The Guardian recently featured several excerpts
from Fast Food Nation author Eric Schlosser's new book Chew On This, a kid-oriented exploration of the
fast food industry. Schlosser uses plain English and, of course, plenty of alarming statistics to show young readers the
basics of fast food marketing and food processing. The Guardian samples focus on television marketing (American kids
watch an average of 25 hours of TV each week, Schlosser says) and how McDonald's has changed the soft drink industry.
According to Schlosser, 20 percent of one- and two-year-olds in America drink soft drinks daily and the average
American adult drinks 500 cans of soda each year.Chew On This excerpts in The Guardian
The Guardian recently featured several excerpts
from Fast Food Nation author Eric Schlosser's new book Chew On This, a kid-oriented exploration of the
fast food industry. Schlosser uses plain English and, of course, plenty of alarming statistics to show young readers the
basics of fast food marketing and food processing. The Guardian samples focus on television marketing (American kids
watch an average of 25 hours of TV each week, Schlosser says) and how McDonald's has changed the soft drink industry.
According to Schlosser, 20 percent of one- and two-year-olds in America drink soft drinks daily and the average
American adult drinks 500 cans of soda each year.Comments [7]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2I truly don't think these are alarming statistics, but rather scare tactics from a radical author looking to sell some books and movies. Health is obviously very important, but this author is way too inconsistant...I take what he says, and sells, with a grain a salt.
34-26-2006 @ 6:13PM
taillessmonkey said...
I am all about eating healthy and teaching my kids to do so as well. However, Schlosser's methods and motives trouble me. As other commenters noted, he uses scare tactics and sensationalism. Also, by advocating government regulation of fast food but deregulation of marijuana, I feel that he contradicts himself and reveals questionable motives. His "facts and figures" would hold more water with me if his approach was one of personal responsibility rather than blame.
4As taillessmonkey posted, eating is important and is ultimately the responsibility of the people buying the food. That being said accusing fast food restaurants of serving food that is "life threatening" is not the way to raise awareness for healthy eating habits.
5Obviously the previous commenters haven't actually read anything Schlosser has written. I haven't read Chew on This yeat as it's just out. However, if you look at Fast Food Nation, he actually simply draws a nice straight line between the development of the industry, how it has come to behave and the effects.
He is not emotional or alarmist in his language in that book. And, quite frankly, if you don't think fast food is helping you meet your maker earlier than you should, give your head a shake. His writing is hardly the first to speak about this in plain english.
I found this article interesting as I just posted an entry at http://www.jdwanless.ca/2006/04/26/fast-food-tv-not-turn-it-off-turn-it-off/ that dealt in part with how a Canadian restaurant lobby organization is reacting to his book.
611-12-2007 @ 4:51PM
buchholzer said...
I am against fast food even I was tempted from time to time. I try to eat as healthy as possible and I teach my son to do the same.
711-12-2007 @ 4:57PM
buchholtzer said...
I am against fast food even I was tempted from time to time. I try to eat as healthy as possible and I teach my son to do the same.
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