Eric Schlosser Quotes

Powerful Eric Schlosser for Daily Growth

About Eric Schlosser

Eric Schlosser (born 1959) is an acclaimed American investigative journalist, political commentator, and author, known for his deep dives into complex social issues, particularly food and labor systems. Born in Wayne, Pennsylvania, he grew up in a working-class family and developed a keen interest in writing from a young age. He graduated magna cum laude with an English degree from Harvard University in 1981. Schlosser's career as a journalist began at The Washington Post, where he covered the fall of the Soviet Union. His work took him to Russia, Cuba, China, and Vietnam, but it was his return to America that sparked his passion for exploring the nation's food industry. This interest led to his groundbreaking book, "Fast Food Nation" (2001), an exposé on the fast-food industry's impact on workers, animals, and the environment. In 2006, Schlosser published "Command and Control: Nuclear Weapons, the Damascus Accident, and the Illusion of Safety," a chilling account of accidents involving nuclear weapons in America's military complex. His latest book, "Chew on This: Everything You Don't Want to Know About Fast Food" (2013), is a young adult adaptation of "Fast Food Nation." Schlosser's works have been translated into more than twenty languages and have won numerous awards. He has also contributed to The Atlantic Monthly, Harper's Magazine, Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, and other major publications. In addition to his writing, Schlosser co-produced the 2008 documentary "Food, Inc." and serves on the boards of several environmental organizations. His investigative journalism continues to shed light on hidden truths about American industry and society.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Fast food is the ultimate empty food: it's high in calories but low in nutrients."

The quote underscores the concern that fast food, despite being energy-dense with a high caloric content, lacks essential nutrients for sustaining good health. Fast food, therefore, is referred to as "empty food" because it fails to provide adequate nourishment needed by our bodies compared to other food options. This imbalance in nutritional value contributes significantly to the rise of diet-related diseases and obesity.


"Corporate power has never been greater, and democracy has never been weaker."

This quote emphasizes the growing imbalance between corporate influence and democratic representation in contemporary societies. Essentially, it suggests that corporations today wield significant power, often surpassing that of the average citizen or representative government bodies. Simultaneously, it implies a decline in democracy, as the people's voice seems weaker due to this concentration of power among large corporations. The quote serves as a call for increased civic engagement and policy reform to restore balance between corporate interests and democratic values.


"There are places where the air tastes of gasoline."

This quote emphasizes the degradation of environmental quality, in particular, the excessive presence of pollutants such as petroleum products, symbolized here as gasoline, to the point that it can alter the natural taste of the air in certain areas. It's a stark reminder of the harmful impacts of industrialization and pollution on our environment.


"The real food crisis is not a shortage of food, but a shortage of justice."

Eric Schlosser's quote suggests that while there may be enough food produced globally to feed everyone, inequality in the distribution and accessibility of this food creates a "crisis" of justice rather than one of scarcity. In essence, he is highlighting the injustice in the way food resources are allocated, which disproportionately affects disadvantaged communities and contributes to global hunger issues. The quote underscores the importance of addressing social and economic inequalities to ensure a just and equitable food system for all.


"It's not just fast food that's making us sick; it's the whole food system."

The quote implies a criticism of the modern industrialized food system, suggesting that the rapid growth and convenience of food production, particularly in the fast food industry, comes at a cost to public health. The implication is that this system, by prioritizing profit over nutrition, contributes significantly to diet-related illnesses and malnutrition among the population, rather than promoting balanced, healthy diets.


One might expect that the families of murder victims would be showered with sympathy and support, embraced by their communities. But in reality they are far more likely to feel isolated, fearful, and ashamed, overwhelmed by grief and guilt, angry at the criminal-justice system, and shunned by their old friends.

- Eric Schlosser

Overwhelmed, Feel, Isolated, Ashamed

Fast food is 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.

- Eric Schlosser

Real, Cost, Appears, Tastes

Most fast food is fried. Fried food tastes great, and people don't seem to care about the fat aspect.

- Eric Schlosser

Great, People, About, Tastes

I'm a huge supporter of animal rights - and I've been an outspoken critic of the cruelties routinely inflicted on livestock at factory farms. But it really bothers me that the mistreatment of pigs and chickens and cows seems to attract a lot more attention and spark a lot more outrage than the abuse of immigrant workers.

- Eric Schlosser

Attract, Abuse, Been, Outspoken

I can understand why a single parent, working two jobs, would find it easier to stop at McDonald's with the kids rather than cook something from scratch at home.

- Eric Schlosser

Parent, Cook, Rather, Scratch

McDonald's has been extraordinary at site selection; it was a pioneer in studying the best places for retail locations. One of the things it did is study very carefully where sprawl was headed.

- Eric Schlosser

Study, Been, Very, McDonald

Hey, I used to eat at McDonald's: I liked the taste of the food, especially the French fries.

- Eric Schlosser

Fries, Eat, Taste, McDonald

McDonald's revolutionized fast food. They introduced a way to eat food without knives, forks or plates. Most fast foods can be eaten while steering the wheel of a car and the restaurants are usually drive through.

- Eric Schlosser

Through, Plates, Forks, McDonald

The symptoms of food poisoning often don't appear for days after the contaminated meal was eaten. As a result, most cases of food poisoning are never properly diagnosed.

- Eric Schlosser

Food, Often, Cases, Eaten

The fast-food industry is in very good company with the lead industry and the tobacco industry in how it tries to mislead the public, and how aggressively it goes after anybody who criticizes its business practices.

- Eric Schlosser

Business, Very, Tries, Tobacco

Fast food chains spend a large amount of marketing to get the attention of children. People form their eating habits as children so they try to nurture clients as youngsters.

- Eric Schlosser

Habits, Clients, Amount, Nurture

I'd been eating fast food all my life without thinking about it. And the more I learned about the subject, the more intrigued I became.

- Eric Schlosser

My Life, Been, Became, Intrigued

Even academic elites are drawn to the figure of the murderer, which has long been a focus of attention for psychiatrists, sociologists, and criminologists.

- Eric Schlosser

Been, Which, Figure, Psychiatrists

Different people, in good faith, can look at the same fact and interpret it differently. But that's where an interesting conversation begins.

- Eric Schlosser

Fact, Different People, Interpret

The thing that's been inhibiting long-form investigative reporting is fear - fear of being sued, of being unpopular, of being criticized by very powerful groups.

- Eric Schlosser

Been, Very, Groups, Investigative

Firstly, should we be selling and buying irradiated meat? I think that's up to the consumer, ultimately. But the second point is, this irradiated meat should be clearly and unmistakably labeled as irradiated meat.

- Eric Schlosser

Think, I Think, Labeled, Consumer

I think there should be very strict limits on the pathogens that can be sold in your meat. There should be limits on disease-causing pathogens. Tests should determine whether the meat is contaminated or not, and you shouldn't be allowed to sell contaminated meat.

- Eric Schlosser

Think, Very, Sold, Strict

I was introduced to the world of modern food production in the mid-1990s, while researching an article about California's strawberry industry for the 'Atlantic Monthly.'

- Eric Schlosser

Production, Industry, About, Article

'Fast Food Nation' appeared as an article in 'Rolling Stone' before it was a book, so I was extending it from the article, and by that time, everyone could read the article.

- Eric Schlosser

Nation, Before, Read, Article

There is a growing market today for local, organic foods produced by small farmers. And farmers' markets have played a large role in making that happen.

- Eric Schlosser

Small, Happen, Making, Organic

As a matter of fact, most cases of food poisoning are never linked back to their source.

- Eric Schlosser

Fact, Never, Most, Poisoning

I really like hamburgers and French fries, and I don't consider myself some kind of gourmand.

- Eric Schlosser

Kind, Some, Like, French

Since 1966, hundreds of books have been published that follow murderers along their paths of destruction. Every serial killer, it seems, now has a biographer or two.

- Eric Schlosser

Follow, Been, Published, Serial

It's not a question of McDonald's vanishing from the face of the earth. It's a question of these companies assuming some more responsibility for what they're selling.

- Eric Schlosser

Question, More, Some, Assuming

I'm all in favor of animal rights, but I'd like to see the food movement take a much stronger stand in defense of basic human rights. If you're a vegan or a vegetarian, you should care about the people who are picking your fruits and vegetables by hand.

- Eric Schlosser

Vegetables, About, Your, Human Rights

It's possible to go to the market, buy good ingredients, and make yourself a healthy meal for less than it costs to buy a value meal at McDonald's.

- Eric Schlosser

Go, Costs, Buy, Ingredients

'Fast Food Nation' isn't about my journey into the dark world of fast food and the prison book is not about my journey into the prison world. I'm not using myself as any kind of narrative link.

- Eric Schlosser

Journey, Nation, Using, My Journey

Studies have found that preparing your own food is usually healthier and less expensive than buying fast food. But most people just don't have the time.

- Eric Schlosser

Own, Your, Healthier, Studies

I'm just angry at the sort of things that are winding up in ground beef. I'm angry that other people - mainly children - are going to be sickened by eating a hamburger.

- Eric Schlosser

Other, Going, Beef, Winding

Very few people realize that the U.S. government does not have the power to order the recall of contaminated meat.

- Eric Schlosser

Government, People, Very, Realize

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