Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal by Eric Schlosser is a 288-page, non-fiction novel that divulges the ugly consequences which affect our culture when billions of people around the globe buy fast food every day. This book discusses both the origins of fast food after World War II in America and the ins-and-outs of the fast food industry which are not often considered, including unsanitary working conditions, tainted meat, corporate greed, and the harmful environmental effects. Eric Schlosser wrote Fast Food Nation in order to inform readers and raise awareness about the unknown ramifications on our economy and environment when people purchase fast food. He appeals to readers by delivering a wealth of information in an
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Most consumers are unaware that “every day in the United States, roughly 200,000 people are sickened by a foodborne disease, 900 are hospitalized, and fourteen die” (Schlosser 195), a statistic that is largely influenced by the unsanitary methods in which slaughterhouses handle the meat they eat. Schlosser provides in-depth detail to the reader as to how uncleanly slaughterhouses operate; knives are contaminated, employees are rushed and overworked, and meat is not properly sterilized. To readers, the abundance of facts that Schlosser includes may come across as overbearing and dull, given that Fast Food Nation is not short of strong bias. The author’s opinions are often one-sided, especially when he twists seemingly positive aspects of the industry against itself. If the audience is able to move past Schlosser’s parochial point of view, they will find the novel intriguing. However, Cynthia Crossen, a literary critic, believes “his refusal to allow the other side even a few words in self-defense makes the book seem a bit childish” (10). Regardless, this bestselling novel serves as a startling wake-up call which makes it hard to continue eating fast food in blissful
Most consumers are unaware that “every day in the United States, roughly 200,000 people are sickened by a foodborne disease, 900 are hospitalized, and fourteen die” (Schlosser 195), a statistic that is largely influenced by the unsanitary methods in which slaughterhouses handle the meat they eat. Schlosser provides in-depth detail to the reader as to how uncleanly slaughterhouses operate; knives are contaminated, employees are rushed and overworked, and meat is not properly sterilized. To readers, the abundance of facts that Schlosser includes may come across as overbearing and dull, given that Fast Food Nation is not short of strong bias. The author’s opinions are often one-sided, especially when he twists seemingly positive aspects of the industry against itself. If the audience is able to move past Schlosser’s parochial point of view, they will find the novel intriguing. However, Cynthia Crossen, a literary critic, believes “his refusal to allow the other side even a few words in self-defense makes the book seem a bit childish” (10). Regardless, this bestselling novel serves as a startling wake-up call which makes it hard to continue eating fast food in blissful