Fast Food Nation

Before taking this class, I never used to take much time into thinking about what I actually ate. Like Schlosser says in the introduction to his book the Fast Food Nation, I agreed that most people also do not contemplate into such detail of what they eat and stop to wonder what is exactly in the ground patty they eat. Although people are basically aware that eating a Big Mac at McDonald is worse than making Barbeque burgers and home with fresh vegetables and meat patty, people are sometimes willing to sacrifice some health risk for some convenience from time to time. I think as people live busier lives and sometimes have to take breakfast and even lunch on the go, they become more open to the convenient options of fast foods. I was especially shocked at the scent industries and how they could practically manufacture all existing smells in the world and how a piece of paper with the scent could smell exactly like a dish of roast beef and how the artificial and natural flavorings could make food taste and smell like not how they are, but how we expect them to be.

In the introduction to Fast Food Nation I was shocked that kids recognized Ronald McDonald second to only Santa Claus himself and how the famous Gold Arches received more recognition than the Christian Cross, although I am a little doubtful of the information and would like to observe some actual statistics. Also, many people are willing to turn a blind eye towards animal cruelty, workers abuse and the unseen unsanitary conditions as long as they receive the same tasting product at the other end of the counter at a McDonalds. As the companies are almost indestructible with the political powers, it is vastly difficult for individuals to undermine the entire system. Furthermore, I think it almost comes down to basic genetics when we determine what we want to eat. As a child, I always felt that eating broccoli tasted worse than eating a cheese pizza, and munching down cauliflower was far more unpleasant than a Twix Bar. Perhaps it is because of these preferences that the fast food corporations are able to provide food that is pleasing to the consumers and added with the convenience of not having to make one’s own food, becomes embedded in the culture of America. Although convenience is a very important aspect, we should also take into consideration our health.