Book: Fast Food Nation by Eric schlosser 1.Schlosser discusses the eagerness of
ID: 275990 • Letter: B
Question
Book: Fast Food Nation by Eric schlosser
1.Schlosser discusses the eagerness of fast food companies to avoid hiring skilled workers and to rely instead upon highly unskilled workers. In fact, some chains openly embrace "zero training" as their ultimate goal. Since these companies are providing a steady paycheck, is it really the obligation of fast food chains to take an interest in their workers and to teach them job skills? Also, since many of the workers are recently arrived immigrants, doesn't employment at fast food restaurants offer them a toehold in the American economy and an opportunity to move onto a better job?
2.Over the last several decades, fast food companies have aggressively targeted children in their marketing efforts. Should advertisers be permitted to target children who lack the sophistication to make informed decisions and are essentially being lured into eating high fat, high calorie food through toys and cute corporate mascots? Is it possible that fast food companies—like tobacco companies—are recruiting increasingly younger consumers in order to insure a steady customer base as their older constituents die from heart disease, diabetes, and other obesity-related disorders?
3.Upton Sinclair's The Jungle was the first book to sound the clarion call about the appalling abuses inherent in mass-produced beef. In the decades since its publication, the state of meatpacking has received scant attention. Were you shocked that Fast Food Nation documents some of the same unsafe conditions and practices that Sinclair revealed nearly 100 years ago? Were you under the impression that the unsafe conditions in meatpacking had largely been eliminated and that the United States' beef and poultry industry set the standard for other countries? Does the author's contention that not enough has changed in the meat industry challenge the progressive belief in American capitalism—that it will lift all boats and make constant improvements in working and living conditions?
4.Fast food chains, despite the myriad problems documented by the author, have an undeniable appeal-they are convenient and offer inexpensive and tasty food. Even if you are disturbed by the practices of these corporations, could you realistically swear off your food, given its ubiquity and mainstream appeal? If you are driving home from work, tired and hungry, and your two choices are a familiar fast food restaurant or an unknown Mom-and-pop, which would you choose? What kinds of implications does this choice have?
5.If one accepts the author's assertions that the beef processors and fast food corporations are engaging in patterns of unethical conduct, what can the consumer do to modify their behavior? Can the conduct of an individual have an impact on a company's practices? Why is a company most likely to change its conduct? To generate public goodwill? To respond to its employees' concerns? To address diminishing profits?
6. Since few people would confuse fast food with health food, who bears the greater responsibility for the alarming rate of obesity in children in the United States: the fast food chains that market "supersize" meals to children, or parents who are not educating their children about the benefits of a balanced diet? Can well-intentioned parents maintain control over the eating habits of their children in an era when school districts are contracting to bring fast food into the school cafeteria?
Explanation / Answer
1. Since many of the young people living in the country are without jobs and are not skilled. So by providing this facility the wages given by the company could be minimum which is a benefit to the company. And the immigrants who arrived are mostly in search of jobs and they may not speak good English. This kind of job is a good opportunity for them. This increases the workers in the restaurants and helps to get good benefits for the workers and the company.
2. Targeting children makes them to force their parents to take them to a certain fast food center. They should not target children as this increases the risk of many heart diseases and accumulation of waste fat which makes them obese. Fast food companies have a negative effect on both young and old. But the chances of health problems is more in older people. So it is possible for these companies to recruit younger consumers.
3. There are some unsafe conditions and practices existing now in meatpacking industry that are described by Sinclair. The meat produced and processed by slaughter houses is very harmful and this allows E.coli to spread as the cattle is not raised in hygienic environments. I dont think that these unsafe conditions are eliminated and US did not set standard for other countries beacuse the obesity rates is high and these rates are rising in both young and old.
4. I would swear off or avoid this food after knowing the facts that it has major health problems. I believe that the scholars who described about these centres have researched thoroughly. And i would choose Mom-and-pop because as compared to fast food they dont provide pizzas,french fries or burgers rather they provide nutritious foods. They have good service where they come and collect the orders. And there will be no rush that other customers are waiting. They also provide good customer relationships.
5. The consumer could give a feedback and the conduct of an individual can have an impact on company's practices. It has to change its conduct because it is destroying the health of people and not to generate public goodwill but to create a better environment. And also not to respond to employees concerns or to address diminishing profits.
6. The greater responsibility has to be beared by parents for not educating their children about the benefits of balanced diet. Yes, well intentioned parents can maintain control over eating habits of their children by packing them healthy food for lunch and this avoids them to go for fast foods in the school cafeteria.