What We Eat

In ''What We Eat'', Eric Schlosser talks about the exponential growth of fast food industries and how its impacted the United States throughout the years. He argues that fast food industries impact more than just what we eat but a lot more. It impacts our economy, our jobs, and our health. Whether we would like to agree or not, fast food has inevitably become a part of our life and surrounds us. Schlosser states ''The fast food industry has helped to transform not only the American diet, but also our landscape, economy, workforce, and popular culture''. Contrary to what many may think, fast food industries run more than just food companies, but they actually have a strong influence in everything else in our daily lives. Schlosser supports his argument with description and comparison.

Schlosser expresses description in his essay when he talks about uniformity. He explains how fast food chain restaurants are spreading vastly within the food courts of malls. He states ''Franchises and chain stores strive to offer exactly the same product or service at numerous locations. Customers are drawn to familiar brands by an instinct to avoid the unknown. A brand offers a feeling of reassurance when its products are always and everywhere the same''(670). He explains customers are drawn to familiar brands, making them more popular. When constantly seeing a familiar brand, you feel more reassurance in what you're getting. 

Another way Schlosser argues the impact of fast food chain restaurants is by using comparison. He gives the example of how Mcdonald's is more popular than Coca-Cola now. He states ''Mcdonald's spends more money on advertising and marketing than any other brand. As a result it has replaced Coca-Cola as the world's most famous brand'' (669). There was also a ''survey of American school children found that 96 percent could identify Ronald Mcdonald. The only fictional character with a higher degree of recognition was Santa Claus'' (669). Schlosser compares Mcdonald's to famous brands such as Coca-Cola and characters Ronald Mcdonald to Santa Claus to see how much Mcdonald's has impacted American cultures. At one point, he even states ''The golden arches are now more widely recognized than the Christian crosses'' (669). I personally feel that comparison was his strongest argument because he compared such basic American cultures to fast food chains such as Mcdonalds. He explains how seeing a Mcdonald's is such an average norm that has inter weaved with American society.