An Analysis Of Chew On This, By Eric Schlosser

Improved Essays
Introduction
Chew On This, by Eric Schlosser, endeavors into the world of fast food, specifically describing McDonald 's throughout the book. Schlosser not only focuses on the harmful effects of the food, but the actual business itself, and the marketing strategies that caused it to become so successful. He forges further into all of the unintended negative impacts of the industry socially, environmentally, economically, and physically. Schlosser really is trying to inform his readers of fast food and the atrocious side effects associated to it.

Audience Eric Schlosser’s book appeals to one who is interested in learning the dangers of fast food and the world it has created. He spends a significant amount of time explaining the physical consequences
…show more content…
Schlosser guides his readers through the various components of fast food by writing pure facts with little to none of his own input on the subject. For example, Richard and Maurice (Mac) McDonald left New Hampshire in the 1930’s, hoping to find jobs in southern California’s movie business” (19). By using mostly objective language in his book, Schlosser allows his readers to sink in and fully believe his message about the fast food industry. He also carefully works in small portions of subjective language. He has interviews with teens who work for fast food companies and farmers who grow and breed the food for the companies. Such as his description of Danielle Brent, a seventeen-year-old McDonald’s worker, “On Saturday mornings the alarm on her cell phone goes off at five-thirty. It’s still dark outside as she stumbles into the bathroom, takes a shower, puts on her makeup, and gets into her McDonald’s uniform” (70). With occasional moments of subjectiveness, readers are able to relate to the teen (or farmer) and fully understand Schlosser’s main points of the …show more content…
He focuses on the farming perspective of the food and hinting at his disgust with the processing and actuality of where it comes from and how it is made. He also uses sarcasm quite a bit throughout the book, “Just these few yummy chemicals: amyl acetate, amyl butyrate, amyl valerate...” (114). The sarcasm humors the reader and makes the readers more interested. He is also showing his viewpoint through sarcasm. The reader can clearly see that he does not appreciate all the chemicals going into the food.
Imagery: During Chew On This, Schlosser incorporates many images of the ugly side effects of fast food. Not only does he focus on the health issues associated with eating it, but also the social and environmental impacts it has. For instance, “The neon lights along the strip, the rush hour traffic, the acres of pavement, the boxy soulless buildings...” (71). By displaying these constant reminders, the author is enhancing the visualization of a destroyed environment. One that is suffering and is desperate for

Related Documents

  • Superior Essays

    These circumstances are some of many that take place in the lives of meat packing assembly workers, so it is key to open people’s minds to what truly is the “World 's Most Dangerous Job”. Schlosser’s purpose for the structure of this chapter is to clearly portray the life of Kenny Dobbins in a way that readers tie in their emotions in the form of a well-told narrative. Storytelling arouses strong sensations in an individual like anger or shock if the speaker captures the experiences strikingly enough. You can observe this sort of method throughout the book where the author prolongs the arrival of persuasion in the form of pathos on a few different occasions. In the chapter “What’s in the Meat”, Schlosser specifies the level of foodborne illness in the United States as a result of carelessness within slaughterhouses and the meatpacking industry.…

    • 1438 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    US is one of the most famous country for Fast Food. There are 160.000 fast-food all over the country. One of the biggest problem in US is the obesity. Fast food are full of unhealthy food. The two texts, from Uptain Siclair “The Jungle” (1906) and Eric Schlosser “Fast Food Nation” (2011) report the abomination that happen in the meatpacking industry in the United States.…

    • 1014 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    For example, in the essay we read about one of the instances he reasons through; “where, exactly, are consumers—particularly teenagers—supposed to find alternatives? Drive down any thoroughfare in America, and I guarantee you’ll see one of our country’s more than 13,000 McDonald’s restaurants” (242). The author made a point to target all varieties of audiences and explain that teenagers are not the only age group that falls into the trap of fast-food when he said, “And the problem isn’t just theirs- it’s all of ours” (242). Although the simplicity of fast food may mainly appeal to teenagers, the lifetime consequence of obesity is everyone of all age’s problems. The abundance of fast-food restaurants and lack of healthier alternatives, a situation induced by industries not consumers, should be a concern to…

    • 590 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Everyone in their teens had that craving of fast-food, but had the bad, regretful attitude afterwards when they felt sluggish and not happy. In the article “Don’t Blame the Eater” it explains the issues with fast-food, particularly in teens, and how parents are now suing fast-food companies because of the fast food making teens gain an extreme amount of weight. The author, David Zinczenko, was once this teen described as eating fast-food daily, joined the reserves and got involved with a health magazine and changed his daily life to a healthy life. He understands the concern parents have, but feels that there is responsibility to take. Zinczenko uses logos and pathos to explain the concern of obese teens, and how fast-food is not helping.…

    • 1097 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “Don’t Blame The Eater” Fast food is making children obsesses. In the text, “Don’t Blame the Eater” David Zinczenko the president of Galvanized Brands openly blames the fast-food industry for the recent rising numbers at the obesity epidemic in kids. Zinczenko announces at the beginning of his text that kids are suing McDonald 's “for making them fat”(241.) Zinczenko points out that the lack of information about what it 's consume and the lack of healthier alternative is affecting the consumers and increasing the numbers of obesity in America. Zinczenko postulates that fast-food restaurants easily target children because a numerous amount parents work and cannot supervise what their children eat, often leaving them with food options such as McDonald’s, Taco Bell and other fast-restaurants.…

    • 715 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Schlosser's Social Issues

    • 1339 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Whether someone is a teenager or an adult, food is a topic that everyone understands about. Today, people are more and more health-conscience about where their food is coming from, resulting in an "all-organic" phase. Schlosser's book is an essential piece if one desires to figure out where our meat comes from and what really occurs in the "behind-the-scenes" of fast-food industries. This book is definitely a perfect choice for high school students because it does not contain many advanced level words or specific jargon; rather it has everyday text that can be readily read by anyone. This book is also an essential piece if one is to know more about America's food industry.…

    • 1339 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Fast food has become a routine part of life for most Americans today, but many are not aware of what goes on behind the scenes to produce it and how it affects our everyday lives. Eric Schlosser investigates the industry and reveals many shocking truths. He came upon the project after editors at Rolling Stone read one of his pieces about illegal immigrants and the strawberry industry in California. They contacted him and wanted him to investigate how the fast food industry works behind the curtain. To the average American, the book he crafted is an eye opener.…

    • 705 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Mcjobs Analysis

    • 750 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Fast food has changed the world, but is that actually a good thing? Though fast food companies provides jobs and fast food is convenient for busy people, it has a negative effect on society in many ways. In the non fiction text, “McJobs”, by Eric Schlosser, the author gives insight on what really happens behind the scenes of your favorite fast food restaurants. He reveals how workers are treated, and the way that the “delicious” food is really made. Also, he shows how much fast food had changed society by showing how a small suburban town has changed tremendously.…

    • 750 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Praise Of Fast Food

    • 335 Words
    • 2 Pages

    1. The title, "In Praise of Fast Food", made me think it was going to be a defense of fast food restaurants like McDonald's and Burger King. Instead, the essay talks more about the distinction between 'natural' and 'artificial' foods, and how natural isn't always better. It's a confusing title, but it does evoke the idea that even Big Macs and chicken nuggets are still better than going hungry like our ancestors did. 2.…

    • 335 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the article, "Don't Blame The Eater," David Zinczenko explains his views about the fast food industry. He insists that the one eating the food is not to blame, but the one selling it. He talks about the importance of media and the effects it has on consumers. Zinczenko is successful in effectively arguing his point and communicating his views by expressing pathos, ethos and logos.…

    • 970 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    When eating from a fast food restaurant, many people do not stop to think about how the food they are eating was actually made. Fast Food Nation is a movie in which Don Henderson, the Vice President of Marketing for a burger chain known as Mickey 's, is given an assignment by his boss. He has to investigate why scientific findings are showing that there are traces of cow manure found in the patty of their new hamburger. He oversees the entire process of how the food goes from the ranch to your plate. In Fast Food Nation, it is demonstrated that dreadful working conditions, poor management in restaurants, and limited corporate action account for inadequate health and safety in the food industry.…

    • 789 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the article “Don’t Blame the Eater” by David Zinczenko, he warns the consumers of the deception of fast food chains. He states the dangers of eating fast food and he agrees that it harms the body. Throughout the article he argues that the consumer isn’t at fault, the one to blame are the fast food chains. To put across ideas he asks questions, he uses his own personal narrative, imagery, and tone, with these tactics he’s able to argue against the deceitful tactics of the fast food industry.…

    • 944 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Did you know that about 280,000 people die annually due to being overweight? Most people don’t know how eating unhealthy can cause major difficulties in their later years. Eric Schlosser is an investigative journalists, who wrote the nonfiction book called “Fast Food Nation”. The book is about the global and local influences the United States’ fast food industries have. Although some may argue that the corporations should led a reform of the US food system, overall, the government should take responsibility because history supports their ability to improve corporate corruption and they should be more concerned about improving public health.…

    • 1476 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In the documentary Super Size Me, narrated and directed by Morgan Spurlock, Mr. Spurlock sets out to see just what effect eating fast food can have on a person’s health. Numerous questions are posed during the film, so it is difficult to determine the exact thesis of the argument. After filtering through all of the information, I determined the main point of the argument to be that McDonald’s knowingly provides unhealthy food to Americans and wants us to eat as much of its food as we can, therefore making us fat. Mr. Spurlock sets out on an experiment with himself as the subject, in which he eats nothing but McDonald’s food for 30 days. Although Mr. Spurlock does present evidence that fast food is unhealthy, I am going to focus on all of the inconsistencies and fallacies in his argument.…

    • 1132 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    People may argue that fast food contributes to obesity but they cannot deny that they have every right to do exercises, eat nutritious food in order to stay healthy. Fast food establishments are not the only reason why people become overweight, they do not deserve all that hatred and criticism. Research has clearly pointed out that people are the main causes of the obesity epidemic as they are suffering from their own terrible decisions. Even though this essay is only limited to the U.S, it can partly show the effects of fast food on human, the impact people’s choices have on their declining health. It is undeniable that fast food has a negative effect on human health but it is not logical at all to blame a single factor for such a social problem.…

    • 1537 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays