Response to Eric Schlosser's "What We Eat"

In Eric Schlosser’s “What We Eat”, he argues that fast food has been incorporated into American society, through layers and layers of the industry. It has quickly become part of the American lifestyle, something everyone living anywhere recognizes. The sad truth is, we can’t even imagine life without it.

                Schlosser uses several methods to support his argument. One of these methods is description. He uses second person perspective to describe the feeling of entering a fast food restaurant. “Pull open the glass door, feel the rush of cool air, walk in, get on line…and moments later, take hold of a plastic tray full of food wrapped in colored paper and cardboard.” This description uses vivid imagery and appeals to the reader’s sense to make them feel as if they too were experiencing the act of entering a fast food restaurant.

                Schlosser also uses definition in his essay. The word “uniformity” is defined as “the key to a successful franchise, according to many texts on the subject…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.” This definition of “uniformity” is to show that customers always stick to what they know. Whether it’s in New York or in Alabama, customers everywhere will visit a fast food restaurant like McDonald’s because it’s familiar and comforting to them, especially if it’s on a trip outside of their comfort zone. This allows the fast food industry to thrive all over the world.

                Schlosser uses a couple of methods in his essay to support his argument. Combining them allows the reader to become fully involved and convinced that his argument is correct. They are enveloped by these methods and make them relatable and easy for the reader to understand.

Eric Schlosser’s writing style is very interesting. It is written in an engaging manner, especially since it is on a subject that almost everybody can relate to. It makes the reader wonder how they too might be affected by the conformities of the fast food industry. I agree that it has pretty much taken over the American society. Living in New York City, I constantly see a McDonald’s or some other well-known fast food chain within a few blocks of each other. I feel that if Americans would stop relying on McDonald’s to get them through their life, America would be a much healthier nation.