Chew On This Summary

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Chew On This: A Summary Eric Schlosser and Charles Wilson’s Chew On This explores the dark secrets of fast food. The authors first describe the background of fast food and their tactics with customers, and then elaborate on the impact of fast food on society today. Their view on fast food is a negative one: through describing various aspects of fast food, the authors ultimately reveal how the greediness of businessmen has caused the loss of individuality and the growth in power of corporations. They explain the effects of fast food on health, traditions, and animals, clearly showing fast food’s negative impact. Schlosser and Wilson argue that expansion of fast food chains has fostered conformity within areas that were once unique. One such …show more content…

Slaughterhouse workers constantly face the risk of serious injury or even death. Many have dealt with blood, animals, and sharp knives. Along with these conditions, the absurd speed of work further increases the chances for injury. While corporations were regulated in the early twentieth century, lax of control in previous years has caused them to return to dangerous methods of production for efficiency. Animals are in a far greater amount of pain than workers since corporations have bred them for the main purpose of fast food. The inhumane treatment of animals, such as one worker’s method of stomping on live chickens, has caused some to argue for better treatment. However, corporations have fought hard to keep policies the same, and as result, their opponents’ demands are almost never met. These issues are evidence that fast food corporations have grown too powerful and must be regulated. Besides directly explaining the various aspects of the fast food industry, Chew On This uncovers the argument that fast food has grown too powerful for even the government to control. These corporations have destroyed unique cultures, have raised health concerns, and have led to increased conformity. In the end, Schlosser and Wilson explain that the only power left lies within the consumer, who has the choice to either buy fast food or walk

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