Case Study On Analysis of “Cheap Food Nation”

Eric Schlosser tries to inform the reader on the effects consumption of meat from growth hormone boosted animals and genetically modified foods. He also explains about the impact of these foods to the food business generally, to the population’s health, to food supply, and to the environment. Schlosser advocates that Americans need to stop eating fast food since they have negative effects on human health, animal health, and the environment directly or indirectly and he uses a tactful approach of appealing to emotions, logic, and ethics in arguing his points.
When appealing to emotion, Schlosser describes the poor rearing conditions under which the hormone-boosted animals experience so clearly that the reader can form mental images of those conditions and sympathize with the animals. Schlosser terms the practice of using growths hormones on animals as a ruthless vision of efficiency taking place in the whole of America, which is changing animals into industrial commodities. Schlosser points out that the practice of using growths hormones on animals has also led to the change of animals lifestyles, such that animals live in each other’s manure, feed from concrete troughs, and they are reared in large numbers within a small enclosed areas. Schlosser gives an example of pigs being hostile and depressed since they spend all their lives in tiny crates. Schlosser’s expressions describe the treatment of the hormone-boosted animals as merciless and this treatment negatively affects the animal’s health.
Schlosser appeals to logic by giving statistical information on the percentage of cattle that receive growth hormones, scientist’s findings on American beef, and the diminishing percentage of farmers and ranchers in the food production business. Schlosser point out that most of the beef in America comes from hormone-boosted cattle since about 80 percent of the cattle receive growth hormones. Danish scientists argue that hormone residues in beef from America may be one of the causes of prostate cancer, breast cancer, and early than normal puberty in girls, which, is a strong point why,consumers should avoid hormone-boosted animal meat. Schlosser also notes that farmers and ranchers were promised increased food production from the use of genetically modified crops, animal feeds, pesticides and hormones, but instead most of the farmers are leaving the business and only big processors are left in the business. Schlosser gives as example of four meatpacking companies that controlled 21 percent of the market in 1970, but 2006 the same companies controlled about 85 percent. The increased control of a few companies in a certain market reduces competition, which can lead to the negative exploitation of consumers by giving a low standard goods and services. Schlosser suggests that the reduced competition in the sector of livestock as one of the reasons that contribute to the cheap food production practices, he gives an example of ConAgra, McDonalds, and Kraft as firms that receive financial assistance for the government, but fresh fruit and vegetable farmers receive very little financial support.
Schlosser appeals to ethics by highlighting on the environmental pollution caused by the growth hormone boosted animals at farms, and the possible diseases that spread in processing stage of the animals’ meat. Schlosser claims that the use of hormones in rearing animals and growing food is driven by the need to produce food faster and cheaply but the hormones are doing more damage than good on the population’s health, animals, farmer, land, and ranchers. He also speaks against the improper disposal of the cattle waste because it is sprayed on fields on dumped in big pits. The problem is that these big pits and fields cause water pollution since the waste will end up in water bodies in one way or another. In addition to water pollution, the manure also pollutes the air with dangerous chemicals that can cause neurological or respiratory diseases. The land on which the manure in dumped is poisoned with the heavy metals that are found in livestock feed. The poisoning of the soil ends up poisoning animals and people who will eat food that is growth from contaminated ground.Schlosser adds that processing firms contribute to the increase in food-borne, such as E.Coli and mad cow disease, which are linked to the excessive use of antibiotics in livestock feeds. Other health problems like diabetes and obesity are fueled by the cheap fatty high calorie foods. The main contributors to this problem are big firms that want to produce a lot of food rapidly and cheaply with minimal competition and Farm laws that support agribusiness, such that they promote the consumption of unhealthy foods while wholesome foods are made expensive.
In conclusion, Schlosser sees the European restriction on the use of antibiotics on animals and the ban of genetically modified goods as remarkable since it encourages the responsible use of modern technology. He also compares the use of growth hormones on animals to a case whereby some time ago companies dumped harmful chemicals without thinking of the possible consequences. Later the society and the environment suffered from water pollution. Schlosser recommends that the government looks into this problem, to ensure that the safety of the environment, population, and animals are put before making profits. This is possible if the government passed laws that address all the issues pointed out. Schlosser also recommends that consumers change their feeding habits in support of agricultural practices that are humane.