Eric Schlossers Fast Food Nation - Essay Example

English Composition 1101-NET01 02 December Eric Schlosser’s “Fast Food Nation” In Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser argues that fast food has become extremely popular among American citizens of all ages, social classes, and ethnic backgrounds. Americans are heavy consumers of fast food, on which they spend more money than they do "on higher education, personal computers, software or new cars. They spend more on fast food than on movies, books, magazines, newspapers, videos and recorded music – combined” (Schlosser, p.7). As a result, in this book, Schlosser exposes many of the negative phenomena that are associated with fast food, trying to recommend some possible approaches to deal with such negative phenomena. After reading Schlosser’s book, I’ve started retrospecting my eating habits, finding that Schlosser’s view of fast food has influenced my eating and purchasing decisions. In particular, I’ve started thinking of the kind of food I eat, the way it is processed, and how much organic food I consume. Like most other Americans, the huge volume of fast food advertising has used to attract me blindly to consume this kind of food. As argued by Schlosser, the harsh competition among fast food companies in the United States pushes them to use advertising heavily in order to attract more and more customers. Although fast food advertising is directed to all kinds of people, kids and adolescents are specially targeted in order to promote this kind of food among them. As kids and adolescents are still inexperienced, they can be easily influenced by what they watch on TV, and thats why fast food advertising attracts more and more young people in the US. Accordingly, like other American adolescents, I have turned into a heavy consumer of fast food since an early age due to the role of advertising. Everywhere in television and print media, we are surrounded by a great number of ads that aim at convincing us to use certain kinds of products and services or eat certain kind of food. In that sense, ads are tools that deepen the spirit of consumerism among Americans, since young age. TV ads, for example, use all modern approaches to push the audience to consume more and more products. In this context, the main role of the American government and Not-for-Profit organizations is to adequately inform people about the possible threat of junk food on health. To prove that TV ads play an important role for popularizing fast food among Americans, Schlosser notes that "the Fast Food chains annually spend about $3 billion on television advertising" (Schlosser, p. 47). However, this figure has increased greatly in recent years. To illustrate, a recent American study reached the conclusion that "fast food corporations spend more than $12 billion a year marketing to children–well over 20 times the amount spent 10 years ago" (Sweeny). This increase in ads spending reveals the fast food corporations belief in the efficiency of these ads in attracting young kids (Duncan). As the ads that promote junk food are spread everywhere, so, the counter ads that warn people about the destructive effects of this kind of food should also be available for all audiences. Government authorities should design ad campaigns to inform its citizens about the real threat of junk food, its nutritional components, and threat on lives. Related to the issue of fast food is the issue of consumerism, which refers to the notion of the tendency to ‘consume’ large volumes of products by the citizens of a given society. The problem arises when the ‘consumed’ food is unhealthy for people. This is identified by Anup Shaha, in his article which is entitled "Effects of Consumerism," as he notes that "today’s commercial markets include a very wide variety of foods that are unhealthy, but attractively marketed to kids” (Shah). Thus, the popularity of fast food in a given society entails the prevalence of the habit of consumerism in that society. As such, after reading Schlosser’s book, I’ve become fully aware of the close relationship between fast food and obesity. Thus, reading this book has impacted the way I look at myself and my body image. As argued by the Schlosser, the negative consequences of fast food on health are closely connected to other negative social consequences on Americans. As they eat fast food extensively, many young Americans will gain weight and become fat in a manner that make them hate their look. In that sense, fast food may lead to a change in the way young Americans and adolescents look. As a result, those over-weight Americans, just like myself, will probably be dissatisfied with the look of their bodies, as they become strong fast food eaters. This is reflected in a study that was conducted by Martia P. McCabe and Lina A. Ricciardelli on a number of adolescents. They discovered that females showed dissatisfaction towards their bodies due to obesity that is caused primarily by fast food diets (McCabe and Ricciardelli). Accordingly, diseases such as obesity are not the utmost health effect that can be caused by fast food. Rather, obesity in itself can be the root of some psychological problems, as fat guys and girls may develop a sense of dissatisfaction with their bodies. In that sense, the health problems that are caused by fast food diets may also turn to psychological dilemmas. Therefore, it can be said that fast food may cause serious health problems that are the root of many other social and psychological problems for Egyptians. Furthermore, another important impact “Fast Food Nation” has left on me is related to my inspection of the way the food I eat is processed. When Schlosser tackles the issue of slaughtering and processing of meat for food, I found it extremely disgusting. He gives a detailed description of slaughterhouses, the employees who work there, and the mechanism of processing meat. For example, Schlosser gives expressive detailed description of the slaughterhouses of the High Plains, where employees work under very bad conditions, which may be hazardous both for them and for the meat eaters. They are forced to push out a large amount of product in a short amount of time, greatly increasing the risk of injury. While I sympathize with those poor workers, I feel disgusted and I care a lot about the health problems from which I may suffer as I’m a huge consumer of fast food. Because those who work in slaughterhouses face very hard conditions, live a hazardous life, and earn minimum wages, many slaughterhouse owners prefer to hire illegal immigrants, who are mostly not covered by health insurances. This makes it quite easy for to come to work ill or infected with illness. This is due primarily to the fact that most illegal immigrants do not have health insurance. Steven A. Camarota asserts that "one-third of immigrants do not have health insurance — two and one-half times the rate for natives" (Camarota). This detailed description of the processing of food and slaughtering of meat has pushed me to minimize eating fast food, as the disgusting image of slaughtering and food processing, exposed by Schlosser, never left my mind. Moreover, after reading Schlosser’s book, I’ve become aware that one of the factors that have used to attract me to fast food is good taste. However, Schlosser has illuminated me that this good taste is sometimes resulted from the use of some unhealthy- and may be dangerous- materials, such as artificial flavors and other ingredients. For example, one of the chemicals that is added to flour “to make bread rise better and give it a uniform consistency” is Potassium Bromate. According to authentic studies, this chemical is dangerous on health, as it is associated with “the inhibition of iodine enzyme metabolism, which weakens the thyroid and kidneys” (Davis). In this context, Schlosser analyzes the approaches used by fast food companies to make their food tasty and appealing for customers. Actually, the spread of this kind of food is caused by many factors, including its good taste, and ease with which one can reach any of these fast food chains anywhere. According to Schlosser, one of the techniques used by fast food chains is the use of artificial flavors and other ingredients that give the food a good taste and a nice smell. However, the problem is that most of these artificial flavors have dangerous effects on health. Science and experiment show that junk food is extremely unhealthy as it has dangerous artificial flavors and low nutritional values and high levels of fat. Most independent studies that are conducted around the world to test the effect of junk food on health concluded that this kind of food may cause serious health problems due to its flavors and unhealthy nutritional components. For example, one of the fast food ingredients that may be hazardous for health is Monosodium Glutamate, known as excitotoxin. While this ingredient is “sensed by the taste buds in our tongues, it also triggers and excites the neurons in the brain, … where it can injure and kill the neurons” (“Dangerous Food Ingredients…”). Moreover, most kinds of fast food that we eat contain high ratio of fat which causes obesity that is life-threatening. In their article that is entitled "Why Junk Food is so Tempting, And How to Beat Your Temptation," Dr. Joseph Mercola and Dr. Rachael Droege refer to the important fact that "an estimated 300,000 Americans die each year from fat-related causes." Among the serious health problems caused by obesity and other fat-related problems is the high blood pressure and heart attacks. Since junk food contains extremely high levels of fat, those who heavily eat this kind of food will be categorized as high risk in regard to fat-related diseases. Thats because the eaters of this kind of food will gain weight easily and the fat levels in their bodies will increase to a level that would threaten their lives. Therefore, it can be said that both the natural and artificial ingredients of most fast food have dangerous effects on peoples health. Going deeper in the issue of fast food, Schlosser extends his argument about the dangerous effects of fast food on health. He states that the way meat is processed and treated before cooking may make it a suitable place for dangerous bacteria, which is extremely hazardous for people, especially kids. In that sense, the author argues that the way meat is cooked in the fast food restaurants may not lead to the full killing of the dangerous bacteria in poultry, meat, and eggs. He argues that some kinds of bacteria can survive on raw meat from infected poultry. It is also unsafe to eat undercooked meat, poultry or consume raw eggs. To support his argument, Schlosser cites many statistics and cases, in which adults and children got dangerous diseases that are discovered to be the effect of bacteria in processed meat. For instance, an unusual numbers of children were hospitalized at a hospital in Seattle in 1993 with bloody diarrhea. The doctors afterwards found that these symptoms were caused by certain kinds of bacteria that usually grow in raw meat. This experience shows that the meat of fast food is sometimes unsafe due to the dangerous bacteria it contains, causing the spread of some diseases for adults and children. In this context, it can be argued that the proper hygiene -- hand washing and the disinfecting of all surfaces that come in contact with the meat -- is essential. It is also recommended to avoid unnecessary contact with live meat and poultry in order for the bacteria not to be transferred to the humans who work close to it. Lastly, it can be said that close inspection of slaughterhouses and the techniques followed in meat processing and packing is an important approach that may protect people against the dangerous effects of the bacteria that is found in meat. Being informed about fast food and the way it is processed, I’ve started to seek another kind of food that is proven to be healthy and tasty. In this context, I thought of consuming healthier and organic food instead of the traditional fast food. In this regard, I would refer to the movement of ‘Slow Food.’ To counter balance the spread and popularity of fast food around the world, the Slow Food movement emerges as a call for a turn towards healthy and natural food. This movement was founded in Italy in 1986 as a result of the desire of a growing number of people to abandon fast food with all its health problem and search for healthier kinds of food (“Fast Food Culture …”). Thus, instead of eating fries while driving one-handed through traffic, the slow food movement would advocate taking the time to enjoy good food raised in clean, safe conditions and sold at a fair profit for the farmer. In addition, slow food means taking the time to know the food that people eat is healthy for them and for the people who produce it. In that sense, Slow Food "envisions a future system that is based on the principles of high quality and taste, environmental sustainability, and social justice. The food must be good, clean and fair" ("Slow Food"). The members of the Slow Food movement demand their food to be safe, wholesome, attractive, and flavorful. They also want their food to be produced in ways that respect people including farmers and workers in the food system, and also food consumers. Therefore, the Slow Food movement emerged as an expression of the dissatisfaction with the popular fast food. Recognizing the various negative health effects of fast food that is extremely popular around the world, the Slow Food movement emerged as an environmentally-safe kind of food in order to protect peoples health, especially children who are most vulnerable to the negative effect of junk food. Consequently, reading Schlosser’s book has helped me search for a new style of food that highly values social relations and family ties. Instead of having a quick lunch in a fast food restaurant or a car, I would advocate the traditional notion of having a natural meal with the family at home. This style of food will not only be beneficial for health but it will also help in reviving the old family ties that are about to be lost in recent years. In that sense, the advocates of the "Slow Food" movement believe that the values of this movement will help to improve the social lives (Llosa). These are the values of the family meal, which teaches one, among other things, that the pleasures of the table are a social as well as a private good. As mentioned in the movement web site, "at the table one learns moderation, conversation, tolerance, generosity and conviviality; these are civic virtues. The pleasures of the table also beget responsibilities to one another, to the animals one eats, to the land and to the people who work it" ("Fast Food Movement"). Therefore, I would decide to be a member in the Slow Food movement, as it has positive impacts on peoples social lives; particularly, this movement advocates family gatherings during meals instead of the individual eating that is the central notion behind fast food. Accordingly, I’ve started to realize that fast food is an equivalent to individuality and isolation, while slow food is an equivalent to socialization and family ties. In conclusion, after reading Schlosser’s book, I will revolt against the popular American style of eating that values the culture of individuality and quick meals. I would join the Slow Food movement, which was initiated in Europe as a way to protect their own life style, culture and food diet against the dominance of the American way of fast food. At the end, after reading “Fast Food Nation,” I will promote the notion of eating fresh, organic, and natural foods instead of the unhealthy and high-fat fast food. Works Cited Beynon, John and David Dunkerley, eds. Globalization: The Reader. London: The Athlone Press, 2000. Camarota, Steven A. "Immigrants in the United States — 2000 A Snapshot of Americas Foreign-Born Population." Center for Immigration Studies. Jan. 2001. 30 Nov. 2011. “Dangerous Food Ingredients are Contributing to Obesity and Cancer.” 02 Dec. 2011. Davis, Ellen L. “Seven Harmful Chemicals Added to Processed Food.” 02 Dec. 2011. < http://ezinearticles.com/?Seven-Harmful-Chemicals-Added-to-Processed-Food&id=1788345> “Fast Food Culture is Expanding Worldwide.”11 Jun. 2005. 01 Dec. 2011. Jacobson, Michael F., Brownell, Kelly D. "Small Taxes on Soft Drinks and Snack Foods to Promote Health." American Journal of Public Health. 01 Jun., 2000, Vol. 90, Issue 6. 01 Dec. 2011. EbscoHost. Llosa, Mario Vargas. "The Culture of Liberty." Foreign Policy Journal. Jan.-Feb. 2001. 01 Dec. 2011. Ebsco Host. Academic Search Premiere. McCabe, Martia P. and Ricciardelli, Lina A. "Parent, Peer, and Media Influences on Body Image and Strategies to both Increase and Decrease Body Size among Adolescent Boys and Girls." 01 Dec. 2011. Mercola, Joseph and Droege, Rachael. "Why Junk Food is so Tempting, And How to Beat Your Temptation." 14 Feb. 2005. 01 Dec. 2011. Schlosser, Eric. “Fast-Food Nation: The True Cost of Americas Diet.” Rolling Stone Magazine (USA), Issue 794, 03 Sept., 1998. 01 Dec. 2011.  Shah, Anup. "Effects of Consumerism." 18 Apr. 2005. 30 Nov. 2011. Sweeny, Barbara. "Concerned about Marketing to Children?" 25 Feb. 2008. 02 Dec. 2011. Read More