Fast Food Nation, Non-Fiction Summer Project

Summary

In the second portion of the book Schlosser changes the focus of the book from the corporate world to the product of the fast food industry. He starts by examining how every fast food restaurant has a consistent taste. He then later reveals throughout his tour at an undisclosed location it's because all flavors can be manufactured artificially.

He continues on by explaining how monopolies have formed in the meatpacking, cattle, chicken, and potato industries. This leaves many farmers with a tough choice, to sell the farm to the monopoly and make meager wages and stay alive, or keep their morals and leave their fate up to chance.

The monopolies aren't just causing the farmers problems though, Schlosser explains that due to the overcrowded fields run by monopolies to meet the ever growing demand of fast food, the meat is being lethally tainted, with E.Coli and Salmonella, due to the defecation of the cows in the fields and them living and eating in that same field.

Inside the meatpacking plants are where the most damage has been done though. Due to the high demand for meat in the fast food industry, every factory has to speed up their output rates. This can be extremely dangerous because many of the workers are using knives that are so sharp if they were to accidentally cut themselves they would never know. Many workers are injured and are forced to go to the company doctor who will underrate the severity of the injury and let the worker to return to work. To close the book Schlosser gives one last thing about the fast food industry, that we as customers have the power to not buy their product.

Fast Food Nation

Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser, is an intense book that goes into thorough detail of every aspect of the fast food industry. Starting off with how fast food got started in post World War II America, Schlosser explains that such a convenience was never offered until fast food came, which is what made it so popular. Schlosser continues by interviewing several of the leaders in the fast food industry, revealing their advertising techniques, explaining the fact that most of their workforce is undercompensated for their work or violating the labor laws to keep their job. He also introduces the idea that fast food has created the idea of endless sprawl. (Endless Sprawl is the idea that we just keep building malls, restaurants, houses, etc. without end.)

Personal Reaction

By: Bryan Giannone, Nicole Frantik, Bella Carusso, and Allison Behnke

Summary Cont.

I felt appalled that all of these secrets were held from us. To think that fast food corporations have no regard for anything but fulfilling their greedy wishes of making money, even if it does cost human life.

After reading this book I don't want to eat fast food, especially after learning about how they treat thier livestock and contaminate their meat. It's scary to think about how big of an impact the fast food industry has had on the American mindset and on the world.

Even with all of the labor laws that have been made and all of the safety precautions that are made, this slid right by us. Although I do feel optimistic in the sense that I as a customer can make a change in the world. I can make the choice not to eat their food and not promote everything that they stand for.

Thematic Elements

Thematic Elements Cont.

Audience

The final thematic element is symbolism. The main symbol in the book is McDonalds. Due to it being the largest of all of the fast food corporations, it has the most influence and the most impact on the market, which is why Schlosser used it. Schlosser uses McDonalds to show the greed of all corporations and all of the ruthless business practices that are being used. Fast food can also be considered a symbol just because it is something that is so prominent in American life, and has been this way since the 1950's.

The book primarily talks about the American meal.

It was written to inform teens and adults of the impact of their food choices.

If the author could change the views of the adults, it would trickle down to the chlidren and hopefully build a smarter, healthier generation.

The three most important thematic elements are short-stories/ anecdotes, metaphors, and symbolism.

Throughout the whole book Schlosser tells of all the people that he talked with giving the book a more personal perspective, and has a greater affect than other books that just throw statistics at the reader. One of the more important anecdotes in the first half of the book was when Schlosser interviewed Ray Kroc and discussed how him and Walt Disney were intertwined. Throughout this interview Kroc told about how he had modeled most of McDonald's advertising after how Disney had done so. He also later told about how he was the only one who had brought "Disney Magic" to families, by selling Disney toys with Happy Meals, without actually going to Disney.

Schlosser used metaphors very well to paint word pictures for the reader. The two most memorable were when Schlosser compared the conditions of the meatpacking industry to the inhumane conditions that were being done to the animals and when Schlosser compared Mikhail Gorbachev speaking in America to the Roman Circus where the captured nations were put on display in exhibits.

Appeal

Occasion

Schlosser wrote this book because fast food is a huge part of American culture. Everywhere we go, there almost always is a McDonald’s or fast food restaurant nearby. They are one of our nation’s biggest buyers of meat and produce, and millions of people eat there every day.

Kind

Fast Food Nation is an informational novel because Schlosser is just stating the facts. He’s not trying to convince us never to eat fast food, he’s just opening our eyes to the fast food world and shows us how they treat the animals and workers.

Connections

There were many connections found throughout the book Fast Food Nation. For one, we all eat fast food on a weekly basis. Looking back into this past week, the four of us in this group combined ate at a fast food restaurant at least 13 times. As shown, it is a part of our daily lives and we too are first-hand contributors to this fast food nation.

Another connection we can make is the lives of the employees. I work at a fast food restaurant, and see the primary effects of corporation greed. Getting paid minimum wage, having long hours, and receiving no benefits are just some of the struggles that fast-food employees have to deal with.

Also, we see obesity growing rapidly in our society. When people complain about the sizes of their meals being too small it is easy to understand why weight is such an issue these days. Fast Food Nation has brought light to our eyes about the negative health effects of fast-food companies.

The appeal to Fast Food Nation seems quite apparent. We are all surrounded in a world of fast food an given the curiosity to want to know what it is made of, how it began, and what it does to us. I think anyone over the age of 16 should read this book to know what the truth is out there. It was a fun, interesting read and I think it appeals to all people of food taste and interest in society.

Purpose

The author wanted to inform readers about the industry, workers rights, food processing techniques, and corruption.

He wanted to persuade people to take action. People need to think about the food they put in their body.