Chew On This – Informational Writing Free Essay Example

Eric Schlosser and Charles Wilson’s book Chew on This reveals the secrets of fast food, describing how it is made, what it is made of, and what it does to the body. Chew on This unveils the immoralities of the companies that produce and sell fast food, such as the lengths that they go to in order to make money. But the last chapter, “Your Way”, implies that fast food companies will not change their ways, provides alternatives to fast food, and encourages the public to take action if they want change.

“Your Way” starts off with the topic of fast food in foreign countries, and how America’s fast food companies are dependent on them for the “majority of [their] profit” (236, 1). However, when the mad cow disease emerged, foreigners lost trust in the meat industry (241, 2). This, and the increasing criticism of how companies did their work, led to the creation of strict animal welfare rules (243, 1). This triggered fast food companies into appearing healthier, although this was more likely an attempt to appeal to the public, and to make their food seem less harmful.

This could “simply be a public relations effort to avoid blame for America’s obesity epidemic” (244, 2). Thus, this means that even with new rules in place, which aim to enforce good, fast food companies will not change. They will always have advertising schemes, for the single goal of making profit. They also will not become like the healthier restaurants later mentioned in the chapter.

“Your Way” presents others options to fast food.

It tells of other places that dedicate themselves to organic and healthy foods, such as the Edible Schoolyard (250, 1). This chapter tells of restaurants with good service, value, and quality-restaurants that succeeded by doing it the honest and right way, In-N-Out and Burgerville. “[They] aren’t perfect. But they show that fast-food companies can do well by doing good” (257, 2). However, if consumers want fast food companies to start doing good, “Your Way” advises them to take action.

“Your Way” reminds the public that they could make their own choice whether to eat fast food or not, and in that decision, they could make a difference in the fast food industry if they wanted to change it. All they have to do is simply not buy their food. “Nobody is forced to buy fast food” (254, 3). If consumers just decide to act, only then will the fast food industry listen and change their ways. After all, even though these chains have power, “they must obey the demands of a group that’s even more powerful, a group whom they desperately want to attract and please: consumers” (254, 2). So in the end, “Your Way” explained that the solution started with the customers.

In conclusion, “Your Way” summed up the flaws in the fast food industry, and the things that they should, but do not, do to improve it. It offered different choices other than fast food. But more importantly, it reminded the public to think twice before purchasing another fast food meal, because if they were unhappy with the fast food company, “Your Way” urged them not to give the companies money. This message is the purpose of this chapter, and in some ways, the whole book.

Schlosser, Eric, and Charles Wilson. Chew on This: Everything You Don’t Want to Know About Fast Food. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006.

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