The Process of Food Product Design: Schlosser's Insight

In today's fast-paced world, we are bombarded with advertisements for the latest food products promising to be healthy, convenient, and delicious. While these products may seem like a great innovation to many consumers, Eric Schlosser's investigative non-fiction work "Fast Food Nation" and "Chew on This" raise awareness about the process behind designing food products, highlighting a need for greater transparency in the food industry. This essay will explore the key points made by Schlosser in his works regarding the process of food product design and its impact on consumers and society as a whole.

To begin with, Schlosser explains that creating food products is a highly complex process that involves multiple teams working together, including scientists, marketing professionals, and food engineers. Often, the main objective is not to create a nutritious product but rather to create a product that is addictive, convenient, and profitable. For instance, Schlosser notes that companies invest heavily in research and development to create a "bliss point" - a combination of sugar, salt, and fat that makes a product irresistible to consumers. While this may be good for the company's bottom line, it can lead to negative effects on the consumer's health in the long term.

Furthermore, Schlosser highlights the role of marketing in creating the illusion of choice. He argues that the food industry has perfected the art of marketing to the point where consumers believe they have a wide selection of choices, when in reality, these choices are limited to a few basic ingredients. In many cases, companies simply repackage the same basic ingredients into different formats, such as burgers, sandwiches, and wraps, creating the impression of variety. However, this illusion of choice masks the fact that there is little diversity in the actual ingredients used in the food products.

Moreover, Schlosser's works stress the negative impact that food products can have on society as a whole, particularly on low-income communities. He argues that fast food chains have targeted poor neighborhoods, saturating them with cheap, unhealthy food options. This has led to higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and other health issues in these communities. Moreover, the fast food industry exploits its workers, often paying them low wages and denying them basic benefits such as health insurance. This perpetuates the cycle of poverty in these communities and can lead to long-term negative effects on the social and economic well-being of these communities.

In conclusion, Schlosser's works provide a critical insight into the process of food product design and its impact on consumers and society at large. By understanding the complex process behind creating food products, we can become more aware of the marketing strategies used by companies to manipulate consumers, and make more informed choices about the food we consume. Additionally, it highlights the need for greater transparency in the food industry and for companies to prioritize the nutritional value of their products over profits. Ultimately, becoming more conscious consumers can not only improve our own health and well-being, but also contribute to a healthier and more equitable society for all.