Blog Entry 5: Summary and Response Essay

Peter A. Valencia Jr.

Professor C. Jason Smith

English 101

March 25 2014

      The fast food industry is imbedded so deep in American culture that a child as youngest 2 years old can identify characters/mascots that represent these food industries created by corporations to gain a life time costumer, and on the other hand teenagers make up most of the work force in the food industry, these methods are motivated by profits. These companies aim their ads and revolve their product around children and employe teenagers paying them the minimum wage. Eric Schlosser stated “Walt Disney and Ray Kroc were masterful salesman. They perfected the art of selling thing to children.” (Pg. 33). Walt Disney and Ray Kroc’s method to sell to children has proven to be successful. Children often go to their parents when they desire something that they want, Ray Kroc and Walt Disney took advantage of that and exploited it. Knowing what children desire and providing it in a form of a product that their brand manufactured for profit proved to be a revolutionary strategy that was adopted by other corporations, this method is still being practiced till this day. Children have become the center of attention for most corporations, targeting children in their ad to gain costumers for maximum profits, but the same children they target will probably be the next teenager they employee.

       

      These corporations mainly gain profits from children, it’s not a surprise if you take to account all the money they spend on television ads. Playgrounds and toys are also a main attraction at these fast food establishments, I should know I use to be one of those kids begging my mom to take me McDonalds or Burger King to add that one Pokemon card or power ranger action figure to my collection. These advertisements truly attract the mind of these kids forcing them to go to the only people that will allow them access to that toy they desire or that colorful playground that beacons from the distance. These corporations have done their research on children of all ages to see what attracts certain age groups than use the information they have gathered to develop ads targeting children. Corporations use children's clubs to gather information which proven to be effective for them. (Pg 45).  I was once a member of a children's club house for burger king, the staff conducted activities to identify our hobbies and interest, they also had promotion on kids meals and toys for those were a member of the club house. A lot of parents signed their kids up so that they would have the opportunity to receive special promotions every week. 

         

       The fast food industries has infiltrated every aspect of a child’s life, including school. Fast food corporations are now marketing their product in schools across the country and sponsoring school programs for a full tax deductible. (Pg 56). Fast food chains now promote their food in school cafeterias, I have never realized this because I have been consuming it since I can remember, does this making me a subject of brand loyalty? Most if not all my peers have this in common, this is prove that corporations have branded themselves on to us without most of us noticing because it’s become a way of life, so to speak. A lot of teenagers in America first job is typically at a fast food joint. Corporations pay their employees minimum wages and avoid giving their employees over 40 hours a week so that they’re not entitled to over time nor benefits. (Pg 73). Their employees barely receive any training operation dangerous machinery. Teenagers are the majority of the workforce for the food industry, and they are the ones who mainly get injured.  

       All these method are motivated by profits and children are an easy target for these corporate giants. They use ads toys and playgrounds to nag their guardians to spend money at these establishments. The food industry’s work force are mainly teenagers who barely receive any type of training which makes them easy to replace which mainly happens. Fast food are now being served and advertised at schools to create more of a connection to children. The fast food industry mainly goal are profits, and will always be profits. 

Blog Entry 4: Summarizing Arguments

Peter A. Valencia Jr.

Professor C. Jason Smith

English 101

March 18 2014

       In chapter 2 “Your Trusted Friends” The message that Schlosser wanted to convey to the reader was that Ray Kroc and Walt Disney were masterful sales men that used their resources to attract children to their brand for profits, and how their method to target children was adopted by other large corporations that still use the same strategy till this day. After Ray Kroc and Walt Disney laid the blueprint out on how to make children primary costumers large corporations revolve their business around kids. Using advertisements to imbed their brand into children's minds as young as two years old is one of the strategies that corporations use to hopefully gain a life time customer. Other method were implemented such as using cartoon characters and mascots that represented a brand that they would be able to remember as they grow into adults. These methods are designed for children to nag their parents for the product they desire. Children clubs were also developed and categorized by different age groups to gather information to be used in targeting ads. Ads are not the only method being practiced to trap children, playgrounds are building built in food establishments and toys are given with the purchase of a kids meal. Toys are one of the main attractions that food industries use to cause kids to nag their parents to take them to fast food establishment. The fast food industry and toy manufactures have formed a partnership to promote a toy with a purchase of a kids meal, different toys are given with each meal that is purchased causing children and even adults to purchase multiple kids meals just to obtain a specific toy to add to their collection of toys that are being promoted at the time, this method is one of the most profitable. Kids are not safe from the these corporations even while they are attending school. Corporations are now sponsoring schools filling the hallways with ads, fast foods chains now promote their food in cafeterias. 

Blog Entry 3: Summarizing Main Ideas.

Peter A. Valencia Jr

Professor C. Jason Smith

English 101

    

       According to “Chapter 1: Founding Fathers” it explained the influence automobiles, food establishments, and hard work and ideas that certain individuals had in America, primarily in Southern California. Cars revolutionized the way people lived their life in Southern California, especially the way they ate. Restaurants revolved their business around cars that specificly attracted teenagers. The drive-ins proved to be successful for restaurant owners such as Richard and Maurice McDonald in San Bernardino California. Although the McDonald brothers proved to be successful they weren’t satisfied with the issues they were dealing with in their restaurant which led them to drastically change the way food was prepared and served. The McDonald brothers implemented the first a self service restaurant that was adopted and used by other food establishments till this day. After World War II the Interstate High Act was passed and the self service system couldn’t have came at a better time. Southern California had all sorts of people with cultural difference that coexisted with one another. Southern California has came a long way with the effort of the automobile, restaurant businesses, and the ideas of certain individuals that influenced America maybe the world. 

Blog Entry 2: The Meaning of Food in My Life.

Peter A. Valencia Jr.
Professor C. Jason Smith
English 101
March 7th, 2014     

      I’m very open minded when it comes to food. I love to eat new things and very rarely do I eat something I dislike. I usually eat a traditional Mexican meal when I’m home. My mother was born and raised in Mexico so it’s no surprise that's the type of food that I gravitate to. My family and I usually eat every night for dinner. My mother usually cooks but when she isn’t able to I won’t hesitate to fire up the stove and prepare a meal. It’s important that everyone in the household knows how to cook so that we don’t rely on one another when we are hungry or give someone a break from cooking. When I cook I work with I have in the refrigerator. The basic items that we mainly have in our kitchen are tortillas, chicken, steak, onions, tomatoes and rice. We can usually cook various meals from these items, my favorite meal is chicken and steak tacos with chopped onions and tomatoes but the guacamole that my mom prepares for it tops it. My mother and sisters usually shop for groceries every sunday so that there is food to cook for the week. When go out to eat at a restaurant I’d like to go to places I’ve never ate before. In my house we basically eat almost the same thing every week so when I do go out to eat I love to experience different types of meal especially spicy foods. 

Blog Entry 1: Evaluation Essay.

 Peter A. Valencia Jr.

Professor C. Jason Smith

English 101  
April 29th, 2014

      Most of the time in the United States Americans don't think twice about the food we consume on a daily basis. How do you know the food that you are eating is safe? The F.D.A works hard to ensure the safety of America's food supply.
   
      It's up to the F.D.A to prevent any type of problems concerning food in America. The agency works with food related companies and establishments to ensure their food supplies meets safety standards. There are food establishments all over the United States and that's the reason why the F.D.A also has offices and investigators all over the country as well. Not only do they inspect the food in America but the food that comes into the country from most parts of the world too.

      There are investigators in various locations in the world that make sure food that is being shipped to the United States meets the F.D.A's standards. These procedures are needed just incase problems occur and they're dealt with as soon as possible. We can help the F.D.A by making sure the food that we eat is safe. The F.D.A help Americans to avoid problems when it comes to food safety by educating.
   
      Next time you decide to cook or purchase a meal from a food establishment try and take the time to ensure the food that eating is safe. Be aware of the food inspection letter grades posted on restaurants. Make sure you know the appropriate steps to cook a meal because it can definitely help you avoid problems.