What are "captive supplies" of cattle?
"Captive supplies" of cattle are cattle owned by meat-packing companies. There are used, according to the companies, as a "means of achieving greater efficiency" (Page 142); independent ranchers see a different motive: to control the market. The prices of captive supplies are usually kept secret; thus, to control prices, the meat-packing company will flood the market with the cattle. At times, as much as 80% of the cattle in the market are captive supplies.
Why would small independent cattle ranchers be afraid to speak out against the practices of large meat processors?
Small independent cattle ranchers are afraid to protest against the practices of large meat processors as they alone would not have sufficient power to have any major impact on the industry; thus, speaking out against large meat processors would only result in the loss of bidding contracts, possibly requiring a change of occupation to sustain oneself.
Which type of cattle rancher is currently facing the greatest economic difficulty?
The cattle rancher that puts most of his or her energy into being a rancher, who has no sources of income to fall back on, and works on another person's land is facing the greatest economic difficulty: he or she is at the mercy of meat processing companies as they are the ones who determine the price and whether or not the rancher sells anything.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Chapter 5
How have the potato farms in Idaho changed in the last 25 years or so?
In Idaho the last 25 years, many family-owned potato farms have been closed while the number of corporate farms has increased. The number of acreage being farmed has also increased substantially.
What makes McDonald's french fries taste different from the fries of other fast food restaurants?
For awhile, McDonald's "cooked its french fries in a mixture of about 7 percent cottonseed oil and 93 percent beef tallow" (Page 120) to give the fries their taste. Customers soon objected to this method, and, now, McDonald's cooks its fries in pure vegetable oil and uses natural flavors to distinguish its fries from other restaurants.
What are the similarities and some of the differences between "artificial flavors" and "natural flavors"? Where is the "flavor industry" located?
The flavor industry is located in New Jersey; the largest flavor company is International Flavors & Fragrances. Artificial flavors and natural flavors are similar in that "both are man-made additives that give most processed food their taste" (Page 120). Natural flavors differ from artificial flavors as they are "derived entirely from natural sources" (Page 126), whereas artificial flavors are produced through chemical reactions. There may not be any difference between the chemical compositions of artificial and natural flavors: deriving something from a fruit or vegetable will not produce anything chemically different than if it were made through chemical reactions, nor will it taste different.
In Idaho the last 25 years, many family-owned potato farms have been closed while the number of corporate farms has increased. The number of acreage being farmed has also increased substantially.
What makes McDonald's french fries taste different from the fries of other fast food restaurants?
For awhile, McDonald's "cooked its french fries in a mixture of about 7 percent cottonseed oil and 93 percent beef tallow" (Page 120) to give the fries their taste. Customers soon objected to this method, and, now, McDonald's cooks its fries in pure vegetable oil and uses natural flavors to distinguish its fries from other restaurants.
What are the similarities and some of the differences between "artificial flavors" and "natural flavors"? Where is the "flavor industry" located?
The flavor industry is located in New Jersey; the largest flavor company is International Flavors & Fragrances. Artificial flavors and natural flavors are similar in that "both are man-made additives that give most processed food their taste" (Page 120). Natural flavors differ from artificial flavors as they are "derived entirely from natural sources" (Page 126), whereas artificial flavors are produced through chemical reactions. There may not be any difference between the chemical compositions of artificial and natural flavors: deriving something from a fruit or vegetable will not produce anything chemically different than if it were made through chemical reactions, nor will it taste different.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Introduction
Why is fast food worth studying?
Fast food is worth studying as it has penetrated American society and transformed "our landscape, economy, workforce, and popular culture" (Page 3). Fast food is a common element of many lives, and few people truly know anything about it except, perhaps, that it is "bad" for you.
What are some of the observations about McDonald's made by the author?
Eric Schlosser illustrates the degree to which McDonald's has affected American society: it is "responsible for 90 percent of the country's new jobs"; "one out of every eight workers in the United States has at one point been employed by McDonald's"; it is "the nation's largest purchase of beef, pork, and potatoes"; "the largest owner of retail property in the world"; and "96 percent [of American schoolchildren] could identify Ronald McDonald" (Page 4).
According to the author, why did he write this book?
The author wrote this book as he believes "people should know what lies behind the shiny, happy surface of every fast food transaction" (Page 10). Purchasing fast food has become a process involving little thought; little is known about the efforts by which fast food companies keep prices to a minimum and minimize regulation.
Fast food is worth studying as it has penetrated American society and transformed "our landscape, economy, workforce, and popular culture" (Page 3). Fast food is a common element of many lives, and few people truly know anything about it except, perhaps, that it is "bad" for you.
What are some of the observations about McDonald's made by the author?
Eric Schlosser illustrates the degree to which McDonald's has affected American society: it is "responsible for 90 percent of the country's new jobs"; "one out of every eight workers in the United States has at one point been employed by McDonald's"; it is "the nation's largest purchase of beef, pork, and potatoes"; "the largest owner of retail property in the world"; and "96 percent [of American schoolchildren] could identify Ronald McDonald" (Page 4).
According to the author, why did he write this book?
The author wrote this book as he believes "people should know what lies behind the shiny, happy surface of every fast food transaction" (Page 10). Purchasing fast food has become a process involving little thought; little is known about the efforts by which fast food companies keep prices to a minimum and minimize regulation.
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