It is common knowledge that fast food franchises don’t exactly serve “healthy” food. One does not drive to the nearest McDonald’s if he or she is in search of a health-benefiting and low-calorie meal. David Zinczenko’s essay titled “Don’t Blame the Eater” discusses how people should not be criticized for blaming the fast food businesses for the fact that they have gained weight and become unhealthy after routinely consuming the products of these businesses. While his paper may be well-written, it has one major flaw. Fast food is unhealthy, and no amount of arguing, suing, or nutritional information is going to change that common knowledge. Zinczenko’s argument is largely made on the basis that, for many young kids and teens, fast food is one of the only affordable options. He discusses his personal experiences with this issue along with those who …show more content…
Zinczenko’s first point is polluted with fallacies and wrong information, and his second point is no different. He states that people don’t always read the fine print during a part of his argument, and that right there actually defeats the purpose of making the argument in the first place. He said that the people don’t pay attention; even if the restaurant supplies them with nutritional information, they don’t always feel compelled to read it thoroughly. Therefore, it’s not the company’s fault for making them unhealthy: it’s their own. Additionally, most people that desire to eat healthy will take the time to read even the fine print and follow or at least acknowledge it when dining. Yes, some of the nutritional standards are often ridiculous, but one who wishes to use the information given and follow it will read the labels no matter what. It seems a tad reprehensible for one to sue a business simply because he or she did not take the time to request or read the information given to
David Zinczenko’s “Don’t Blame the Eater” is an article about the dangers of the fast food industry and their direct correlation to childhood obesity. Through his argument, he shows the readers that the consumers are not the ones at fault. He provides great detail on how the cheap and convenient places for food are the ones to blame for the continuous growth of diabetes in our youth. Zinczenko gives a well-balanced argument as to why this is true through his use of personal stories, dictation, and tone. Through this, he is able to effectively prove his thoughts and opinions, and also include the reader into following along.
In the articles “Don’t Blame the Eater”, by David Zinczenko and “What You eat is Your Business”, by Radley Balko both authors discuss how the government should have restrictions on fast foods, that are readily available to the public. Each of the author’s arguments are very effective and seem to establish a balance of ethos, pathos, and logos which make it easier for the reader to believe. In the article “Don’t Blame the Eater” the author David Zinczenko, writes about how some children and their parents are suing McDonalds because it is making them fat. Zinczenko uses ethos to point out that, only one family cannot say eating fast food is making them fat.
According to recent polls, approximately 3% of Americans admit to consuming fast-food at least once per day. This number, although it may appear small, it accounts for 9.5 million citizens across the United States who are unashamed of chowing down on a quick meal. Unfortunately, due to this consumerization, obesity and other like-minded illnesses have risen in recent years. The effects are costly and capable of making people pay the ultimate price: their life.
The labels we see in our foods at grocery stores are not honest. The big companies put information that will make customers buy their product. In the essay “Don’t Blame the Eater”, written by David Zinczenko focuses on how bad customers are being informed about the food they consume. Zinczenko states “They would do well to protect themselves, and their customers, by providing the nutrition information people need to make informed choices about their products. Without such warnings we’ll see more sick, obese children and more angry, litigious parents,” (464).
In David Freedman’s essay How Junk food Can End Obesity, Freedman makes the claim to policy arguing that instead of demonizing processed foods, Americans should instead support the idea and production of healthier processed and junk foods. He calls on the public to recognize that while many products on the market these days are labeled as “wholesome” and “healthy”, consumers should learn to become aware of the fat and calorie content in these products because many times they have the same- if not more- fat and calorie contents as that of a typical Big Mac or Whopper. In his essay, Freedman primarily places blame on the media and the wholesome food movement for the condemnation of the fast and processed food industries saying, “An enormous amount of media space has been dedicated to promoting the notion that all processed food, and only processed food, us making us sickly and overweight” (Freedman), he further expresses that this portrayal of the
In recent decade, the United States has seen supermarkets continuously get filled with packages labeled with things like “Low sodium” or “No Trans Fats.” Companies stick these labels on their food to match the current fads of what is good for you and what is not. In his essay Unhappy Meals, Michael Pollan advocates a return to natural and basic foods, and deplores nutritionism. Pollan argues that nutritionism does not actually tell people what is healthy or not, and that the only way to be sure you are eating healthy is to eat natural, fresh food.
Zinczenko’s Rhetorical Precis In his essay “Don’t Blame the Eater,” David Zinczenko sympathizes for port fast-food patron, like himself ages ago, he agrees that food industry should take some responsibility for obesity. He supports his claim by warning consumers about the dangers of fast food,as it play a factor in obesity. Within his argument, he questions other counter arguments and uses his narrative tone to show consumers that the food industry is necessarily at fault. Zincenko believes the prevalence of fast food and the lack of healthier food alternatives is causing obesity in America.
In “Don’t Blame the Eater,” David Zinczenko explains that the only affordable meal choice for an American teenager is fast food. Zinczenko recognizes that families consume these food sources because of the numerous McDonald’s restaurants and the lack of grocery stores in the area. Zinczenko argues that “Some fast-food purveyors will provide calorie information on request, but even that can be hard to understand”(464). However, fast-food is not the blame as Zinczenko argues in the article it 's the consumer that is to blame. The consumer has the control to eat what they want.
In “What You Eat Is Your Business,” Radley Balko tackles the issue of who is responsible for fighting obesity. Balko argues that the controversy of obesity should make the individual consumers culpable for their own health and not the government (467). As health insurers refrain from increasing premiums for obese and overweight patients, there is a decrease in motivation to keep a healthy lifestyle (Balko 467). As a result, Balko claims these manipulations make the public accountable for everyone else 's health rather than their own (467). Balko continues to discuss the ways to fix the issue such as insurance companies penalizing consumers who make unhealthy food choices and rewarding good ones (468).
Americans today are well-known for their eating habits. With all the options the food industry gives us it makes it hard to go to the grocery store and resist picking up that bag of barbeque-flavored chips or blueberry flavored candy. Due to these processed foods obesity is a growing epidemic in our country and who is to blame for it? In an article entitled “What You Eat is Your Business” by Radley Balko, Balko argues for less government intervention. Balko believes is it our responsibility to take care of ourselves and make it a priority.
Junk food is responsible for the growing rate of obesity. This is outlined by David freedman in his article of “How junk food can end obesity.” David Freedman has credited the “health-food” motion, and followers of it along with Michel Pollan. Freedman claims that if the America desires to stop the obesity epidemic, or at least reduce its effects, they must shift to the fast meals and processed meals enterprise for assist, now not the “health-food” movement.
In both David Zinczenko’s “Don’t Blame The Eater” and “ Radley Balko’s “What You Eat is Your Business”, the argument of obesity in America is present and clear from opposing viewpoints. Both articles were written in the early 2000’s, when the popular political topic of the time was obesity and how it would be dealt by our nation in the future. While Zinczenko argues that unhealthy junk food is an unavoidable cultural factor, Balko presents the thought that the government should have no say in it’s citizens diet or eating habits. Zinczenko’s article was written with the rhetorical stratedgy of pathos in mind.
Don’t Blame the Eater: Rebuttal In his article "Don 't Blame the Eater", David Zinczenko discusses that obesity is a grave health issue I the United States of America. He argues that almost all of the kids who eats at fast food joints are more likely to become obese. He then goes on to inform his readers that during his teenage years, he, like many other American kids, was surviving on fast-food due to it accessibility and affordability.
“Fast food restaurants have us hooked on to their tasty food. You See a lot of people buying fast food because how good it tastes. Well let me tell you it is not good for your health. Why do fast food places lower their prices because they know people will buy it if it doesn’t cost that much and most people buy it cause that`s how much they can afford”. Fast food places is a way to not cook every week I feel bad for people when I go to McDonald’s and ask them, do you know what you’re eating in they say
Fast food is considered popular because it 's convenient, it 's cheap, and it tastes good. But the real cost of eating fast food never appears on the menu. Fast food marketers marketing to children and adolescents has skyrocketed throughout the last century. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, funded by the government, "In the United States, the percentage of children and adolescents affected by obesity has more than tripled since the 1970 's" ("Healthy Schools"). In fact, this statistic is predicted to increase significantly as fast food restaurants are continuously being built everywhere in the U.S. Fast food restaurants are everywhere.