Throughout history, investigative journalists have and continue to expose injustices and corruption in America and across the world. In the book Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser retells the history of the fast food industry and exposes its unsanitary environment, unhealthy product composition, and dangerous practices. One could compare this book’s subject to that of The Jungle by Upton Sinclair, which exposed the terrible conditions of the meatpacking industry, something Schlosser also discusses within the book. While the conditions of the fast food industry as a whole may be shocking at first, the reader could either drastically change their lifestyle based on the facts presented, or just push them to the back of their mind.
Since the conclusion of World War II, the fast food industry’s place in America and its economy has rapidly grown. The industry grew along with the automobile industry, which allowed customers easier access to the food establishments. Throughout the book, Schlosser mainly focuses on McDonald’s since he credits it with inspiring many of today’s popular fast food chains. Schlosser retells McDonald’s rise to popularity, but also the dark side of its
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Throughout the book, Schlosser cites numerous sources and even includes a bibliography of them. For example, he cites the memoir of Ray Kroc, the person credited with creating McDonald’s rise to fame: “‘Eventually I opened a McDonald’s across the street from that store, which they had renamed The Big M,’ Kroc proudly noted in his memoir, and it ran them out of business’” (97 Schlosser). This and the other sources cited help establish a credible ethos. Schlosser cited reliable sources throughout his work, causing readers to trust him more after seeing the sources
In Jill Kaufman’s article “Meat Packing Industry,” Kaufman analyses the meat packing crisis and controversy that occurred during the Roosevelt administration in the early 1900’s. In 1906 Author Upton Sinclair released a novel title The Jungle, which sought to critic exploited meat packing workers of that time. While his novel did stir up some commotion, his ultimate goal remained unmet. Americans were appalled at the ways he described the unsanitary methods and procedures of the meat packing industry. This resulted in stricter policies and inspections being put in place; however, whether or not the industry was truly unhygienic and unsanitary remained disputed.
Many fast food companies have succumbed to the traditional structure from decades ago. During the earlier years, businesses flourished through independent means, buying from local dealers and creating their own original products. Nowadays, with the speedy service of industries, fast food companies have monopolized through old-fashioned strategies such as vertical integration. Even with such an industrialized empire, Schlosser deliniates the “behind-the-scenes” of many companies within the last section of his exposé, keeping an open mind to change. Eric Schlosser criticises the low moral methods of production used by many fast food industries by mentioning the Lasater Ranch, owned by Dale Lasater.
The purpose Schlosser composed the text is to bring awareness towards society the lies that are spread about fast food companies and that their "good" intentions are actually just an image perceived to deceive society. The purpose has relevance to the human condition because it has to do with the people of society itself and the influence these fast food companies create on the
During the era of Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle, the book soared in popularity— for numerous reasons. While Sinclair’s original intent was to expose the poor working conditions of the working class citizens, it spread further than that in its readers' hearts. His book went on to expose the food industry, and how horrid the things were that were put in the meat to be consumed by unsuspecting individuals. This discovery led to a movement of people demanding better food conditions and health standards worldwide.
Most people in this world have, at least one point in their lives, dreamt of having a perfect family, a nice house, a good healthcare plan, an affordable car and the list can go on forever. Imagine a situation where all these desires and hopes of have an enjoyable lifestyle are suddenly taken away from you. Think about a circumstance where you return home to your wife and children and realize that you don’t have enough money to even provide them with basic necessities. According to Eric Schlosser’s, Fast Food Nation, the majority of fast- food industry workers lead poor lifestyles and are financially unstable because they do not receive adequate compensation for their work and do not have a chance to improve the situation due to the power
Upton Sinclair published a novel describing how unsanitary the meat packing houses in Chicago were. His publication resulted in the enactment of legislations that established more stern inspections of meat processing and packing houses. However, The Jungle resulted into a different consequence from what Upton intended. This is because Upton aimed that the book would shed light on the difficulty of workers in meat industry but ended up back firing. In this regard, the public ignored the need to improve workers’ welfare as described in the book but instead became more sensitively aware of the awful unsanitary conditions in the meat industry.
Schlosser uses interesting diction and word choice to make it known to the reader the severity of the spread of fast food. He makes it sound like the restaurants are a bunch of enemies that have invaded and are preparing to attack “infiltrated every nook and cranny..." Schlosser used diction to emphasize his main
In both excerpts from The Jungle and Fast Food Industry, the authors, Upton Sinclair and Eric Schlosser, attempt to expose corrupt businesses, specifically the meatpacking industry, and aim to uncover the unsanitary and inhuman conditions processed within this industry. Sinclair, in his novel, The Jungle, illustrates the horrifying conditions in the industry through Jonas’ description of rotting meat, as well as the conditions both the meat and workers went through. In his novel, Sinclair explains that the stored meat had “water from leaky roofs … drip over it, and thousands of rats would race about on it” (Sinclair, U. “Chapter 14” The Jungle, 1906). Through this vivid imagery, Sinclair explains the condition the meat is in, in order to acknowledge
Rhetorical Analysis: “Why McDonald’s Fries Taste So Good” When it comes to writing, the hardest part is getting the audience interested in what you have to say. Four techniques writers use to attract readers are the use of ethos, logos, pathos and Kairos in their text. Ethos is a method used to gain trust in the author. Logos uses facts and statistics to add credibility to the author. Pathos is used in stories or experiences to connect the readers emotionally to the text.
Zinczenko’s Rhetorical Precis In his essay “Don’t Blame the Eater,” David Zinczenko sympathizes for port fast-food patron, like himself ages ago, he agrees that food industry should take some responsibility for obesity. He supports his claim by warning consumers about the dangers of fast food,as it play a factor in obesity. Within his argument, he questions other counter arguments and uses his narrative tone to show consumers that the food industry is necessarily at fault. Zincenko believes the prevalence of fast food and the lack of healthier food alternatives is causing obesity in America.
Chapter 7 of Fast Food Nation discussed the starting of meatpacking industry and its downfalls. At first, Iowa Beef Packers (IBP) used the same principle as McDonald’s principle to make fast foods. IBP hired unskilled workers just to do simple and repeated work all day. However, competition with other companies made IBP low wages and health insurance options. This caused slaughterhouses to move West to gain cheap labor and land.
Many advertisements target a specific group of consumers whether it be classified through gender, age group, or those that share similar interests. Companies try to create advertisements that leave a lasting impression of a certain product so that it can resonate in a consumer’s mind. Often, companies shape an advertisement based on the type of customers they want to attract. For example, McDonald 's, a fast food chain is likely to target children than adults. By attracting children, there is a likely chance that the children will will insist their parents or grandparents to bring them to the restaurant, which ultimately for the restaurant is about making thrice the profit.
Mr. Sinclair’s book provided more distressing news of the terrible practices in this industry taught to the workers so that more meat can be distributed for profit. “He wrote that workers would process dead, injured, and diseased animals after regular hours when no meat inspectors were around” (“Upton Sinclair’s”). Meatpacking industries provides more meat for their customers purely for profit. This causes the industry to be influenced to sell its meat, no matter the condition it is in. Packaged meat put in revolting conditions were brought to light, thanks to “The Jungle” and the customers of these businesses were
For many people the ideal meal is inexpensive, fast, and tastes good. When purchasing these quick and inexpensive meals we put very little thought into how that food was actually produced. Food Inc is a documentary produced by filmmaker Robert Kenner and Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation, to bring awareness to Americans about the industrial side of food production. Kenner wants us to question how much we really know about the food we have been feeding to our families and to ourselves. He interviews various experts such as food advocates, farmers and authors who have written books about the food industry.
Upton Sinclair’s, The Jungle is a novel, which affected the food industry in 1900’s but also in America today. People have learned over the years the truths about the food industry, revealed through Sinclair’s detailed evidence. Sinclair meant to aim at the public’s heart but instead he shot straight at their stomachs. One would easily be convinced to never again buy or eat meat again. Fortunately, people have seen changes from 1906 and have been currently trying to repair the Food Industry.