Heidi Johnsen Mather High School

I recently took a trip to Puerto Rico and on the shuttle ride to the rental car outfit, my friends and I were amazed to see how the fast food industry had taken over the island. As we identified each gaudy and familiar symbol of Americanization and sarcastically joked about which restaurant we would eat at first, my heart sank. Ray Croc and Harland Sanders had found a way to leave their imprint on one of the farthest regions of our nation. Even more unsettling was the difficulty we had finding authentic, yet economic, local eateries the week we were there.

I am embarrassed to say I did eat at McDonald's and at a Pizza Hut while in Puerto Rico. But the fact of the matter is these restaurants know their clientele On the way to the rain forest, we ate burgers and fries in the car. When we needed a meal at 9:00 at night, Pizza Hut was there. Let's face it, these industries have the resources to cater to my unconventional lifestyle. Upon returning to Chicago, I had a softball game every day and even a double header on Saturday. Between teaching and coaching, I spent over 70 hours at work. Last week alone, I consumed McDonald's twice, Taco Bell once, Quiznos once, Dunkin Doughnuts 6 times and 3 TV. dinners. I also ate lunch in the school cafeteria 5 times. Oh, and I just remembered I had a White Castle cheeseburger during the double header on Saturday. One of the mothers brought a bag full for the team and coaches. You might be sickened to know that on Easter Sunday, when I was supposed to be feasting on all my holiday favorites, I stopped at McDonald's Why? Well, I had to get my lesson plans done before embarking on the 2 hour drive home and I wasn't sure how much of the noon meal would be left at 4:30 p.m. when I arrived.

I think Eric Schlosser's book was very enlightening. I had no idea that conditions in the meatpacking industry have changed little over the last 100 years. I had no clue the cattle we consume is fed dead horses, pigs, poultry, cattle blood, gelatin, tallow and my personal favorite, plate waste collected from restaurants. I am appalled that the fast food industry markets young children. I am angered that the fast food industry blocks all attempts at unionization and how they take advantage of teenage workers. I think that one of the teachers at the colloquium was right; as educators we have the responsibility to let our students know they are being taken advantage of. My fear is that, like myself, my students will feel informed, but not empowered. As Schlosser said, "The fast food chains are now imperial fiefdoms, sending their emissaries far and wide" (230). Unfortunately, we have become dependent on the very establishments many of us have grown to despise. Eating fast food for many of us is inevitable and for many teens working in the fast food industry is a necessity. But Schlosser is right, we have the power to make demands on the fast food industry. We can demand that they serve free range, organic, grass fed hamburgers. We can demand that Congress ban advertising that preys upon children. And we can demand that Congress create a new food safety agency that protects public health. We can and we should use this book to empower our students and ourselves.

Return to Reactions to Assigned Readings index