Chew On This and Fast Food Nation

Both Chew On This and Fast Food Nation are written by Eric Schlosser, a critic of the fast food epidemic in the United States. He uncovers the truth behind the fast food industry's motives and has often been compared to Upton Sinclair and other muckrakers in US history. Both of these novels blame it on the fast food. Fast Food Nation, is divided into two parts, "The American Way", and "The Meat and Potatoes". The first part explains how fast food became popular in the US and how it all got started. The second part of the book explains the story of the food, like where it comes from and how it gets to the costumer. These books cover from what chemicals give food its flavor to the treatment of animals and then to how fast food companies try to sell it to you. It's all one big system that people like Slow Foodies try to exploit. Even though the novels are talking about all fast food in general, it's main enemy is McDonalds. It has become an international phenomenon and the rest of the world is catching up to America's obesity rate. Like Scholsser says, "Even in this fast-food nation, you can still have it your way" (Schosser 258).
Both of these book really gave me a peek inside our nation's fast food industry. I never realized what masterminds the CEO's of these companies were. They really have done a lot of work to brainwash people into buying their food. I never realized what I was eating until I read this book it was a real eye opener.
The things I wish the book would have mentioned more was about the people who are fighting the industry like movements more than union workers. I also wish it wouldn't have pointed most of its anger at McDonalds. Even though it is so well known, there are so many fast food franchises out there. I don' t think McDonalds is the only culprit.

Schlosser, Eric. Chew On This. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2006. Print.