Reading response

Eric Schlosser, author of “Fast Food Nation,” is troubled by our nation’s fast-food habit, He researched about what goes into the burgers and fries but found out a lot more. isn’t even half the problem, he says. He admits that most of the fast food he ate while he wrote the book “tasted pretty good.” (Schlosser). He told the story the cows where designed to be herbivorous, were fed “livestock waste” — rendered remains of dead sheep and cattle, along with the remains of millions of dead cats and dogs purchased every year from animal shelters. Americans spend more money on fast food than on higher education, personal computers, computer software or new cars. Every month more than 90 percent of American children eat at McDonald’s; the average American eats three hamburgers and four orders of French fries every week(Pugh). I just thank God the law was changed: Now they’re fed only the remains of horses, pigs and poultry.

The reasons Schlosser sees fast food as a national plague, Not only the American diet, but also our landscape, economy, workforce, and popular culture. An estimated one out of every eight workers has at some point been employed by McDonald’s, and the nation’s 3.5 million fast-food workers are the largest group of minimum-wage earners(Schlosser).

Schlosser used his research to give details the fast-food industry’s efforts to market directly to kids. He wanted to reach a target market of the younger generation to help change America’s idea about fast food. He’s especially interested in the alliance between McDonald’s and Disney. I thought that was a powerful way for his research to make an impact. His controversial research said that ninety-six percent of American children recognize Ronald McDonald. Only Santa Claus rates higher (Schlosser). Americans spend more money on fast food than on higher education, personal computers, computer software or new cars.

.Eric Schlosser, Fast Food Nation, pp. 242-243, Penguin Books, 2002

Craypo, Lisa ; Purcell, Amanda ; Samuels, Sarah E. ; Agron, Peggy ; Bell, Elizabeth ; Takada, Erika ” Fast food sales on high school campuses: results from the 2000 California High School Fast Food Survey. (Commentaries).” Journal of School Health 01-FEB-02http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-1545744/Fast-food-sales-on-high.html

Rachel,Pugh. “Fast Food Nation: Purveyors Cluster Around Schools “Children’s Hospital Boston.http://www.childrenshospital.org/newsroom/Site1339/mainpageS1339P1sublevel160.html