he nitpicked small similarities related them to a slightly different topic and then went more into detail on that subject and the process continued throughout the book. I think he used such a specific diction and a predominate tone because Schlosser was trying to inform readers in a way that is simple yet complex, he wanted it to be comprehensible, yet assertive enough to completely persuade you into agreeing with him. Additionally, Schlosser has a very sarcastic voice, and at many points in the book I feel as though there was comedic relief when things got too complex.
Fast Food Nation has given me a great deal of a "deeper" look inside Fast Food. I have always known that some of the world's fast food chains such as Mcdonald's, Burger King, Carl's Jr., etc. are just there for money. I can understand this, i mean, who doesn't like money? However, the way they approach their customers just like you and me, I believe is brain washing. They like to decorate their restaurants with kid friendly scenery, and that their food is kid friendly. When in reality people, and animals suffered to bring these fattening foods to what it came to be. Now all fast food restaurants have the same "brain washing" going on at a Mcdonalds. I believe that a restaurant such as In-N-Out do less brain washing than a Mcdonalds. In-N-Out don't have these commercials showing workers smiling and putting on a show that their workplace is slow paced and that everything is calm and relaxing. Mcdonalds is the opposite of that. To me, In-N-Out don't try to be that relaxing, calming place. We all know that each time we walk into an In-N-Out it's hectic. The way that Schlosser has organized his book is hard to explain. It's a well written book. He used language that can be a bit difficult to read, but I was able to manage. Each new chapter, the very first paragraph, he describes in great deal a setting. The whole book is full of details.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Bobbi on the whole McD's and In-n-Out thing. I dont think In-n-Out is that bad because most, if not all, the ingredients are fresh and we can actually see the people working on our burgers. Also bobbi is right about the kid-friendly thing at Mcdonalds because there are a lot of McDonald commercials with that clown having fun with a bunch of kids haha.
DeleteWhen i finished this book, it made me realize how much I didnt know about fast food nations. Sure I knew they were they were terrible places to work and eat at but I didnt know they were that bad. Schlosser made the book very detailed and explained a lot of stuff that I had not heard before. All these fast food places have commercials of their food and its all prepared nice and everything but when you actually order it, it tastes and looks terrible. This is book everyone should read.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same! I mean I knew that fast food was bad but I never really understood why, but now I hold a very different perspective towards every part of the process of fast food. I also agree with the idea that everyone should read this book, I think that it is a cure to all those people who suffer from obesity. However we have to be understanding to the fact that people don't have the patience for these types of things, not to mention have the courage to face the truth about food that they love.
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ReplyDeleteThis book has really opened up my eyes on fast food. I find it outrageous on how many fast food industries are spreading the word to make fast food look and taste good, but in reality they are really just advertising for their own good. Most of the outside food that is processed is bad for your own health mostly because of the artificial ingredients. When i finished this book, i came to realize this book was very interesting in many points schlosser was making. He had many unrelated things such as his own opinions. I totally agree with bmeim, Walking in In n out is much more different than walking inside McDonald's. In N out are obviously not relaxed and calm, we actually get to see them going to work and at a very fast pace. We don't actually know how our food is being "made" at McDonalds because we don't believe it until we see it. Fast Food Nations is indeed a great book for anyone who is interested to learn about some amazing facts about the food we eat today! I believe Scholosser delivered his point in a complicated manner but was very well delivered. All in all i really am happy i'm getting myself away from fast food and eating more natural and organic foods which is great for everyone.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Marsha completely. It's shocking and disgusting that these fast food companies manipulate society, causing many people to think that this food is actually healthy when it no where near that. Reading Fast Food Nation gave me a whole new perspective on fast food, and I've decided to cut back on, if not cut out completely, fast food from my diet. It sure has made me very picky when it comes to eating out at certain places. I feel that Schlosser is a very modest and logical man. Even when he talks about things that anger him, he remains calm and doesn't get enraged or overemotional, and uses facts to prove his point. I found these facts very intriguing and detailed, I learned many things that will surely affect my health in the future. I also agree with the comparisons made between McDonald's and In N Out. I would choose In N Out because you can actually see your food being prepared with quality meat and fresh vegetables, unlike McDonald's. This book has truly made me realize how unhealthy fast food really is, and I'm glad to have read these disturbing yet true facts.
ReplyDeleteThis is true. I was always curious on how they made the food in McDonald's because they prepare it so quickly and such, but In In-n-Out you can see how they cook it.
DeleteSo true. when I was little I always wondered how the food was prepared it was so quick and tasted like any burger that came out twice as long at sit down restaurants. But now that I know, In N Out will probably be the only fast food place I will be eating at.
DeleteI would just like to add on to what everyone else is saying about In-n-Out, and just say that they are by far the fast food chain. Not only because of the quality of their food, but because of the philosophy of the chain that they have kept strong since the getgo. In-n-Out has always been about food with integrity, which is why they don't advertise at all, don't work on holidays, and give free food to homeless people. This of course is a big difference from some of the larger chains like McDonalds whose philosophy and goal has been rooted around money from the start. And when you compare food and food quality, it's clear to see which philosophy reigns superior.
ReplyDeleteI never knew In-n-Out did any of those! I just liked it because I saw them actually cooking their meat and it didn't make me feel gross like other fast food chains. Also, because it had that old school feel that I enjoy. I agree with you, by far In-n-Out has got to be the best fast food chain.
DeleteI agree with Marsha about In-n-Out and about it being very different from all of the other fast food chains since they actually care about their food, their employees, and especially their customers.
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ReplyDeleteLike my fellow students, I agree to how disturbing the facts proposed in Fast Food Nation are. As I read the book, I noticed the structuring of the chapters and how the subheadings of each chapter tend to relate to the next. First Schlosser began the book by the start of fast food, and how the chains came about. He then transitioned the following chapters on why fast food is so appealing to our senses, how fast food affects social media/government/education, how fast food is actually made, the violence incorporated, the mistreatment of workers/employees, what’s really in the food, how it affects the safety and health among the nation, and inevitably how the world reacts to it. I think he did this solely to grab the reader's attention (sure as hell grabbed mine) and smoothly transition all these ideas of fast food chapter after chapter to make sure readers get the gist.
ReplyDeleteSchlosser provides facts that fast food essentially only cares about production and wealth and his arguments about the importance of quality employees other than unskilled employees (teens/immigrants) provides a clear point. Schlosser even points out the horrors of fast food and their selflessness for delivering a product without quality and he argues that if we don’t stop the recklessness of the people producing and manufacturing the food, we only put ourselves in danger. Schlosser tries to convey the point that fast food chains are ran about on a daily basis with secrets about the food and hiding employment truths through complex facts and his own opinions with a comedic relief just as what Marsha had mentioned.
I find it fascinating and just plain genius of Schlosser to give explicit and well-researched facts in this book yet use words that even people at our age can understand and express how serious fast food affects the people of our nation. Words such as dumped, slimy, shit, etc gives the reader a sense of what fast food really is about. Schlosser could have easily used more academic words to explain and describe stories, but he probably thought that would have been “being nice” and wouldn’t have served justice to the book. Schlosser calling the feces found in the meat "shit" right then and there established to me and I’m pretty sure other readers as well that this isn't the food you would want to eat. When I thought it couldn’t have gotten anymore real, he approached the subject of the inhuman slaughter practices and the stories of former employees – the anger and disgust was obviously expressed there. Those words and arguments allows the reader to know that Schlosser wrote this book with a derogatory attitude in order to conjure up the overall generalization of this “business” associated in food and our society. Words used most often like unsafe, unsanitary, unfair (pretty much with the prefix un-) helped reiterate the purpose of the book – spread awareness to the unaware.
After reading this book, the first thing I told myself was “not again” to fast food and processed food (even though I do like the convenience of it). Like Gabrielle, I’ll try my best to at least cut back if not cut out this crap sold in the market. I will be pickier about what I eat even though I was raised not to in a Filipino household. Thankfully my dad likes the idea of eating organic! I tend to crave often, but I'll think about blue hamburger patties and green french-fries for now on. When I have a family of my own, I'll definitely implement healthy food choices in our diet and stress the importance of knowing what you eat. (Thanks to Fast Food Nation!)
I agree fully with you Jenn. When I first began reading the book I was a little irritated with all the background stories to how this empire of fast food had evolved, but as I kept reading I began to understand his reasons for doing so. I think that if he just cut straight to all the nasty and horrifying factors of fast food it wouldn't of had such a strong impact to the readers.
DeleteSchlosser's description of how fast food began in such an innocent matter to one that is corrupt and violent truly leaves the reader astonished to how evil fast food really is. How these owners are out for only their success and don't care how many people get hurt or are killed in the process, not to mention whether they get to the top in a cleanly matter.
I honestly enjoyed his straight forwardness, as Jenn had pointed out. His passion behind the information he was clearly evident in his diction choice. If he had used softer or kinder words it wouldn't have voiced his argument to its full potential.
I’m not sure why the part about the picture you told us to look at wasn’t on the other post/comment (I did have trouble posting at times for who knows what reason being) but I do find that the lack of decomposition just supports the idea of “fake” food in fast food reputation. I mean sure the food hasn’t gone bad after all that time and people might think that’s a good thing but the truth is all those chemicals put into the product made it not so good for you. I wouldn’t eat a 2-year-old meal even if I was starving, but that sure doesn’t mean other people wouldn’t either. Who knows, McDonald’s could be serving 2-year-old fries and none of their customers wouldn’t have ever noticed…
ReplyDeleteThis book gave me a whole new perspective on fast food chains. It's so interesting but disgusting to know that fast food restaurants such as Mc. Donalds, Burger King, Carl's Jr, Wendy's, Taco Bell, etc. would do ANYTHING for money and for their own good. I completely disagree with manipulating the society with how good their fast foods are but never actually care how bad it would affect the citizens health. I believe that they are way over their heads. I don't understand this, it came to a realization that their don't really care about their employees. I agree completely with Jenn on how captivating Schlosser was in giving the readers a well-reasearched facts that will most likely motivates and inspires people to take better care for their healths. His way of writing this book changed my whole perspective and i can tell mostly everyone in this blog. I am very impressed with that. After reading this book, im more motivated to keep watch of what i put in my body. Lately, I've been eating healthier food such as salad and fruits.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Bryan, fast food restaurants are very manipulative and deceiving to the public. Fast food restaurants are the reason for many cases of obesity and unhealthiness in the world and we continue to contribute to the survival of these major diabetic eating establishments. These companies succeed in making the food look good in advertisement but they lack nutritious quality. Eric Schlosser kept me interested in the book because of the shocking facts he was stating; I also like how delivered the context for that he used some analogies, metaphors, and brought forth some inspiring stories.
ReplyDeleteHi Ms.Frisinger, I'm sorry I haven't been blogging. I have been on vacation for the past few days. I promise to make up everything I have missed.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, back to the book. Looking at the commercials today, fast food restaurants make their food look delicious and tempting to eat. At McDonalds, you can look at their menu and see that they tell you how many calories are in the food your about to eat. But, you never know if they are lying about how many calories are in the food, and the way they describe the food on t.v. makes it seem harmless to your body, because it looks so good. As some people would say, "looks can be decieving".
After reading the book, i realized that fast food is not all that great. Though it will be hard to give up fast food, I will try and make an effort to not eat it as much. At first I had a difficult time understanding what Eric Schlosser was trying to say. The way he put the words and the words he used in the book made it difficult. But, after reading the whole entire thing, everything just came together. Even though Schlosser wrote the book a long time ago, I think its good to read about how food was made back then, and to compare to how food is made now, and to see if there is any difference.
I agree with the calories statement. Since we learned that the so called "natural flavors" aren't even NATURAL flavors it makes me wonder what else they are lying about. We have no sure fire proof that the burgers are exactly how many calories they say they are. Companies will go to extreme measure to make money
DeleteI agree with Benson. It will be hard to give up fast food, but worth a try. It is a good idea to compare to how food is made now and before. Adrielle was right about the "natural flavors". They're not even Natural. They'll full of crap.
DeleteI agree with all of my classmates. Fast Food Nations has also made me realize how fast food restaurants are all very manipulative. I think all of the fast food restaurants in the world are very unhealthy and manipulative. Their ads, commercials, slogans, and public attractions are tempting a lot of people around the world. I have realized all of the unhealthy food that I have been putting into my body over the years. I have a different and new perspective for fast food restaurants. I am very disgusted.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Edrei, Fast Food Nation really change a lot of people's points of views on fast food. Great job Schlosser.
DeleteI agree with Edrei because I had real life experience with this. As soon as I found out what was put in the food at the fast food joints I stop eating out very much.
DeleteAfter reading the comments of my classmates I would have to say I agree with all of them. This book has really opened my eyes and has made me really take a look at what I put into my body. As you read the book you notice that Schlosser starts off by explaining how the fast food industry started and then he proceeds by educating his readers about how it has affected people over the course of the years. He also makes sure to tell his readers about the how the food we eat is made and what chemicals, etc it contains. I think he solely did this to not only educate his readers but to kind of get his readers to think about their personal choices and health. When reading the book I specifically noticed that Schlosser used words that are somewhat difficult to understand. However the words were easier to understand once you continued to read on. I believe the tone of Schlosser was firm and confident. This book has proved that people nowadays are manipulated by certain fast food chains and their commercials and ads. Thanks to this book I have more knowledge about certain things I never knew about. It has also made me want to change my unhealthy eating choices.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Vanessa on how people are manipulated by fast food chains and their commercials and ads. Just the other day my mom told me to come with her to Sonics because there was a happy hour for there milkshakes. The milkshake was really big too and I don't think my mom knows there are a lot of harmful substances in that milkshake. Ads and commercials have so much power towards people and can convince them in a second to come to their fast food restaurant.
DeleteI agree. They just know how to make their food look good, but in reality they don't even look like that. People should really look dig deeper on what they eat.
DeleteI am very sorry that I am submitting this reply so late, I have been fairly busy on my trip out of town. I agree with Jenn on how the organization was able to create a "smooth" and intriguing reading experience. I also agree with Marsha when she stated that the author frustrated me by constantly switching between topics throughout the book. Although I haven't read much non-fiction, I believe that Fast Food Nation is popular among readers because it is written in such a casual tone. In my opinion, Schlosser's writing style and diction made me feel as if I was having a conversation with him. Schlosser's tone and diction also convey his personal disgust towards the impact of fast food on society and fast food itself. I personally did not notice any words that Schlosser used often. After reading Fast Food Nation, I will probably be more cautious about choosing which fast food restaurant that I would like to eat at, if I eat at any at all. By reading the book, I now know how greedy and manipulative the fast food companies are and I think I will do my best to avoid them as much as possible. Also, to add on to the discussion about In-n-Out, I also believe that they are the best fast food chain that I've eaten at, this is evident in their quality food and customer service. To me, the mere fact that they are bold enough to print "John 3:16" on the bottom of their cups is enough to prove that the brand is far more than just another company set out on taking my money, but one that has strong morals and philosophies.
ReplyDeleteThe fast food business is BRAIN WASH! Omg, seriously even though I've read the book, and find fast food disgusting, I still go out and buy fast food! It's the brain washing and its working!!! (Well I am also trying to gain weight, but that's a different story.) The fast food industry is as disgusting as the stuff put on a McDonald's grill. I agree with everyone about the positive attributes in fast food restaurant decoration, commercial, and ads, but you know those pamphlets that fast food places have, the ones with the calorie count and the "nutritional health" no one actually reads, because customers think, "Oh they're so open about their nutrition, it must be good," well it ain't because if you trace it all back, you just get feces and whole bunch of too-hard-to-pronounce chemicals.
ReplyDeleteAs for the structure of the book, I admit it took me forever to start with, but the chapters get more and more relevant and more interesting. Schlosser gives me stuff I actually want to know about fast food; the business, money, government relations, engrossing facts of what stuff is actually made of. After reading the book, Schlosser gives me a more perplexed view on what I should be eating and I shouldn't be eating.
The arguments on how the fast food business is run are what I found most interesting. Okay, we all know fast food is crap and the industry is all brainwash and more crap, but we just don't want to admit it to ourselves. Schlosser is giving readers the punch in the arm, "This crap is really crap, and the crappy brainwash business is working on your crap-infested brain."
I agree with Jenn on the use of Schlosser's words in the book. Schlosser is only trying to make us aware of what's really going on, and the tone and word-choice he uses are completely appropriate for this type of issue. Yes, it was really hard to start off, but what kept me, the reader, reading (not only because I'm required to) is that fast food is everywhere and almost every American can look at a statement in the book and say "THAT'S what I'm eating???"
It's glad to know some of my fellow students are giving all of it up. I'm being honest, the only thing I probably won't be eating are burgers, but that's good because I never really was a burger person. But I really don't understand how some of you guys can give up fast food cold turkey. Yes, it's really bad. Like, Reallllllllly bad. I try and tell my family the dangers of it all, but they all just think I'm crazy. This shows that fast food has become a staple part of the American culture, and it's going to stay that way. You can't really cut out culture.
DIego is right about American culture, people have been accustomed to eating this way for years that if they're told something bad about it, it'll probably only go through one ear and out the other. Schlosser knew that by writing this book he would be criticized by all aspects and by all people because of how "in depth" this book gets when it comes to the food. But I do respect that Schlosser didn't hold back necessarily in the sense that he provided us facts that he did research himself so his book can at least be praised through solid evidence whether the readers agreed to believe or not. Overall, American society today wouldn't tolerate other people "yucking their yum". In my opinion, it's a very controversial topic that doesn't get much attention in the media but should IF we wanted to change the "American diet".
DeleteYou are so right about the main argument how this crap is really just crap and we just don't want to admit it because they just keep brainwashing us into thinking its ok and good to eat when its not. Good way to just get to the point.
DeleteReading some of these comments, I agree that after reading Fast Food Nations it makes fast food disgusting. The book gives facts what's really happening with the fast food behind that counter you buy from. People are engaged by this because the tone of the book. It is such casual tone like someone is talking it to you. It also have some spots where it had comic relief. Since he did picked such a complex topic to talk about it. It might be hard to give up so the best choice for me is just watch what I will eat. Since in the back of my head I know how it was made from reading the book.
ReplyDeleteoh and the picture was pretty interesting from last week! That kind of cool that you can make a cake out of watermelon.
DeleteI agree with my classmates that the approach fast food chains take is brain washing. They really like to aim at kids. Even though McDonalds say they are "Trusted Friends," as said in the book. From playgrounds at McDonalds to meals with toys in them. I think the way that Schlosser organized his book, is that at first he talks about fats food, then the founding fathers of fast food, and how it all came to how it is to this day, then to how employees are treated, to how its made, whats in it, to a point where the accumulation of knowledge about the fast food industry is reached. When he uses the vocabulary in his book, he is being all out straight forward. He is being real and not sugar coating anything. Like how he said, "There is shit in the meat." Like dude, really? My mind was blown. I was laughing on my neck, astonished. I agree with my fellow students about what certain words Schlosser uses(I don't want to restate what has already been said).
ReplyDeleteMan o' man. When I found out what was in those burgers, the day before I had already eaten two burgers, and was like, "Why didn't I read this part of the book before I ate fast food...." I really want to stop eating fast food, but yo..... THEM MCCHICKENS ARE GOOD! ahahah. I am going to cut down on fast food products. Sometimes theres a point when you're with your friends, hella hungry, and just say F it, lets get some Mickey D's!!!!
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ReplyDeleteOnce again, I agree with my fellow classmates on their view of this issue. As I read Fast Food Nations, I was deeply intrigued but not entirely surprised. The facts Schlosser’s presented were eye-opening but unfortunately to a degree that although these facts are accepted by people, they are not powerful enough to convince people to think otherwise. This further proved his point of the brainwashing the food chain/marketing has upon its consumers. His persuasive tone was embodied in his outbursts of furiousness and was not ambiguous in his points at all. He was very clear and direct expressing this matter and I believe being blunt may be the most effective way to deliver such a widespread message (using the word “shit”? That definitely caught my attention and I’m sure others as well.) In my opinion, the structure of Schlosser’s novel was very well-organized with many subtopics and chapters that included background information and how things had come to be over these past decades in the marketing/food industry. Throughout the book, Schlosser was able to effectively transition and shifted into more interesting areas, but sometimes dragged off topic. However, even though he was able to transition with ease, he often did it too frequently, jumping from narratives to facts to his own opinion which may confuse the reader at first, but eventually would understand his style of writing. Schlosser’s use of tone was very engaging to the reader as it was written in a casual voice and even had tidbits of sarcasm that even revealed the cynical side of him. I enjoyed that the author was very erratic, because he had so much to cover in conveying his message, which I believed was a strong enough reason to write this book – a topic that majority would not agree upon does not defeat the truth of the message he wanted to spread. He indeed was able to grab hold of the reader’s attention throughout the whole book by having a very assertive tone. The use of anecdotes and facts had given us insight into the beginning of these entrepreneurs’ careers and the big change in the industry throughout time, from their mini family businesses to big-billboard industries that now harm the health of the nation. The purpose of this book was to open the eyes of the oblivious people who are merely the targets of these chains. Schlosser had incorporated his knowledge and large amounts of research into this novel, although knowing that these controversial topics would impose arguments, disapproval, and perhaps the worst of all, ignorance. I believe that Schlosser had broken down a complex matter into a simple one that makes us not only informed and educated, but strong enough to change peoples’ outlook on fast food and unhealthy food as a whole.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that In-n-Out is by far one of the few chains that have a good reputation not only in service, but also the content of their food! McDonald’s may excel in advertising and the “tastiness of food” (which is actually DISGUSTING!!!), but they lack in their support system (not considering the brain-washed consumers.)
First off, props to my classmates, I honestly enjoy reading your responses to the questions Ms. Fri's been asking us and your view on the fast food industry and it's ways.
ReplyDeleteOkay now let's get on the prompt for this week.
The beginning of this book was a bit hard to get into, but once you keep reading, you would want to learn more about the "secrets" of the fast food industry. The arrangement of this book sort of reminded me of the narrations to a documentary. (of course it's nonfiction lol) The way it would introduce a new topic or chapter by telling a story or narrative about a person or place, and then going about how that story relates to the main idea of that section. (Hope that mad sense to you all) The actual order of topics in the book made a lot of sense: you have stories about these people who wanted to accomplish great things-> how they started off -> how their companies/ franchises affected citizens of their time ->how the companies are run now -> how it affects US now. Scholsser's tone and vocabulary in this book remained very casual and relatable, agreeing with what some of you said. The author doesn't bombard us with heavy theories that we can't understand. But enough to get the facts across and make us think. I mean, he'll throw in a word such as "iconoclasts" in the book, but that doesn't drive us away from the main point. He made this topic engaging to the reader by telling stories about many situations that have occurred in different cities around the nation and by interviewing teenagers who have worked in fast food restaurants.
APPLICATION IN MY LIFE:
The things I've read about in this book will definitely stick to me. Now whenever I eat fast fast food, I won't be completely blind about what I am putting into my body. I won't stop eating fast food entirely. Agreeing with what Diego said, it would probably be really hard to quit fast food all together. We are still surrounded by it everyday because it HAS become apart of culture. (FAST FOOD NATION YEAHHH THAT'S WHERE THE TITLE COMES FROM IF YOU DIDN'T REALIZE BY NOW LOL BUT YOU GUYS ARE SUPER SMART SO NO WORRIES).
I like how Scholsser included these stories about the fast food and meat packing industry because they convince you even more to stop eating fast food. These industries are in charge of what you eat and a lot of them end up poisoning your food like dropping a patty on the floor, putting it back on the burger and giving it to you, or eating meat that is really unsanitary. The little stories Scholsser told were definitely the engaging parts of the whole book.
DeleteI agree with Matt. I like how he added stories about other types of foods that are prepared like fast food. I made me realize that even the food I pick up in a grocery store can be very unhealthy and be the same as fast food. & that these so called industries that are careful in preparing these foods are just poisoning us by not telling us the truth and letting us eat these foods.
DeleteOh yeah and I forgot to mention how I also agree that many fast food chains "brainwash" us, hahahahah. Ok, bye for now.
ReplyDeleteI HOPE YOU HAD FUN IN FLORIDA MS. FRI :)
The cover itself is eerie enough to set the tone for me, I mean look at that cardboard container of fries, with eerily joyful kids on it, sitting all by itself, in where? The middle of nowhere! Looks like something from courage the cowardly dog if you ask me. The book also opens with a haunting quote from Robert Lowell. It spooks me because these fast food chains depict their meals, and overall code of conduct as happy, and people friendly. But as Schlosser reveals that is not the case, at least not anymore. Schlosser goes in depth with his facts and he does so with unsettling diction and detached sentence structures. Early on in the book, Schlosser mentioned ‘Tomorrowland’ and how it was built by suspicious scientists and used technology without ethics. Even though this part was unrelated to fast food, it is the same principal for how fast food chains are run. As more of the information on how the “restaurants” are run is revealed (the many on site injuries, robberies, and disgusting preparation) the more I felt creeped out by the book. Boy, when Schlosser subtitles the book as “The dark side of the all-American meal” he isn’t kidding!
ReplyDeleteSchlosser’s tone to the audience was a sort of warning in what is soon to come (a literal fast food nation). He speaks to the reader in a somber way, like a psychic who has forseen something they wish they hadn’t, but must tell their eager client. I don’t feel like Schlosser was trying to sway his reader’s opinion on where to eat though. He simply wanted to educate them, and open their eyes to how some places are handled. He uses words like money, health, family, and related terms often, which are the basic themes in the book.
Schlosser’s arrangement of his book is quite clever. The same way a fast food chain works in an assembly line, where each station focuses on one thing, Schlosser purposefully organizes his book in the same fashion. Each chapter covers a certain topic, and then moves onto the next subject. This does not stop the overall flow from the book, which reflects the creations of these chains. Schlosser’s first chapter covers the humble beginnings but by the end of the book he is talking about their domination; the transformation from a mom-and-pop to a corporation, a lifestyle. The picture in the beginning of the epilogue sums this idea up perfectly.
After reading Fast Food Nation, I am proud to say that I’m one of the educated readers.
Now I’m not sure that the way I use this information will be effective immediately, but in my defense I rarely eat at these establishments anyway; and when I do, I avoid eating any meat products (using the word “meat” loosely). All the credit doesn’t go to me, I think my biggest influence is the fact that my parents don’t take me to these fast food places. Nonetheless, I mostly hope to suggest this book to other people so they too can understand the horrific truths.
Also when I clicked on the picture it didn’t even show up, but it linked me to the overall organic foods Facebook page, and that stuff was pretty interesting.
DeleteI agree with Sydney on how Schlosser just wanted to educate the reader. As a reader myself, the beginning was a bit slow for me because so many anecdotes and facts were given, but by the time you finish the book you feel as if you can educate anyone with the information. I liked the fact that he went by the chapters topic by topic (just as Sydney had mentioned) which all wraps up the message Schlosser is trying to convey in the book about our nation hence the title Fast Food Nation.
DeleteI totally agree with your diction and tone statement Sydney! I imagine it was really hard for him to write this book first because it would be a hard thing to learn yourself, but you're putting youself out there for attacks by people who disagree and the companies themselves. Also it wasn't like he was COMMANDING us to change our ways, he was offering a suggestion.
DeleteSo true! I agree with Sydney and Adrielle. He probably wen through so much discrimination because of his book, and disgust by what he was learning. I think he put himself out there not for himself but for the public. & it must been hard for him, especially after all these companies read what he wrote. But he did it, and today we can learn about these unhealthy choices.
DeleteWhy do I always post so late lol
ReplyDeleteThe previous comments by my fellow classmates were very interesting, and I completely agree with them. With the facts I have read in the novel, I would try to use the information to keep myself from eating these unhealthy foods and go for healthier choices. I've become more mindful on how the industry "brainwashes" their costumers with their misleading ads in order to get sales even though they are putting harmful ingredients in our body. I can't say I will completely stop, but I would want to cut back greatly from eating fast food. The knowledge I gained from the novel will stay at the back of my mind as I make these choices.
ReplyDeleteAs for how the book is organized, I think Schlosser did a pretty good job. He started off by explaining how the fast food industry emerged, to how they expanded, to how they affected the population, to how the business operates, and finally, how it affects our culture today. He also used subheadings to inform us on the topic we are reading about in that specific section. In addition, he did a great job with creating a smooth transition between each topic.
The author's tone is straight-forward and firm as he presented readers with facts. He maintains a neutral attitude towards the audience, he does not try to convince us that fast food bad and etc. He was able to achieve his purpose which was to INFORM readers about the fast food industry and how it affects us. The diction Schlosser used was simple, he didn't use words that would be difficult to understand. I believe that was a good move because it allowed us to understand and take in the facts easily. If the novel was written using big academic words, many readings would just get bored and stop reading. He managed to use "easy" words while also giving a thorough and in depth descriptions of the topics.
The fast food industry has brain washed our minds but society (meaning us) helps the food industry control us since we easily have the power to neglect the habit of buying fast food. When I started reading Fast Food Nation, I thought I knew how unhealthy fast food actually was for us. However, Fast Food Nation allowed me to get a deeper understanding of what we all put into our bodies. Even though I have read about the disgusting things that are put into our food, I still go out and buy the products because it is a habit. It is just that junk food is delicious. The world knows how harmful processed food is to our body but that is not going to stop the food industry from processing more unhealthy products or coming up with more artificial flavors. Fast food chains produce plenty of money, which helps the economy. I am not saying that we should support fast food chains in order to keep our economy slightly more stable but for the government to produce something that is actually organic and much healthier for the population. It would take years for the public to allow this but eventually they will make the right choice to decide to live healthy. Who wants to live on pills for the rest of their lives or having to attend doctor appointments all the time because they are not healthy. When all they had to do is build enough stamina to say NO to junk food and yes to vegetables, fruits, and all the healthy things in the world. Why do we rely on nutritional labels? When we can cook from scratch and know what is in our food.
ReplyDeleteThe structure of the book, I will admit was difficult to start reading. As you go through the book everything, he says starts fitting in like a puzzle. You might be reading about the ingredients in a milk shake but then you read ten pages later and you are in a topic about the economy and how much money is spent each year. Maybe Schlosser's point was to make everything fit like a puzzle instead of hand feeding us the information in order for the reader to actually think about what the food industry is doing. Throughout the book Schlooser gave me a deeper understanding of the junk I put in my body and what to stay away from. Also, how much the government is willing to help these manipulating fast food chains to get ahead and produce plenty of money for our economy.
What I thought was most intriguing about the whole book was how the fast food businesses are run. They hide everything from their consumers because they know that if they tell them the truth, they would stop eating it. If they know that the products they are producing are crap why do they continue producing them. Yeah their crap does make a lot of money but is money more important than our populations health? I do not believe so. If I was a scientist, who helped produce the products that are being fed to the population I would be terrified to hand that out. I would not eat the junk I produced. Then I guess people like money more than actually helping people. Just because it has been in our culture for years now. It does not mean that our generation cannot help and make this world slightly healthier. Next thing you know ten years from now half of the elementary kids will be obese or have diabetes maybe even a new disease would manifest because of all the things put into the food. Do we really want that for our Nation?
Fast Food Nation is a book filled with a lot of information. Schlosser must have done major research for writing this book since there's just a ton of information. There's many facts on every single page. I learned a lot from this book such as how unsanitary the meat packing industry is, the dangers of working for a fast food restaurant and a meat packing indsutry, and the bacteria E. coli O157:H7. I agree with Sydney that every chapter is about a specific topic. Schlosser thoroughly describes each topic as well. I agree with Kris that Schlosser's tone is very casual. However, for me I felt like Schlosser was lecturing me about this stuff. The vocabulary Schlosser uses is built for an average reader so any person can read this book and learn about the truths of the fast food industry. I think Schlosser made this book entertaining towards "some" readers by making you feel your in a conversation with him. Although in my opinion, I thought this book was boring. Like I said before, there was just too much information in this book which would be my main reason for not really liking it. And at times I felt some stuff he talked about was unnecessary. Like that Hank guy! He made no impact on me whatsoever. The only time I was really interested was when Schlosser talked about some of the workers experiences in the fast food and meat packing industry. That was entertaining. I would have to say Schlosser uses a fast food restaurant name on every single page. Skimming through the pages you can mainly see McDonald's. The organization trends that coincide with the arguments he makes would be the meat used in the fast food industry, the abuse on employees, and how fast food is affecting peoples lives. From the information I took from this book, I honestly don't know if I'll use it. I mean now that I think about it, this summer I've been eating way more fast food while reading this book. Like I had McDonald's two times in a row. That never happens!! Maybe reading all these fast food restaurants in this book is convincing me to ask my parents to buy some for me. However at the end of day, I do think fast food and processed food is disgusting. If I really had motivation to stop eating this junk I would, but I don't think that could happen.
ReplyDeleteEric Schlosser's Fast Food Nations is an enjoyable read that totally transformed my perspective about fast food. The book is arranged in a straightforward manner, in logical order. Schlosser introduces the book with hints of how fast food is a major conflict to society. It begins with how the fast food industry was founded, how it began, and how it transformed over the years. It transitions to fast food employment— working conditions, how life is affected from working at fast food restaurants, etc. Then, the book steadily forwards to the actual fast "food", how fast food is made, why it is made the way it is (that is, to taste good), the dangers of fast food in general: labor, fast food preparation, fast food's harm to body, and so on. As the book concludes, Schlosser informs the reader about how fast food contributes tremendously to the world because almost everyone eats fast food regularly. The novel made me aware of how terrible fast food is! I know that I said this before, but it truly saddens me how people continue to eat fast food, unaware of how harmful it is, not only to their bodies, but also to the world. We are giving the fast food industries more money and for what? Fast food industries are basically serving us poison that we are unaware of and we are helping them out by continuing to purchase them.
ReplyDeleteFast food companies easily attract customers with the many flashy ads that appeal to our senses. I agree with my classmates that they use brainwashing as a method to keep business running and customers coming back because they use advertisements as much as possible, most of which are false, but come across as trustworthy.
Schlosser uses an overall specific diction and a predominating tone towards his audience because he wants to make the audience listen and be aware of fast food. He remains mature and informative, instead of coming off as prejudice. He uses facts and evidence to support the conflict of fast food, instead of directly saying, “fast food is bad”. He is obviously against fast food but has a professional attitude, which makes the audience agree with him.
Schlosser explains the book using understandable, easy-to-relate words, which makes it exciting to read. Because eating fast food is common, I can relate and be interested in knowing facts about fast food. The book made me aware of the harms of fast food. I know to eat better and find healthier alternatives instead of fast food.
Juanna's right about the book being an exciting read, especially since most of us can relate to going to fast food chains and not being aware. I remember the whole "pink slime" incident at McDonald's and there were people that were outraged and some that weren't. McDonald's and I'm pretty sure other fast food chains weren't THAT bothered by it since all they do is deny claims about their food. You can't expect good food from a fast food chain (unless it's In-N-Out) and the fact that they hire unskilled, young workers in their industry doesn't make the food any better since they probably don't have the maturity to serve quality food (most teenagers are probably the ones making tainted food).
DeleteI agree that flashy ads help draw people into buying their products. I admit that I was a victim. In elementary school I remember yogos were the hype and the commercials looked cool so when I went to Target I begged my mom to buy them. They tasted alright, but they weren't as great as I hoped. After a while, they were discontinued like out of nowhere they just stopped selling them. It's probably because they found that Kellogg's was using some kind of toxic chemical to make them look pretty. But after reading this book, it's not that surprising that something like this would happen.
DeleteFast Food Nation has helped me learn to look deeper in my food. While reading this book I was surprised, shocked, disgusted, fascinated, and amused in many ways. It helped me realize what is really in fast food. I agree with Jenn about the format of the book and how the subheadings are structured to be related to the next. I liked how it was organized that way because it was easier to know what the next topic Schlosser was going to talk about instead of having 10 long pages of mixed passages. I don't know if everyone feels like this way when they start a new book but do you ever feel like you start reading kinda bored because you don't understand whats happening or the point to it? I felt like that on the intro. But once you get into the book and read deeper you actually end up liking it. I noticed Schlosser started the book with history and the making of fast food chains. I have to be honest and say I was a bit bored and I just wanted to get to the point about food. But now I know how important it is to know about the history so you can understand even better.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone about Schlosser's arguements about the quality in the food and how fast food only cares about production and wealth. I agree with Diego on his saying that Schlosser's real main arguement is that the food is "crap" and the industry is brain washed and they are just giving us more of it. That's so true couldn't of said it any better.
Now on Schlosser's diction or word of choice made it even more fun and better to read. it was even more understandable too because if he used "sciency" words instead of his own word choices, it probably would of been a very confusing book. I feel he made it this way not just for "average readers" but just to give us a sense of his feelings about it to make us agree with him. Even with his tone in this book he made it more believable and serious about what he says to make us agree.
Yes I'm sure this book made all of you picky about what you eat now because it has to me. I think it's a good thing we feel this way now because we can share this information with others about what they are eating so we can persuade them to learn about it more and to look deeper in their food.
I also found it funny and better to read because of the choice of words that he chose. It was the way he said and got his point through that intrigued me even more.
DeleteThe book Fast Food Nation changed my perspective about fast food chains. It helped me understand the deeper meaning of what I was putting into my body by eating all these fast foods throughout my life. But I do believe that the Fast Food chains have power over us. Americans spend billions of dollars on processed foods when they all know it can harm their body in many ways. They are almost aware of the foods they are consuming contains all these harmful chemicals yet they still consume what the fast foods serves them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone that our society is brainwashed.
Schlosser's vocabulary made it easier for me to understand the topics he was talking about and understand his main argument. And that his main argument is that food is crap. Yes, I do believe after reading this book, it made me aware of what I put into my body but that doesn't mean I will stop eating fast foods.I will limit myself into buying them but there is just something about these fast food chains that makes society keep buying and eating their products even if they know whats in it.
I don't really think everyone is what you call brain-washed Fatima, I think the better word would be ignorant. Our society is ignorant to the dangers that fast food can cause. Even on some of the labels of fast food places (box of a big mac I think) it says that the food is made out of stuff that can cause cancer or birth defects. I myself had read that label many times, but still continued eating fast food
DeleteI agree that society is ignorant and stubborn. For example I tried to warn one of my family members to watch out what he eats because you put it into your body. He reasons out that it doesn't matter if you live an extra year or two, but that's not really the point. It's more about living a healthy life. It's hard to live it up with clogged arteries and heart problems.
DeleteTrue Izabella. I started to tell some of my family members about the dangers of these foods. But all they seemed to say back was that it just made it tastier and better. They didn't seem to care that these foods are actually disgusting and are bad for their health. They just went on with eating whatever the hell they wanted.
DeleteI agree with you that even though I know that it's bad to eat them, every once in a while I will treat myself to some. Is seems to me that even though you try so hard to avoid them that the fast food chains will always be there.
DeleteTo explain the tone of the book it's informative and to those who eat unhealthy eat fast food constantly ,it's a slap to the face. The tone can vary based on the person from a scolding to an informative idea. From his vocabulary and fast paced explaining we can tell this book was made for a more "advanced" mind or a someone that is educated enough to even read a book explaining the harsh realities of the food they eat. The arrangement basically is free thought. In a sentence he is explaining an idea he mentioned in the previous sentence then goes on to explain a new idea that appeared in the next sentence. This way he can easily hit every topic while allowing him to not feel so tight and "systematic" . I believe this disorganization is to oppose how systematic the fast food system is. Even from the first sentence he makes a firm point to explain that the success of the fast food system is because of how everything is the same there is no way to change it everything happens in the same order every single time. Like, as he explained when you go to a fast food business; you enter, order, wait, food. There is no other order to this; this order has been the same since the dawn of the fast food industry.
ReplyDeleteAHH SORRY MS FRI I HAVEN'T BEEN KEEPING UP WITH THE BLOG LATELY.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading Fast Food Nation, it's changed my perspective towards my lifestyle choices and diet. As I've said before, I never really took in to consideration what exactly I was putting in to my body, and that was simply because I didn't even know. Schlosser exposed these fast food chain's usage of propaganda and advertisements to profit from their sales of these disgusting products through his explicit studies of fast-food industry. While the food tastes great, there were secrets behind what exactly was being consumed. These chains have manipulated and brainwashed the minds of their consumers, using these familiar characters, logos, and slogans to reel everyone in.
Schlosser started this book off with a long explanation of how all these fast food restaurants came in to existence. Who started what, how they got there, the way different chains competed, and the ways some allied together to make profits. (I'll admit, it took me forever just to finish reading Pt. 1 of the book since it was slow at first). However! He was direct and extemely detailed. His broad vocabulary is capable of reaching out to readers of all ages, even though some of his vocab would be difficult for some to understand, it still is able to bring across his point to all of his readers. Point by point, fact by fact, while Schlosser still throws in his opinons here and there, in the end, everything he is saying is true.
The fact that this book is so intriguing to many of it's readers can also probably lead back to the point that, SO MANY PEOPLE CAN TURN INTERESTED BECAUSE THEY LEARN THE DIRTY TRUTH OF WHAT THEY ARE EATING, ESPECIALLY IN THESE FOODS NEARLY EVERYONE IS FAMILIAR WITH. I mean, c'mon.. look at hobos for example. Most of them go to McD's or fast food joints- cheap and "delicious". Fast food is something that millions of people, many americans, turn to on a daily basis. Too lazy to cook dinner? Sure, bring some food home for the kids. Personally, I work at L&L (but it's not really bad because we make all our food fresh, and most L&L's have their own recipes too), but I've seen so many people accustomed to the same damn schedule every day. And I'll tell you, I have quite a few "regulars". I've met mothers who were simply "not in the mood to cook" come pick up food for their families. We make between 200 and 400 sales a day. And this is for a SMALL FRANCHISE that is much more family-oriented rather than a strict major food chain such as McDonald's. Imagine how many sales the McD's in the plaza makes on a daily basis...
But hey, on an even more personal note, I've lost 12 pounds this summer due to the fact that I'm so tired of fast food. or.. food for that matter since I'm always around it when I'm working. bleh. :P
But fast food is such a major component to our society now. It's everywhere we go, and truth be told, no matter how many people become exposed to the truth and gain the knowledge that Schlosser was able to provide, I don't think it will ever be possible to run these manipulative chains down to the ground. Because like many of my fellow classmates have said, people are aware that fast food is "bad" whether they've read the book or not, but that doesn't mean it's going to necessarily stop them from eating out. Some simply don't care.
I agree fast food is so much more convenient than preparing a home-cooked meal. It's true there are lazy people out there, but a lot of Americans have lost their jobs. Fast food is cheap and it tastes good, so it seems like the best solution when in fact it will have harmful consequences in the long run.
DeleteOmg Mrs. Fri, I've been busy & I've been on vacation, so this is very late. I'm sorry!
ReplyDeleteSchlosser's writing to me at first... I really couldn't read the beginning at first glance because of the fact that it was a random building at the time with the picture and all. But once you start reading, it's actually something I would understand. His broad vocabulary and diction makes it all worthwhile to try and understand what he's trying to spell out for us in his writings about fast food. And mostly all the words he spits out, I know because of our vocabulary words! But then it wasn't hard to understand what he's trying to say. I also love the way he separates everything in the book. There's a chapter with the overall explanation on what's going to be talked about in the chapter. And then there are the sub-headings for paragraphs. This would help for others reading it because of the fact that if the paragraphs go from one thing to another after having a whole page or two explaining one thing and moving to the other, people would be dissatisfied to read another thing that was completely random. And since he had a lot of things to talk about for one chapter, he had to be able to separate to catch the readers attention. I know it caught mine.
Besides his writing, it will eventually catch everyone else's eyes because it is about the things they eat and are given to them accessibly anywhere. You could walk down a street and I know there will be a McDonald's or Burger King. Even in the mall, it's a given to see those fast food restaurants.
He also lets us see the bad side of the EMPLOYEES of these restaurants and how they're treated and what their work environment is. It's different with people who actually make their foods but the ones that are fast foods are usually treated dirty.
This book opened my eyes to try and not eat all these unhealthy foods. Like everyone else, I didn't know what was in the junk we were eating. I only knew it was bad and that's eat. There was no explanation why, just that it was bad but it tasted so good. And the reason why it tasted so good was the reason why it was so bad for us. But now I know what to not eat because of reading this book. And I'm going to try not too. And I try to tell my family about it but they don't want to listen which is entirely on their own but I try to tell them what's inside. Which is sad because they keep eating it despite what I say and I would tell them to read this book but I'm usually the only one who reads books in my family.
But in all honesty, I'm glad I read this book and that Eric Scholosser wrote it the way he did, giving a lot of details and not leaving anything out to give us this ugly truths about fast foods.
I agree with you April. I think it's really important that he showed the employee's side because we aren't the only ones being harmed by the company's neligence. It's hard to think about the people behind the counter as being unhappy because to work there, you need to have a good attitude and a smile on your face. The general public has to be "protected" from what goes on behind the scenes
DeleteI know I've been trying to warn my family too before it's too late. It's terrible to hear about all these health related issues derive from what we put into our body when it's not necessarily our fault. We have the right to know what is in our food and we need to know.
DeleteI absolutely commend Eric Schlosser for exploiting the hardcore truths of fast food. I felt was if he punched me on the chest, yelling, " Stop eating this crap or you'll become even crappier!"
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading the novel, I noticed that each chapter went well-together with its subtopics and relating detail. Chapter by chapter, Schlosser went into great detail about how businesses began and how the media had a huge impact on influencing potential customers. I believe he made great transitions emphasizing topics that us readers really crave to know.
As for his choice of words and tone, I think Eric Schlosser wanted to use typical words that the audience can relate to. While of course informing us of the horrors of junk, I think he genuinely wanted us to foresee the danger of fast food. He identified the feces in our food as shit, which to me means that he is approaching the so-called food as a former customer. He's acknowledging that what we eat isn't necessarily food at all! Without being overly polite or condescending, I think Schlosser wanted to get his point across through nitpicking the idea that it's IMPORTANT TO WATCH WHAT WE EAT!
I think Schlosser is a diamond among pebbles. He exploits and attacks the food industry with facts and isn't afraid to hide behind his words. Notice how food industries, especially fast food joints, emphasize that they NOW USING REAL MEAT. LIKE WHAT IN THE WORLD WERE YOU USING BEFORE?!?! Just recently Domino Pizza is now claiming that they are using 100% real cheese. So are they trying to inform me that it wasn't real cheese before??
To be quite frank, I'm glad Eric Schlosser is giving the food industry a run for their money. Exploiting the truth is necessary! Unfortunately, even if the truth is told across America over a microphone, people WILL choose to ignore it. They don't want to know what they are eating as long as it tastes good.
I agree. He makes his points very clear by using subtopics to coincide with his main topics. This shows effectiveness, as we've all been brought in by his words some way or another.
DeleteHe does make very good points and backs up his information with plausible cause.He visited these companies and industries and learned the truth of how these foods are made.
DeleteI have to agree with you on what you have said about Domino Pizza. They most likely have used artificial cheese before. How disgusting & horrifying for us! You literally are what you eat, so don't be fast, greasy, or fake!! In this world we have to be careful of what we take in because cancer and serious sicknesses are rampant.
DeleteI agree absolutely with you that people dont want to know what they are eating as long as it tastes good. Some people just look at pictures at fast food places to decide what they are going to eat.
DeleteTo emphasize my argument, here's an article I have found that kept me from eating at the popular KFC.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.news.com.au/national-news/court-tips-a-bucket-on-kfc-8m-payout-to-girl-paralysed-by-poison-chicken/story-e6frfkvr-1226340904291
This young girl went from your average youngster to being stuck in a wheelchair all from the matter of eating FAST FOOD
It's pretty sad how the industry won't take responsibility and change their ingredients. They pretty much just ignored what happened to this child just so a cent won't escape their pocket.
DeleteAll these articles about fast food makes me a little sad. I enjoyed KFC's popcorn chicken. It was really good. Now however, I'm scared to eat at any fast food restaurant. What I find infuriating about the article was that the restaurant had been "deeply disappointed and surprised" by Judge Rothman's decision that caused them to pay the family $8 million
DeleteLast Saturday, my family and I went to eat at a buffet since kids eat for only 99 cents. We were waiting to be seated and there was this fairly chunky little girl who was probably 3 years old. She was adorable, but obviously obese. She had fried chicken in one hand and an ice cream cone in the other. I understand it was a cheap meal, but parents need to seriously watch out for their children. No one else is going to warn them of the dangers of food.
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ReplyDeleteI agree with Marsha as well. I don't really trust any other food joints except for In-n-Out. They are pretty much the saint of all fast food places. I can say that I feel 100% more comfortable eating at home now, rather than going out, wasting time on something that'll ruin my health. I am really glad I am able to live in a house that has food cooked everyday. Even if my life is filled with a lot of leftovers, it's better to eat something fresh from the kitchen, than eating a big load of animal fat and bad chemicals.
ReplyDeleteI analyze Schlosser's arrangement of his book as all-around informative. I don't think the order of how he talks about the fast industries, fast food products, etc. matters, because he wants to just get the information out there, so people will know how these foods are made and how they affect your health.
I agree, I didn't really mind the arrangement of this book because as long as the information was out, it was okay. And I disagree with others who say the arrangement was confusing. I think it was clear and understandable.
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ReplyDeleteSince finishing Fast Food Nation it made me disgusted with all fast food restaurants, except In-n-Out. Besides that I think I'll stay away from all fast food in general. It made me sick to think that they get the high quality of meat, while the meat used for school lunches are of worse quality. No wonder I dislike school food. It's gross and unhealthy for us kids to be eating! Anyway, the way Eric Schlosser writes is interesting. He keeps us informed yet entertained. Also, the use of diction throughout the novel really lets the reader know that this guy did his research. It reassured me that Schlosser wasn't pulling these facts out of thin air, it reassured me that he knew what he was doing when he wrote this book. I also found it shocking that in some countries, advertising towards children by fast food companies had been outlawed. Yet, in this glorious nation that we live in, advertising to children continue and the obesity rate is growing. Looking around when I'm outside, to see how many people are overweight and obese, it's shocking. Another thing that I found disturbing was that the McDonald's logo (the yellow glowing M) is more recognized throughout the world than Mickey Mouse! The "Golden Arches" however, hold a secret that not many people realize. Whatever they buy from there, has the potential of severely damaging their bodies or worse kill them. Schlosser had really opened my eyes to the garbage we call food today.
ReplyDelete"Behind them lies a simple explanation for why eating a hamburger can now make you seriously ill: there's shit in the meat."
He didn't mean that figuratively, he was being serious. This has made me want to stay away from fast food restaurants. Schlosser, in my opinion, is a superb writer that informed us about the dangers of fast food without boring us with facts and statistics. Fast Food Nation was wrote in a way that tells us about the fast food industries, the meatpacking industries, the dangers of eating fast food, and how fast food has changed society. He starts the book off by telling us how it all started, then how the companies changed. They went from making quality to food, to just making money.
I agree with Carlos on the school food. I don't like how they are making us eat such an abomination...especially since it's bad for our health. On another matter it got me thinking, why do we have PE? They say we are required to PE for at least two years, but it's basically not worth it if they are going to feed us these horrible meals everyday. I think they should serve healthier foods and then maybe two years of PE would actually benefit us, because as of now, I think PE is a waste of time if they are going to promote unhealthiness to us anyways.
DeleteI like your idea, Gabriel, that school food should be healthier, but even if the school lunches got better, do you actually think kids will participate in p.e.? I mean there are a lot of kids who just stand on the court or on the field or off to the sidelines just talking. So if the food got better, do you really think kids would participate in p.e.?
DeleteI agree school food is nasty for the most part. I remember in elementary school we had hot dogs for lunch and it was swimming in black oil. Also I remember this one girl, who felt completely fine that day, threw up when she got back to class after eating lunch. Everyone suspected it was the school lunch, and it probably was. I just watched something on the news about how milk is stored in sheds, not refrigerators, and is served at schools. I'm trying to convince my mom to pack me home lunches this year, but even SPAM has artificial flavors. It's inescapable...
DeleteI agree. It is really sad that our school food is so disgusting. It should be healthier, especially because of the fact that it is being fed to children. Remember what just happened in India the food was poisoned and 23 students died. These were little children. & though this was someone's fault and was purposely done. it proves to show that the school food isn't checked. & most of it we know is unhealthy with pizza, burgers, and hot dogs being served. But it also has harmful chemicals and can be dangerous to kids.
DeleteYou are absolutely correct about the school food being disgusting
DeleteThis book has changed my perception of how fast food chains really work and what they add,but also lack in their foods. Schlosser writes in a way that the reader knows he spent a lot of time researching and he knows his stuff, so he can give reliable information. He also doesn't just tell us how the fast food chains are now, but also give us an in depth history of how they used to be. I also agree with my classmates about how manipulative fast food companies are. They will do anything to draw customers in. In one section of the book schlosser said "twenty years ago tennage boys in the United States drank twice as much milk as soda, now they drink twice as much soda as milk " and I think fast food is the main reason for this. I mean a large soda for a dollar can be very tempting. Schlosser definitely made me more aware to many things as I was reading this book.
ReplyDeleteYeah you're right, Schlosser did do his research. It's comforting knowing that what we're reading isn't just bullcrap. And he actually visited one of the IFF facilities and sampled their chemically enhanced french fries which we can buy at a fast food restaurant less than a mile away.
DeleteThat's one thing I really like about this book. He doesn't put crap into it. He thoroughly did his research and visited these places to make sure that his information he was giving to the public was true. & had hard evidence to back up his theories.
DeleteSorry this answer might be a bit lengthy!
ReplyDeleteThis book confirmed a lot of my suspicions about the nastiness of fast food but it amazed me at the same time. I’m in shock of how heartless and uncaring the owners of these companies can be! The arrangement of his book was very well thought out in how he presented everything. First, he shocked and horrified us with the facts. Next, he told us what he thought should be done and HOW we can achieve it in a call to action. And finally, he added information on the differences that were being made through the information. It made me feel like we can ACTUALLY make a difference.
Because Schlosser is arguing with basically every company that is guilty of putting profit above safety, I feel like he is challenging those companies and us to make a difference. Whoever is in charge knows the risks they are taking and is able to change everything but CHOOSES not to. What he informed us of through the book is what is happening right now. Sure, some things have changed, but there is much more to be done.
Both Schlosser’s diction and tone are meant to inform us and at the same time make us feel like we are not alone. He isn’t condemning us for eating it; he is condemning the companies for putting us in this position. He tells us his attitude so we too know that he is horrified and disgusted. He explains each topic to the fullest so we feel informed. I also noticed that when he used words like “flavorists” and “carcasses” it changed the tone to be less regal in a way. When you use the word “chemists” it makes them seem professional and intelligent. But when you replace that with the term “flavorist,” it seems like a less useful profession. With that, he uses words that the general public will understand throughout the book, and stories that support his point to keep us interested.
There is no way that I can go to a fast food restaurant and order a burger with fries without thinking of what I learned in this book. I will definitely avoid that problem as much as I can and hopefully use it to convince others to choose healthier options, especially my family. Not only fast food, but artificial and “natural” flavoring too.
I feel the same. Now I point and say "ew" every time I pass by a McDonald's. It's sick how all those potatoes are collected and put through factories...to think they were just sprinkled with artificial and "natural" flavor and served to billions of people all over the world who don't know exactly what they're eating is disgusting.
DeleteBy the way, am I the only one who didn't see the photo? Maybe my computer is tripping out
DeleteThe thought of profit over health and safety is something to frown upon. It will never make any sense that making that extra profit at the risk of someone's life is a good thing.
DeleteI agree that fast food joints make me go "ew" every time I see one. I also see the point bella is going with when she said people don't know what is in fast food but I disagreed that people don't know what's in fast food because I think, despite knowing what it can do to you, it is like a drug people know what's in it but they keep getting it.
DeleteSchlosser starts by writing about the "founding fathers" of the fast food industry, their investments, and the American dream. Next he writes about when fast food restaurants increased in number and popularity and how fast food has impacted the nation's culture and eating habits, especially for kids and teenagers. As proof of this, Schlosser stated that more than 1/5 of America's 2 year olds already drink soda. I didn't even have my first sip of soda until I started going to school which is probably I don't acquire a taste for carbonated drinks. Schlosser then writes about how fast food attracts its consumers sensually: visual presentation, aroma, and texture. Then he writes about the processing and manufacturing of the food. For example, the potatoes in McDonald's french fries is thrown on a conveyer belt, cooked by robots, then shipped off in trucks to fast food joints. He also wrote about the different chemicals and flavors added to many packaged foods such as cereals, fruit snacks, chips, and frozen foods. Lastly, Schlosser writes about how this impacts its consumers and how the consumers feel about what they consume. He uses an overall specific diction so that his readers won't get too bored. Reading this book wasn't boring at all even though it was non-fiction. I actually found it very interesting and disturbing. Sclosser's tone is casual throughout the book. He is trying to inform the readers of the dangers of processed foods. He uses words like "mysterious" to describe the secrets of the IFF and FDA. Because I've now been well informed about the fast-food industry, I'm trying to share this information with my family to scare them into eating healthier. Diabetes runs in the family so I'm trying to help prevent that for my other family members who don't have it. For those who do have diabetes, I feel they don't take it as seriously as they should. Hopefully I can help them to be more health conscious especially when it comes to choosing the right foods to put into their body.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Claire. This book is very informational even from the very beginning. Also he made sure his facts were right before he even wrote a book about it. As for his vocabulary, it wasn't too difficult for me to understand except for some long scientific words such as gastrointestinal, but the meaning of the word is pretty much already in its name. This book is really an eye opening to many us. It's disgusting how they advertise fast food as if it's healthy for us to eat everyday. The companies should at least think about the kids who don't know anything about what they're putting into their system. There should be at least a bit of guilt that goes around those companies.
ReplyDeleteI agree the vocabulary wasn't too difficult to understand except for the names of the toxic chemicals known as artificial flavoring. I like how his vocabulary wasn't super challenging because reading books with hard words gets boring. This way, I was able to understand it and actually keep up with what Schlosser wrote.
DeleteI agree with my fellow classmates, this book was extraordinary. I’ve learned many facts out of this book that I was unaware of. I was oblivious of what were the foods I was consuming but now I have an idea. I really enjoyed how Schlosser wrote because he was descriptive and just knew how to grab people’s attention. I agree with my classmates how the book was very slow at first. It was just about Carl’s life which I didn’t exactly care about, but towards the end it was worth reading. I love fast food; I ate McDonald’s like everyday in freshman year. I wish I had more knowledge about it like how I do now. I would like to thank Scholosser to make me realize about these fast food industry. He really changed my point of views about the food they sell.
ReplyDeleteFast Food Nation is an information packed novel that is quite the eye opener as well as a stomach churner. Eric Schlosser did an exceptionally well job at creating a sense of flow throughout the book. He started from the beginning and basically worked his way across to how the fast food industry affects the nation as a whole in its health (History of fast food, preparation of fast food, fast food nutrition, harmfulness, employees, etc). The way Schlosser organized the book in a way that allows the reader to follow along carefully and thoroughly with ease.
ReplyDeleteSchlosser uses the way that the fast food companies are run with his arguments by basically telling us that fast food companies treat their employees poorly and that also is true of how they treat their food. This gives us the basic thought that if the place that is producing the food is disgusting, then the food is most likely disgusting. That is what Schlosser is doing by linking the way that the restaurants are run with the quality of their food.
Schlosser is very informative and is constantly throwing facts out left and right. His tone is rather blunt as he does not sugar coat anything and everything is purely facts. His diction is very precise and concise. Many scientific words are used throughout the book which gives it that type of feel but also plays as an eye opener to the reader. He uses the overall specific diction and a predominating tone to inform the reader of what he deeply cares for which is the fast food industry's effect on the nation.
This book is very engaging since the content is easy to relate to. Anyone can relate to fast food since it is seen on a daily basis. Whenever you drive on the freeway, there is always a sign to your right that has the logo of a MacDonald's or a Wendy's.
Based on the knowledge that I have gained from my reading, I will try my best to avoid these types of food. It will be a challenge though since convenience is a big factor.
I agree. It is a very informative book, and a total eye opener to what is really in our fast food. The companies do treat the employees badly and the food even worse. He is a very assertive with trying to prove his point. And because he picked this topic more people will start to read it. because it is a topic that everyone can relate to. who doesn't eat fast food?
DeleteSchlosser organizes his book by starting with the origin of fast food. In my opinion I think one of the reasons why he starts his book with this beginning was so he could inform the public that the founding fathers of fast food did not intend for fast food to be the way it is today. Then he goes and explains the dynamics of the companies and eventually starts to talk about the food in general. When Schlosser starts to talk about the food in the restaurants he gives informative info that all seems to be backed up with plausible cause. He talks about his experiences in the factories and laboratories. Though he was thorough with his work, during the book he would tend to go off topic from time to time. But in some way those off topic subjects also gave us for information that somehow connected with the previous information. He would go into detail on almost every subject and continued this process throughout the book on every subject he brought in. The diction he used was pretty obvious throughout the whole book, he was trying to be informative to the public about fast food. He might have seemed very complex now and again but he was assertive with his point. He wanted to explain the dark side of the fast food companies and wanted the readers to agree with him.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion I found this book to be very informative and gave me public knowledge of the real fast food industries. It made me realize that these foods are even unhealthier then I thought. & that it’s not just fast food that I should be worried about, it’s the pre-packaged foods I find in my local grocery stores. I now know that I should make healthier choices and eat less fast food.
Schlosser organizes his book in order of the evolution of fast food, from how it begun all the way to present time today. I think that it starts from the beginning just to give us an idea of how the fast food business has dramatically changed over times. Schlosser explains the dynamics of the fast food chain as their employees resemble the fast food chains food, poorly treated. Fast food companies pretty much ignore the food that has already been put on the menu, however, the food that is added is like employees that are hired.
ReplyDeleteSchlosser constantly gives us facts about multiple fast food chain to help us figure out how we really feel about fast food. He tells the readers the facts about fast food without stretching the truth. Schlosser uses a very scientific vocabulary when it comes to explaining the fast food that is sold at eating establishments. Schlosser's tone in forms us that he really cares about how fast food effects the nation.
This story is easy to relate to for all Americans mainly because fast food joints are very convenient and after reading this book I understand what is wrong with fast food.
Fast Food Nation has really opened my eyes to what goes in my body. As I have said before i really didnt care what i put in my body even if it was fast food because it just tasted so good. But after hearing about the fries and the milkshakes and everything else, fast food places really just look gross to me now. Other than that, which has been said many times already, I like the way Eric Schlosser wrote the book. From past to present with hard evidence. What really sucks though is that people wont stop eating fast food just because of the taste, and because they see other people eating it as well. Also the tempting commercials and deals do not help. Like when Claire posted about the soda to milk ratio, the $1 soda deal just attracts people. So in the end just like you Mrs. Fri, i think i will just be eating at In-n-Out for a long time.
ReplyDeleteIn-n-Out is hands down the best natural fast food. Eating is an addiction that people may not even notice. Food serves pleasure and temporary relief. Knowing that fast foods are cheap and instant, people continually purchase it. In addition to the tempting ads, they also have promotion days such as Wingstop Monday, Fish Taco Tuesday, Spam Musubi Wednesday, etc. Because of that, people tend to buy those kinds of foods every week to avail the discount. The food corporations are very smart for their weekly promotions, but the question is, do they consume those foods themselves?
DeleteSchlosser did a great job in organizing the book Fast Food Nation by he showed how the fast food industry evolved from the family owned restaurants to the big corporations that we know today. Schlosser organization of the book shows his arguments of the book by he ends exposing the complex basics of the fast food industry ( the beginnings, how the food is made , how the employees are treated, why the food taste so good, and how the fast food industry became globalized.) Schlosser's tone was predominating to make the reader more aware of what they are putting in their body when they are eating the food and he uses an overall specific diction to be more precise when he gives us facts about the fast food industry. I will use this knowledge by trying to eat healthier and to try to make many of the people that I know aware of the harms that come from eating fast food and this book has really helped me see the bad side of the fast food industry.
ReplyDeleteSchlosser’s book has precise, accurate research on how fast foods are made and where they originally come from. He started off by introducing the founding fathers and what is behind the counter. Leading the topic to economical success, another topic comes along of why fries tastes good, what chemicals are contained, to what is in the meat, and the effects of these hazardous ingredients. Rising up to the conclusion, Schlosser talks about global realization and having it your way. Schlosser’s words are very educative and makes you think twice before eating a fast food product. He classifies the actual cost to life and culture such as food-borne disease, near-global obesity, animal abuse, political corruption, and worksite hazards.
ReplyDeleteWith the heavy, technical words used, Schlosser had some actual fast food restaurant facts and evidence from local fast food restaurants. Although he states every negative thing about eating unhealthy junk, he has no control of what people choose to do because of free will.
I will use this information for myself and to possibly influence others into eating homemade and whole foods because it is the right way to live life. We should not be eating our way to death.
Fast Food Nations is a book well written to inform readers of what they are actually eating and the intensions of who sell them. I, as several of the other student agree that the companies are just trying to make a profit and not thinking of what they are actually selling. The way that that Schlosser organized his book helps the reader get an idea of how everything started, to how the food is made, how they treat their employies, how to sell their product, and show you how much power they actually have as well as how much power the customers have. Schlosser shows you the truth behind that delicious burger, the "unhappy" employies make for you in less than a couple minutes with facts and experiences. After reading this book it changes my perspective on what I put in my body and to find out what's in it. This book has made me picky of where I go to eat and exactly what I should eat. Schlosser engages the average reader with facts and examples from the common person to the man behind the fast food chain. Schlosser's tone is sarcastic and makes me feel that the book should be taken even more serious then it already is.
ReplyDeleteI found Fast Food Nation to be an absolutely informative novel. The way that Schlosser bluntly says the truth about exposing all of these restaurants that have cultured all of us as Americans one way or another is extremely eye opening. He is extremely wise in the sense that the novel is based all upon facts and he constantly is reminding the readers what is going into our bodies. It makes me realize how gruesome all these places that are meant to be completely trusted are actually fooling all of us into believing it can genuinely be good for us. It is obvious to say that I will never be able to look at these places I enjoyed eating at as a child ever again. Reading about the preparation and what really goes on makes me grossed out typing this and is not appetizing at all. I feel like it is about time for a cultural revolution as Americans to educate each other on all of the endless healthier options because all of these mystery chemicals are deteriorating us as a society.
ReplyDeleteI think Fast Food Nation is a very well-written book that straight up tells you what's behind all the fast food this world consumes. Schlosser basically lays it out and opens our eyes to the gross things we've all been eating. As other students have said, we realize that these huge fast food companies care nothing about our health, all they care about is profit. Schlosser wrote about something that has to do with literally all of us which is how he kept the average reader engaged. Reading this novel definitely made me start to think twice about where and what I eat.
ReplyDeleteSchlosser uses diction throughout the book very well. A topic such as fast food can interest many readers, but they can easily lose interest with all the stats and factoids. Schlosser reveals places like McDonald's, a restaurant so commonly eaten at that readers cannot help but keep reading on. The way Schlosser conveys the point is so compelling and real. This really woke me up as I'm sure it did most of you as well. Schlosser really showed us how our lives are being impacted by living in a Fast Food Nation.
ReplyDeleteUsually when I read books they get me really bored and almost feels like a punishment, but Fast Food Nation was different because he gave me all these facts about the fast food chains but some how managed to get me entertained. This was one of my favorite books that I have ever read. His goal was to show us what goes behind the scenes of fast food and he really achieved that. I will most likely read one of his other books.
ReplyDeletein my opinion, Fast Food Nation was written well to inform people about how bad fast food really is. after reading this book, it definitely made me sick a little but it also opened my eyes about what i put into my body. Schlosser's goal was to change the way people think about fast food and to inform people about what is done in order for fast food to taste like how it does. its like a wake up call for America. it really shows us how fast foods have taken over most of our lives, but now we know every thing behind it and can change what goes in our body.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all my classmates on how much he put into this book to inform us of the truth behind not just fast food, but all types of processed foods. The way he described different points in this book we're factual and to the point and he made it not too hard to understand. He begins the book by explaining to us the start of the fast food business and how it affects us readers. He informs us what we are putting in our bodies and basically gives us a huge wake up call. Not only is his tone formal but he stays consistent through out the book by maintaining this straight forward manner. This book shows us the real truth with accurate evidence on fast food, and gives us the knowledge to make better choices on what we put into our bodies.
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