Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Eric Schlosser's "Fast Food Nation," Greg Critser's "Fat Land" and Morgan Spurluck's "Supersize Me" and "Don't Eat This Book" not only got McDonald's to drop "Super Sizing" (add several not-as-healty-as-they-seem-salads and start selling pedometers and bottled water) but got Coke and Pepsi to pull sugared sodas from public school vending machines. ("Energy" drinks with just as much sugar and caffiene will remain.) Several other states had added salad bars to the schools, supplied by crops grown by the students themselves. The problem with books attacking high fructose corn syrup, burgers made from meat from hundreds of cows, and the psychology of "happy" and combo meals is that they've aimed themselves at those most likely to already be stocking up at the Breadrood Food Cooperative, drive a hybrid vehicle, and already know what they're boycotting. While "Fast Food Nation" hopes to broaden its reach at the cineplex this summer, it's Schlosser's newest effort with collaborator Charles Wilson that may really make a difference. "Chew On This : Everything You Don't Want to Know About Fast Food" not only takes his "Nation" research to grades 6-9 readers (at the ages when off campus nutritional habits really take hold, away from the watchful eye of parents) but it's about 70% new research. Of course, grossing out kids with how bad the food they eat really is doesn't benefit them unless they are also taught the benefits of eating better, and enjoying the flavors of real food, and (gasp) learning how to create some of it themselves.
Speaking of Spurlock, his "Supersize Me" followup, FX Networks' "30 Days" returns for a new season shortly, while the first controversial season arrives on DVD July 11th.
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