Fast Food Nation Summary

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In writing, Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser’s overall purpose was to inform the reader of what actually goes into the food they eat. He worked to bring to the light all that the fast food industry does in the dark. Whether it be the unsanitary slaughterhouses, as described on page 203, “The pathogens from infected cattle are spread not only in feedlots, but also at slaughterhouses and hamburger grinders. The slaughterhouse tasks most likely to contaminate meat are the removal of an animal’s hide and the removal of its digestive system . . . if a hide has been inadequately cleaned, chunks of dirt and manure may fall from it onto the meat”, or the horrific treatment of laborers, depicted on page 170, “The kill floor is hot and humid. It stinks of manure. Cattle have a body …show more content…

It happens to workers all the time”, an injustice was occurring, and Schlosser sought to put an end to it. The purpose behind Fast Food Nation is quite similar to that of Sinclair’s, The Jungle, in the sense that they both worked to educate the audience about the behind-the-scenes of their food. The only difference between the two, was the delivery of that purpose. Sinclair exposed the industry through an emotion-driven story about a particular immigrant family who suffered from all the corruption said business brought. Whereas Schlosser focused on a more factual driven book that criticized the fast food industry through multiple historical events. In terms of effectiveness, Sinclair’s, The Jungle, was far more powerful. Aside from the fact that actual legislation was passed after the publishing of the book, the thing that allowed The Jungle to have more success was sinclair’s use of pathos. This strategy moved the audience in such a way, that it was nearly impossible to absorb the author’s beliefs about

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