Project Text: Glory Cruz

Glory Cruz

English 113B

Professor Reynolds

May 9, 2012           

                                    Project Text: Why I’m Fighting Childhood Obesity

“Why I'm Fighting Childhood Obesity,” by Michelle Obama, informs the reader on her initiative on getting rid of childhood obesity. The First Lady has started a nationwide campaign called “Lets Move,” with the goal to solve the problem of childhood obesity within a generation. It is a well written, detailed, and straightforward article acknowledging her purpose to reduce obesity in America. She adopts a motivational tone in order to apprise parents around the world about the food choices affecting their kids.

                  She uses her role of the First Lady to have people acknowledge that even that high of society cares about the world. She has used her own personal thought of obesity and argued why her campaign can make a difference. I believe her campaign can become successful if we all take initiative in putting our effort into it. As a mother, Mrs. Obama tries to relate to other parents by using sympathetic tone. If parents see the effort Obama is making parents would be inspired to do the same for their children. In this case parents have more of a say in what their children should be eating. In her article, she mainly writes her point of view and uses little evidence, yet she is persuasive. "Let's give her credit," Nestle said. "She has no real power. She has no legal authority. She's a wife, and yet she has managed to take this issue and bring it to national prominence” (CBS News).

Michelle Obama describes how “Let's Move” “is about families making manageable changes that fit with their schedules, their budgets, and their needs and tastes. It's about giving parents the tools they need to keep their families healthy and fit, and getting more nutritious food—more fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and less sugar, fat, and salt—into our nation's schools. It's about helping grocery stores serve communities that don't have access to fresh foods, and finding new ways to help our kids stay physically active in school and at home” (Obama).  As for this, parents should lead by example and maintain a safe environment for their kids. They should teach them how to eat at home instead of eating at a fast food restaurant. Yes, it may be difficult for parents to eat at home with such a busy schedule, but they should try to make an effort once in a while.

She has convinced me that our actions to stay active have changed. She does this by mentioning how things have changed for example, back then they would walk to school, now kids get rides to school. Rather than playing or running outside, kids today tend to be inside watching TV or playing video games. Obama writes, “Research recommends that children 2 years of age and older engage in 30-60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day. With cuts in the physical Fitness programs at school, this means even less activity for children” (Jackson). As of today we can see the difference and tell why obesity has risen over the past years. We are less active now than many years ago and we eat more food that is worse for us because of the additives.

As she addresses her point of view in the article she informs parents on how they can help their kids in order for them not to become overweight. Mrs. Obama use emotional appeals throughout this article to appeal to parents to care for their kids. “But I'm confident that if we each do our part, and all work together, we can ensure that our kids have not just the opportunities they need to succeed, but the strength and endurance to seize those opportunities: to excel in school, pursue the careers of their dreams, keep up with their own kids, and live to see their grandkids grow up—maybe even their great-grandkids too” (Obama). Using emotion she points out to parents to accept the change in order to see their children living a well and healthy life. She can relate to it since she has two daughters. Obama uses ethos as she states, “We are in charge, we make these decisions,” she states that the parents are the ones in control of the way children eat. She is trying to advise the parents to help make a difference in their kid’s foods choices in order to have a healthier generation.

Mrs. Obama emphasizes good nutritional advice for the kids of America. In a sympathetic tone she suggests eating a good diet rich in fruits and vegetables and staying away from junk food. Her advice has been taken as “National legislation has changed the face of school lunches for 32 million children. Walgreens, Wal-Mart and a number of other chains have agreed to build 1,500 stores in food deserts in the coming years, bringing 9.5 million more Americans better access to fresh and healthy foods. More than 5,700 groups have partnered with the USDA to spread the word about the new My Plate food-selection diagram and get simple nutritional information to families across the country” (Kane).  Healthy food for everyone will become a better lifestyle. Bringing healthy food across the world’s stores is a great approach for human beings to see what is out there in order to maintain ourselves healthy.

Many people are obese due to an unhealthy lifestyle such as too much junk food and lack of exercise. Being obese can trigger off a lot of health problems such as high blood pressure, heart problems and kidney problems as well as a stroke, a heart attack, and diabetes. “Fact is, there are 186,300 people under the age of 20 who have diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. About one in every 400 to 600 children and adolescents has type 1 diabetes. Two million adolescents (or 1 in 6 overweight adolescents) aged 12-19 have pre-diabetes” (Williams). That is why the first lady’s campaign is aiming to reduce the obesity in America in order for children to stay healthy.  

The writer creates an informal, straightforward, and detailed diction through the use of simple ordinary language for her audience. The writer also creates a motivational tone through the use of informing us to maintain ourselves healthy by staying active. Pathos is presented throughout her article, as she engages parent’s attention to take action for their kid’s health. “Lets Move” will present the tools and information to parents to help make healthier choices for their families. 

Works Cited

 Jim Williams HealthKey.com Contributor November. Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 09 Nov. 2009. Web. 27 Feb. 2012. <http://www.latimes.com/features/health/diabetes/sns-health-diabetes-children-with-diabetes,0,623394.story>.

Jackson, Cathy. “Helping Kids Stay Active - Tips To Increase Children’s Fitness." Get Into Shape Stay Fit. Web. 28 Feb. 2012. <http://www.shapefit.com/helping-kids-stay-active.html>

Kane, Jason. "As Michelle Obama's Anti-Obesity Push Turns 2, It's Time for a Check-Up." PBS. PBS, 09 Feb. 2012. Web. 29 Feb. 2012. <http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/02/second-anniversary-of-lets-move.html>

"Michelle Obama Marks 2nd Year of Obesity Campaign." CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 09 Feb. 2012. Web. 28 Feb. 2012. <http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57374184/michelle-obama-marks-2nd-year-of-obesity-campaign/>.

Obama, Michelle. “Michelle on a Mission." The Daily Beast. Newsweek/Daily Beast, 13 Mar. 2010. Web. 29 Feb. 2012. <http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2010/03/13/michelle-on-a-mission.html>.

Oliphant, James. Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2011. Web. 27 Feb. 2012. <http://articles.latimes.com/2011/feb/26/nation/la-na-michelle-obama-obesity-20110227>.

Project Web: Glory Cruz

Glory Cruz

Professor Reynolds

English 113B

May 9, 2012

                                                Food Safety and its Consequences

            A heartbreaking loss of 2-½ year old Kevin Kowalcyk occurred August 11, 2001 due to E.coli contamination. In the documentary film called “Food Inc.” Kevin’s mom aims to reduce the amount of foodborne illness in the United States by informing us about her son’s loss. Food is essential, but food infectivity can result in illness, and widespread contamination, which produces large social and economic costs. Approximately each year in the United States, thousands of Americans go through and die from preventable foodborne illness.

Eating meat that is rare or poorly cooked is the most usual way of possible exposure to E.coli contamination. Bacteria exist in the intestines of some healthy farm animals and contamination of the meat may happen in the slaughtering procedure.  Cows need to eat grass, but cattle industries are giving them corn to eat. Eating corn makes them fatter and can bring health problems to the cows, which then leads to unhealthy meat. Later there can be a chance of the meat containing E.coli. According to Marler Clarks research, “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 48 million foodborne illness cases occur in the United States every year.  At least 128,000 Americans are hospitalized, and 3,000 die after eating contaminated food” (Clark). We can see how it is important for us to take precaution because there are high risks coming from contaminated food. Fruits and vegetables are healthy for us since they provide us with vitamins, fiber and minerals, but recently there has been food outbreaks due to contamination of E.coli. They have found that E.coli has been found in lettuce, sprouts, and cantaloupe. “There were 22 outbreaks of E. coli connected with the consumption of leafy green vegetables in California from 1995 through 2006, according to the CPS website” (Stiny). On September 14, 2011 there was a cantaloupe recall involving Jensen farms.  The bacteria can be found naturally in the soil, and also in manure. It can be in the water supply if manure is part of the run-off. Any raw food can carry living listeria bacteria and it's one of the reasons why washing all raw veggies is so important.

Kevin’s law is about a real life tragic death due to contamination. It is named after Kevin Michael Kowalcyk, a 2-½ year old boy who died after eating a hamburger contaminated with E.coli. First he was hospitalized for dehydration and afterward his kidneys were worsening.  After being resuscitated twice he then died within 12 days. “Specifically, the law will require FDA, as well as food processors and producers, to identify areas of risk so that preventive measures can be developed and implemented” (Kowalcyk). Elderly people, infants, and pregnant woman are at higher risks from infection of Listeria than other individuals. The law has not been passed yet, but we should support it since it can be beneficial to us. This should make us think of what we consume and how it can affect our lives without knowing it will happen. Parents would not like their kids to die of the same situation Kevin did. Kevin’s parents never thought that by giving their child an ordinary hamburger he would end up being contaminated with E.coli.

Regulations and strict codes are necessary in controlling the processing of foods that may cause harm to the consumers. This is where laws such as the 1906 Federal Meat Inspection Act, Food Safety Modernization Act, and Kevin’s law come in handy. The Federal Meat Inspection Act established sanitary standards for the meat industry and required the inspection of animals before and after slaughter.  According to the FDA “the Food Safety Modernization Act also provides FDA with new enforcement authorities designed to achieve higher rates of compliance with prevention and risk based food safety standards and to better respond to and contain problems when they do occur.” As for this the FDA also contributes in protecting our health when it comes to food issues and improving food safety. “In January 2011, President Obama signed legislation that gave the F.D.A. new powers to police foreign foods. For instance, the law for the first time gave the F.D.A. the authority to order companies to withdraw foods suspected of being contaminated. Previously the F.D.A. could only ask manufacturers to withdraw suspect foods” (NY Times). The Food Safety Modernization Act also is in charge to keep food supply safe and to prevent contamination. These acts have an impact towards food safety just like Kevin’s Law.

Furthermore I believe a solution is for the Government to invest in food safety that will then reduce huge expenses in treating food related disorders. “As with all food producers must be in compliance with local, state and federal health standards and food safety laws” (E.Coli). We should suggest and inform Government to make a change to stop foodborne illnesses and deaths as of today and in the future. We can see that the corporations main concern is money and not the well being of its customers.

Overall we can see the effects that appear throughout food safety issues around the world. Even more important consumers should take precautions in order to decrease our chances of contamination. It is the government and food industries duty to ensure that there is no longer contaminated food and keep enforcing laws that help deal with food safety. Food safety laws have been around for many years, but will the US keep protecting the people from high risk of food infections.

 Works Cited

Clark, Marler. "About Foodborne Illness." Foodborne Illness: Food Poisoning. Web.            26 Apr. 2012.

"E. Coli Facts." E.Coli. Organic Trade Association, 8 June 2011. Web. 24 Apr. 2012.                          

"Food and Drug Administration." U.S. Food And Drug Administration. The New York            Times, 11 Apr. 2012. Web. 24 Apr. 2012.

Kowalcyk, Barbara. "Food Safety Law Makes History." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 06 Jan. 2011. Web. 05 May 2012.

"Rapid Tracing of Food Products Prevents Illness." FDA Transparency Blog. Web. 15 Apr. 2012.

Stiny, Andy. "Salinas Valley Growers Says Spinach Safer Five Years after E. Coli Outbreak." The Salinas Californian. 16 Sept. 2011. Web. 05 May 2012.

Project Text: Samuel Bermudez

Samuel Bermudez

Amy Reynolds

English 113 B

February 29, 2012

Persuasion Methods

            When we read a newspaper, read a book, or an article online, or even when we are driving along on the freeway and look up and see the bright billboards, someone is trying to convince us to believe a certain fact or idea. Authors try to persuade us by using appeals to ethos, logos, and pathos. In Mary Roach’s article “Bug Heads, rat hair-bon appetite” we find perfect examples of persuasion using the three appeals as Roach tries to convince us that we need to be aware that there are insects, rat hair and rat feces in our food and the  FDA is allowing it.

            In “Bug Heads, rat hair-bon appetite” by Mary Roach, she uses the appeal to pathos in order to get her message to reach the reader. The appeal to pathos when she says “Those five milligrams of rat excreta in a pound of sesame seeds is A-Ok with the FDA.” She writes in a humorous way because she wants the reader to know that she is friendly and therefore ultimately gain the reader’s trust,, which gets the reader’s to pay attention and read carefully. She also uses the phrase “A-OK” in order to relate to her targeted audience of this article, which is the average American Citizen. By using “A-OK” Roach presents herself as a normal average American citizen, this way the reader can relate to her and therefore trust her. In fact many authors tent to try and write a certain way in order to relate to their specific targeted reader. For example Michelle Obama in her article “why I’m Fighting Childhood obesity” She is talking to all parents in America and uses words like “kids”, “we”, “us” and “together” to show the readers that she readers that she is a concerned parent as well. This will make the parents reading this article pay attention since the childhood obesity epidemic can also be affecting her since is a parent as well. Well. WE also see appeal to pathos in Hartocolli’s New York times article “Young, obese and in surgery.” She reports, “She was a B student and in the drama club at school. She had good friends and a boyfriend she had met through facebook. She even showed off her curves in spandex leggings and snug shirts. When her pediatrician, Dr. Senya Vayner, first mentioned weight-loss surgery, Ms. Gofman was 17, still living with her parents in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, her bedroom decorated with glow-in-the dark stars because she was afraid of the dark.” The way the author describes the normal life that this young girl has and then to find out that she needs weight loss surgery makes the reader feel sorry for this young lady, If this description was not presented about the girl the audience might not be as interested. This is one of the methods that authors use to persuade us.

            Mary Roach also uses appeal to logos which is all the data and facts part of her article. For example, she writes, “You would then become sidetracked and further learn that approximately four rodent hairs are allowed in a jar of peanut butter, that an average of 60 thrips are allowed in a 100 grams of frozen broccoli, that 10 grams of hops are allowed to contain 2,500 aphids and that 5 milligrams of rat excreta in a pound of sesame deeds.” This quote is not only informative, but also paints a picture in the reader’s mind, that the insects stated in the are small, so when she says “2,500 aphins are allowed in 10 grams of hops,” I picture a swarm of aphids completely covering the 10 grams of hops. I also picture me eating sesame seeds comfortably and not even noticing that 5 milligrams of what I think are seeds, are actually rat excreta. The thought of it nauseates me and makes me not want to eat a sesame seed ever again. The same imagery created by the appeal to logos can also be found in Healy’s L.A Times article “America just gets fatter” she says “with an obese population of the 19.8%----- it is the only state with an adult obesity rate below 20%---- Colorado remains the caboose on the nation’s huffing, puffing train to fat land.” In this quote the author shows percentages of obesity rates in Colorado and how it’s the only state that has an obesity rate below 20 percent. She uses amusing imagery to describe how that state is the state with lowest obesity rate in order to keep the reader pay attention.

            Another commonly used method to persuade is the appeal of ethos or the appeal to authority. Ethos can be the role of the writer in the argument, and how credible his/her argument is. For example Roach refers to the FDA frequently in her article. She makes it clear that the FDA is responsible for all of the insects and rat remains that are found in all our food. She says that because in her audience’s mind when they think of the FDA they picture a group of people that make sure that they our food is safe to eat but instead, they are all these unwanted pests get on our food. It makes you question the FDA and lose your trust in them which is what Roach precisely wants you to believe. We see appeals to authority in other articles as well for example in Alice parks article “Why we get Fat: Seeking Clues in our cells” They use metabolic and sociologic researchers as the appeal to authority. Alice uses them in her writing for the readers to see that she is credible to gain there trust and persuade them that what the researchers find out is true.

            Authors try to persuade their audience into believing that what they are writing about is right or a good idea. They use appeal to Logos, Ethos, and Pathos to grab the reader’s attention. It is important to understand these methods to persuade your reader as well.

Work Cited

·         Park, Alice. “Why We Get Fat: Seeking Clues in Our Cells- Overcoming Obesity – TIME.” Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews- TIME.com.N.p., 17 Mar. 2010. Web.29 Feb. 2012.

·         Hartocollis, Anemona. “Young.Obese and Getting weight-Loss Surgery – NYTimes.com.” The New York Times- Breaking News, World News & Multimedia.N.p.,7 Jan. 2012. Web 29 Feb. 2012.

·         Hartocollis, Anemona. “Young, Obese and getting weight-loss Surgery –NYTimes.com” The New York Times- Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. N.P., & 7 Jan. 2012 Web. 29 Feb. 2012.

·         Healy, Melissa, and Los Angeles Times. “Obesity: America just keeps getting Fatter, report says – Los Ageles Times.” Featured Articles From The Los Angeles Times. N.p., 7 July 2011. Wen. 29 Feb.2012. 

Project Web (animal cruelty) - Samuel Bermudez

Samuel Bermudez

Amy Reynolds

English 113 B

May 9, 2012

Animal Cruelty in the Food Industry

                        Animals in the food industry are not treated with respect. These animals are confined in cages, pumped with chemicals, live in unsanitary conditions, and are abused by employees. In order to stop this animal cruelty we need to inform the public about what goes on behind the scenes of the fast food industry and change the way animals are treated in the fast food industry.

In the food industry’s factory farms one can find animals confined in cages. In a video called “Farm to Fridge-The Truth behind Meat Production” there was footage of a factory farm. In that footage you can see the cattle, pigs, and chickens in cages that are just slightly bigger than their own bodies. The food industry will argue that having animals in cages that small is more efficient and profitable because it allows them to have more animals in one area and the animal’s lack of mobility makes them gain weight, producing more meat. Although this might be more efficient and profitable the food industry fails to realize how it affects the animal. For example pigs, in the footage of the video you can see purple bruises and deep cuts with blood running down the pigs bodies. Bruises and cuts due to the pigs body rubbing against the cage. Those open cuts can get infected which will contaminate the meat after it is slaughtered.

These animals also live in unsanitary conditions. According to Michael Pollen, author for “Omnivores Dilemma” in his visit to a CAFO (concentrated animal feeding operation) he discovered that cattle there were knee deep in their own feces and so cramped that the cows can barely move. These conditions make diseases easier to spread among the population, which will contaminate the meat that the cattle will later provide. Chickens are in unsanitary confinement as well Elizabeth Overcast author of “Detailed Discussion of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations: Concerns and Current Legislation Affecting Animal Welfare” explains how 40,000 broiler chickens (chickens raised for their meat) are confined in warehouse, the chickens live in total darkness enduring extreme heat and breathing hazardous fumes because the warehouse has no windows or an air conditioning system and the air is thick with ammonia.

 Because the cattle are pumped with hormones and other chemicals meat may become tainted. According to idausa.org animals in the food industry are pumped with hormones and other chemicals to make them bigger and fatter. They also pump anti biotics so the animals can fight of diseases. Although in the point of view of the food industry this technique is more profitable, the animals suffer because of it. Peta.org explains that “Approximately 9 billion chickens are raised and killed for meat each year in the U.S. The industry refers to these chickens as “broilers” and raises them in huge, ammonia-filled, windowless sheds where artificial lighting is manipulated to make birds eat as often as possible?” These chickens gain so much weight that there legs break because they can’t sustain their own bodies, which leaves the chicken’s parentally immobile. But this isn’t as bad as what the employees of the food industry do to the animals.

Employees in the food industry frequently abuse and hit the animals. In the video “Farm to Fridge-The Truth behind Meat Production” one can see footage of the employees kicking, whipping, and hitting the animals. I found this interesting because of there is no reason why the employees have to abuse the animals in such a way. The food industry can’t argue that this is profitable or efficient, this is just wrong. PETA explains that people abuse animals for a number of reasons. But the biggest is to take out anger out on them. Which makes sense employees from the food industry may be under stress or maybe they themselves have been abused in the past. So when the employees see animals that are going to die anyways, they see it as an opportunity to blow of some steam. But just because these animals are sentenced to death doesn’t mean that one can go around beating these helpless creatures.

Animal cruelty in the food industry is a serious problem and should be stopped at once. One solution to this problem is instead of having large facilities for animals; Polyface farming should be introduced. Polyface farming allows animals to rome free and graze in big open grass fields just like nature intended. According to Michael Pollen when he visited Joel Stalin’s polyface farm he saw that cattle, chickens, and other farm animals seem to enjoy being in these conditions where there are not confined in overcrowded warehouses or knee deep in their own feces. (Pollen.127) Animals in polyface farms are not pumped with chemicals or fed genetically altered corn, they are also not abused. What is fascinating about polyface farming is that the animals seem to take care of themselves. First the cattle graze on the farm and create waste, then chickens come and spread the waste to get to worms to feed upon. Waste makes a great fertilizer and since it has been spread by chickens on the land it will provide nutrients for the soil causing more grass to grow so the cattle can feast on them once again. Polyface farming is a great way to end the horrors of animal cruelty.

Meat is consumed by many households but many don’t realize that the meat they are consuming comes from animals that have been treated with cruelty. The animals in the food industry are confined in small cages where they can hardly move, they live in crowded knee deep in thee own feces, and to top it off they are abused and beaten by the employees that work for the food industry. But this madness can be stopped if new farming techniques such as polyface farms are introduced.

Work Cited

·         Adams, Mike. "Window cleaning chemical injected into fast food hamburger meat." Natural health news. Natural health news, 5 Jan. 2010. Web. 21 Apr. 2012.

·         Kuchment, Anna. “A Chain That Pigs Would Die For.” Newsweek, 151.19 (2008): 45-46.

·         Overcash, Elizabeth . "Detailed Discussion of CAFOs." Michigan State University College of Law. Michigan State University College of Law, 16 Mar. 2011. Web. 11 May 2012.

·         Pollan, Michael. The Omnivore’s Dilema. United States of America: The Penguin Press, a member of the penguin grou Inc, 2006 April 23, 2012

·         Ronald J Adams. “Fast Food and Animal Rights: An examination and assessment of the industry’s Response to Social Pressure”Oviatt Library. California State university, Northridge, C.A. April 25,2012

·         "Chickens Used for Food | PETA.org." People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA): The animal rights organization | PETA.org. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, 12 Feb. 2003. Web. 11 May 2012.

Progect Space -Samuel Bermudez

Samuel Bermudez

Amy Reynolds

English 113 B

May 8, 2012

Mom’s food vs. El Pollo Loco

            For project space I decided to compare my mom’s food with the food of El Pollo Loco. What I first thought I was going to discover by comparing both sources of food is how my mom’s food is authentic Mexican food and El Pollo Loco is Americanized Mexican food. But I found much more: difference in how the food is eaten, difference in environment, and differences in emotions. It made me appreciate my culture and mother more.

            As I studied every movement my mom made to prepare her meal I discovered a lot that I didn’t before. She first started by getting all the ingredients and placing them on the kitchen table. She got chicken, carrots, onions, tomatoes and other vegetables to make caldo de pollo (chicken stew). She then called my little sister Alejandra over and asked her to chop vegetables. My mom always asks my sister to help her cook since she was small but only now did I realize why she does it. My mom doesn’t really need help in the kitchen; in fact my sister makes it more difficult for my mom because she is just horrible at chopping vegetables. Instead she invites my sister to help in order to bond with my sister as well as teach her how to cook. As my mom and sister both chop vegetables for the family stew my mom started to talk to her. They talked about school, boys, and my mom even teased my sister of how horrible her cooking is. My mom playfully told her “Hey, Mija, how is it you could get an A in geometry but not know how to chop a single carrot?” Then my sister said “then teach me.” My mom then went and held her hand and the knife and guided her to the correct way of chopping vegetables. She then told my sister to heat up tortillas on the stove and to help her make Jamaica (Mexican Drink) that complement the chicken stew ever so nicely. My mom uses our kitchen or space as much more than just a place to prepare and consume food. She also uses it as a space to teach and bond with her children. As a matter of fact, when we consumed the chicken stew as a family the majority of our time we spent conversation among each other, which made us eat our food slower and really enjoy and savor each spoon full. I felt relaxed and safe taking my time eating my meal surrounded by my family. When eating in my home I always feel happy because it’s a familiar place filled because I have lived there for so long I became accustomed to it.  

But that wasn’t the case at EL Pollo Loco. In El Pollo Loco I didn’t enjoy my food and I was not relaxed. I was in an unfamiliar space crowded with unfamiliar faces and a lot of noise, which always makes me tense and anxious, even a little stressed, I was in and out of there in about 6 minutes then I ate my meal on the way back home quickly. After finding out that eating at home made me eat slower and enjoy my food and when eating at El Pollo Loco put me in a position to eat quickly I decided to do some research on the proper speed to eat ones food and I found that according to WebMD.com “Fast eating, not just fast food, can increase the risk of acid reflux after meals, according to a new study. Researchers say people who eat their food quickly are more likely to suffer from gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD).”

            What I also found interesting was the difference in environment when it comes to my mom’s kitchen and El Pollo Loco. My mom’s kitchen is large, but very simple. There is a sink, dinner table, stove, refrigerator and cabinets. The walls are painted a warm peach color and cabinets are a wooden color, which relax your eyes. Everything from my mom’s kitchen is inviting. El Pollo Loco, on the other hand, is small and crowded with people. The walls are painted and decorated with bright red and yellow and it only has tables available for those who choose to consume their meal in the restaurant but they’re dirty and sticky from fountain drinks being spilled as well as guacamole and other salsas, the tables and chairs were uneven which would wobble every time someone sits on the chairs or rest their arms on the table, which is uncomfortable. El Pollo Loco is sending out a message by the way they’re restaurant is being arranged and that message is order your food and as soon as you get it leave to make room for the next customer and it makes sense why. Michael Pollen explains in Omnivore’s Dilemma that the food industry treats food like an assembly line and I saw that in fact, it is. We get in a line, order our food, pay for it then walk to another line wait till our food is ready and then we leave exactly like an assembly line.

            The other apparent difference was the quality of the food. For instance, my mom’s food is 100 percent authentic Mexican food and it’s filled with vegetables that were bought from El Super with chicken that was bought at a place where you pick your own chicken. Strangely my mom always picks the smallest chicken and when I asked her why she said “because the smaller ones remind me of the ones from Mexico.” My mom without even knowing it is making a healthier choice for not only her but all of our family. El Pollo Loco had the calories of each food on the menu and the calories were really high. To top it off its not traditional Mexican food at all, it’s dipped in fat and oversized, which is a concern because according to Alicia Miller author of “Why Fast Food Is Bad for You” explains that “Eating fast food more than occasionally can cause a decrease in your overall level of health and nutrition.

When comparing two spaces that involve food one can easily find out how different those spaces can be. For example my mother’s cooking and El Pollo Loco’s meal. Both are sources of Mexican food, but once one steps into the space, there are many differences and through observation that my mother’s cooking is healthier and authentic Mexican food and In El Pollo Loco you see Americanized Mexican food dip fried in a lot of oil. Observing it even closer you see a difference in everything like the environment, authenticity and your attitude in those places.

Work Cited

• "Eating Food Too Fast Speeds Acid Reflux." WebMD - Better information. Better health.. WebMD, 23 May 2003. Web. 2 May 2012.
• Miller, Alicia. "Why Fast Foods Are Bad For You | livestrong.com- Lose Weight & Get Fit with Diet, Nutrition & Fitness Tools | livestrong.com” N.p., 5 Feb. 2011. Web. 2 May 2012.

Project Space- Tiffany Chen

Chen, Tiffany

Professor Reynolds

English 113B

May 9, 2012

The Strategies of the Individual Restaurants

              Different restaurants mean different techniques, traditions, and most importantly flavors. Every restaurant has a unique way of expressing the culture and tradition of the style of food. Appearance is a key aspect of attracting customers to enter and buy food. Restaurants do this by managing space and designs in order to better appeal to the public. For my project space assignment, I decided to compare and contrast the way two Chinese Restaurants, Panda Express and Sam Woo, use their space. Panda express is an Americanized restaurant which serves customers on the go. However, Sam Woo is a more authentic restaurant which serves traditional Chinese food that may or may not be commonly known. These two restaurants have different ways of appealing to the public while marketing the same cultural food to different customers.   

              There are several ways these restaurants are different. Sam Woo is a restaurant chain that serves Hong Kong style cuisine. Panda Express on the other hand, is a fast and casual restaurant that serves Americanized Chinese food. Both of these restaurants are located across the country. I found it interesting when I discovered that Sam Woo is usually anchored with a 99 Ranch Market and an East West Bank. These locations are regularly visited by Asian people because it provides comfort to them and a sense of belonging. On the other hand, Panda Express is scattered around random places in the country. The owners of the restaurant might have placed these restaurants in specific areas to attract more customers to dine in. It is a great strategy for them in order to make money. I personally believe it is a good advantage for them to know where they should locate their businesses, but it can be considered bad if the local people around take the restaurant for granted. For instance, the local people may become lazy from cooking and make it a daily routine to go dine at the restaurant which is good for the owners.

              Opening all of my senses was essential in order to get the full effect of the restaurant’s vibe and environment. Everyone has their own opinions of the different vibes that are good and comfortable for themselves. Some may like the dark and quiet places, but some may like the bright and loud surroundings. Smelling and tasting the food, hearing customers talk, touching materials, and seeing how the space is used were all effective because it gave me a sense of belonging, welcoming, and security. Knowing that the people around you are happy and talkative can get yourself in a good mood as well. I definitely would not want to enter a dark and lonely restaurant that was completely dirty. Panda was a darker and bolder place compared to Sam Woo. It had dark purple and red for the walls. Sam Wood had a coral color for the walls and very bright lighting around the area. Panda Express and Sam Woo’s location and facility were all great; both were kept very clean and attractive.

              Comparing the presentations of these two places was interesting. Their artwork, presentation, and utensils were all different. When I first entered Sam Woo, the first thing I saw was some hanging roast pigs and ducks in a huge glass container along with other to- go food on the side. This place is a dine-in and take-out restaurant. When I entered Panda, all of the food is in cafeteria style with the drinks on the side. It gives me a vibe of a regular fast food place like McDonalds. Panda Express uses to-go boxes, paper plates, wooden chopsticks and or plastic utensils to serve their food to customers. Sam Woo uses plates, bowls, metal utensils, and other Chinese utensils such as Chinese spoons. Guests are served with a teapot on each table unlike Panda Express who has a soda machine. Sam Woo is decorated with Asian posters around the side with a couple of neon menus in Chinese on the other walls. After doing a little bit of research, I encountered an article stating that Panda Express is “…using music selections around the world and specifically with an Asian theme” (Prnewswire). I found that very interesting for them to change their environment inside the building. With Asian background music, the place will surely have a different vibe for the customers.

              My visits to these two locations made me realize the difference of the customers, workers, and cooks. The nationality of the people who dine in these two locations was the complete opposite. The customers and workers of Sam Woo were mainly Asians; however, Panda Express was filled with a variety of different races. I noticed the cooks at Panda Express were often Hispanics while the cooks at Sam Woo were Chinese. There are a fewer number of cooks at Panda compared to Sam Woo. When I started looking at the kitchen area, I noticed the different ways they would cook their food. Panda Express’ cooks would start cooking when they see that the trays in the front are empty. At Sam Woo, they would only cook what the customer had placed an order for, so the food is fresh and hot. The waiters at Sam Woo usually talk in Cantonese if they see that a family is Chinese. They definitely behave in a way that Chinese customers would expect. If the customers were long time customers, the waiters who know them well will usually give them a free bowl of soup. This means the restaurant provides good service and friendly waiters.

              Comparing the dishes offered by these two restaurants was a major interest for me. They are both completely different. The food was what attracted the customers the most. When I asked my friends what they loved the most about Panda Express, they would commonly say the orange chicken is the best and the tastiest. However, orange chicken is not an authentic Chinese dish. Even the people living in Texas have no idea what orange chicken is. “Texans know their barbecue. But lots of them apparently don't know their Chinese food. The top question at the 10 Panda Express stores opened in Texas this year is "What's orange chicken?"”(Krantz) Orange chicken is a common dish containing fried chicken and sweet sauce glazed all over. It is a famous entrée that many Americanized people love. Most of Panda Express’s entrées and other food choices are all preferred by the American people because of the taste and comfort. In my opinion, the taste of these foods is nothing compared to the authentic taste of Chinese food. A perfect example I would give is eating at Pizza Hut in Italy. Italy is the original location in which pizza was created. Authentic pizzas are thin and consist of very fresh ingredients. Pizza Hut’s pizza has many processed ingredients and oil. Some real Chinese food for example would be Mapo Tofu, Lo Mein, and Sautéed seafood dishes. My favorite dishes in Sam Woo are the deep fried squid, stir fried On Choy, which is a Chinese vegetable, and the Wonton soup. These dishes embody authentic Chinese cuisine through their taste. The flavor of real Chinese food is not as sweet compared to the dishes at Panda. I personally consider that Sam Woo contains comfort food for Asian customers. Sam Woo has over 100 varieties of food choices on the menu to choose from unlike Panda Express with their limited entrees to choose from in the front.   

              From doing this project, I personally learned to enable all of my senses to explore and to be attentive of what is around me. It keeps me alert and allows me to be more critical about other restaurants around this world. It helped me realize how different each individual companies use their space to sell and process food. It was a wonderful experience to explore the uniqueness of each of these restaurants.

                                      

Works Cited 

Krantz, Matt. "Panda Express Spreads Chinese Food across USA." USA Today. Gannett, 10
Sept. 2006. Web. 25 Mar. 2012. <http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/2006-09-10-entrepreneur-panda-express_x.htm>.

"Panda Express Selects Trusonic(R) to Provide In-Store Background Music."Prnewswire.com.Nov. 23. Web. 26 Mar. 2012. <http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/panda-express-selects-trusonicr-to-provide-in-store-background-music-71406382.html>.

Project Text- Tiffany Chen

Tiffany Chen

Professor Reynolds

English 113B                                                                  

May 9, 2012

Michelle Obama’s Campaign

            Society today is strongly influenced by the public media and the discomfort of obesity is impacting people slowly day by day. To counteract that discomfort, Michelle Obama, the First Lady of the United States, introduced a new program, Let’s Move: “A nationwide campaign with a single goal: to solve the problem of childhood obesity in a generation…”(Obama). In her article “Why I’m fighting childhood Obesity,” Michelle Obama explains her personal view on childhood obesity and shows how it grasped her attention. Because of the setback that children must endure with obesity, she has started a campaign to increase awareness towards the situation. A campaign to inform, to aid assistance with, and most importantly a campaign designed to get everyone’s participation and inform the situation that no one is alone in the process of overcoming obesity.

            Michelle Obama starts out in her article informing us how much less active our generations have been. She gave examples of how energetic her audience-the parents used to be in the old days. “We walked to school every day, ran around at recess and gym and for hours before dinner, and ate home-cooked meals…” (Obama). Her sympathetic tone informs the reader to realize how much our society has changed. Children today simply revolve around a desk and a computer; this is the main cause of overweight and health problems. As one’s inactive behavior increases, one’s health issues along with obesity increase as well. According to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, “The rate of childhood obesity has tripled in the last 30 years” (Rose). Even researchers have been seeing an increase of our physical inactivity. “Physical inactivity has contributed to the 100% increase in the prevalence of childhood obesity in the United States since 1980(CDC, 2000)” (Elliot). As technology advances, people become less fond of outside play or of engaging in physical activities. Obama voiced her opinion in her article by stating her interest in involving and improving work ethics as a team to help kids become more active and healthier. In her article, she stated “That’s why I’ve been traveling the country, speaking to groups ranging from PTA’s to food manufacturers…asking all of them to be a part of Let’s Move” (Obama). I believe that she is trying to persuade mostly the parents in the world, who are the audience of this profound article. For example, she incorporates the words “our kids” in her article. “And no matter how much they beg for fast food and candy, our kids shouldn’t be the ones calling the shots at dinnertime. We’re in charge. We make these decisions” (Obama). She wants us readers to be on her side and inform us about this program that we should contribute and listen to.  

            Michelle Obama’s mission persuaded me personally as I read her informing article. I felt that this was going to form a great program and foundation for the future. First, it would inform our society the environment we surround ourselves with. Altering choices and styles of physical activity and consumed foods would play a major role in an improving life style. This article motivated me to be more active. Yet some readers may challenge Obama’s view by insisting that some people do not have the time to change their daily activities. However Obama states that the campaign, Let’s Move, is about “families making manageable changes that fit with their schedules, their budgets, and their needs and tastes” (Obama). She definitely makes a great convincing point here for her readers. Not everybody has the same schedule in their daily lives. Some complain about working late at night and not having enough time throughout their day. I am glad that she made that point there; many people would agree with that. Adding to Obama’s argument about parents being in charge and making decisions, I would point out that some parents do not have the correct knowledge when nourishing their children. Some parents may have grown up in a family with the lack of knowledge of healthy eating as well. In addition, many schools have lost their cooking classes due to budget cuts. Therefore our society needs to find another way to inform children the correct way of eating. We have to make sure that this society is getting the right facts and knowledge for our daily diets and activities.

            Our society needs to know how to eat correctly and exercise before we all pay a lot of money for our health bills. In David Stipp’s article, he states “Obese people are living longer, thanks to factors such as cholesterol-cutting medicines (as is the entire population), but much of their extra time is spent in ill health, and as a result, their annual medical bills are some 42 percent higher than those of normal-weight people” (Stipp). Children with obesity these days have a bigger risk of getting a number of horrible diseases which can be a factor of spending more money on health bills. For example, Type 2 diabetes has increased dramatically these days. In Gary Taubes’ article “The Only Logical Way to End the Obesity Epidemic”, he states that 5.6 million Americans were diagnosed in 1980 which increased to 17 million today.  It is unbelievable how much diabetes has increased. We eat more now than we ever did in the past. What will happen in the future? Will we be able to control ourselves and will there be help for us?

            Not only is reducing the health risks of obesity important, but the physical activity is twice as important in children’s lives. They need to grow healthy bones and muscles, and maintain social and mental health by exercising. Therefore, this greatly impacts their capacity of learning in school. From my personal experience, exercising makes me feel like a whole different person. It affects my emotions greatly towards the positive side. It definitely is a great motivation to have a better lifestyle. We want our children and not only children, but everyone to maintain a healthier life.

After reading the whole article, I believed that Mrs. Obama was determined to make this happen. Her tone in the article is very informative. She uses a wide variety of evidence to support her argument and to convince her readers. I see this campaign becoming successful in the future; I am glad that she was able to make this campaign. Since she could be a great role model to some people, I believe that she has the power to get her word out about this goal easily. Besides being the First Lady, Mrs. Obama takes a big role by inspiring kids to eat healthy and exercise. It is great to see that she worries about other’s health issues. I remember always seeing her on Disney channel informing the audience, who are kids, about eating right and exercising. She wants our country to become healthier and happier. Anyone familiar with childhood obesity should agree that this is a great plan. We need more people like Michelle Obama to create more active programs.

            Overall, I believe that Michelle Obama’s campaign is truly going to change our perspective in the world. I am on her side all the way and I wish her the best in this program. I hope that it will go far enough and achieve many of their goals. She believes that with enough team work, she is confident enough to believe that this society will be able to pursue their dreams and live a happy life.

           

Works Cited

Elliott, Eloise, and Steve Sanders. "Children and Physical Activity." PBS. PBS, Feb. 2002. Web.             28 Feb. 2012. <http://www.pbs.org/teachers/earlychildhood/articles/physical.html>.

Obama, Michelle. "Michelle on a Mission." The Daily Beast. Newsweek/Daily Beast, 13 Mar.       2010. Web. 21 Feb. 2012.       <http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2010/03/13/michelle-on-a-mission.html>.

Rose, Tracy. "Reduce Childhood Obesity by Replacing Junk Food with Organic    Alternatives."Natural Health News. 24 Jan. 2011. Web. 21 Feb. 2012.             <http://www.naturalnews.com/031085_childhood_obesity_junk_food.html>.

Stipp, David. "Obesity - Not Aging - Balloons Health Care Costs." Obesity. 7 June 2011. Web.    14 Apr. 2012. <http://www.miller-mccune.com/health/obesity-aging-cause-ballooning-      health-care-costs-31879/>.

Taubes, Gary. "The Only Logical Way to End the Obesity Epidemic." The Daily Beast.     Newsweek/Daily Beast, 28 Jan. 2012. Web. 22 Feb. 2012.      <http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/01/28/the-only-logical-way-to-end-the-           obesity-epidemic.html>.

Food Safety-Glorys Essay

Glory Cruz

Professor Reynolds

English 113B

April 25, 2012

                                                Food Safety and its Consequences

            Concerns regarding food safety have increased due to contamination of producer’s products. Food safety is an important issue in society as it affects the consumers.  Therefore, is there any possible way to avoid food outbreaks since it can affect peoples lives if food is not correctly processed? Food is essential, but food infectivity can result in illness, and widespread contamination, which produces large social and economic costs.

Eating meat that is rare or poorly cooked is the most usual way of possible exposure to E.coli contamination. Bacteria exist in the intestines of some healthy farm animals and contamination of the meat may happen in the slaughtering procedure.  Cows need to eat grass, but cattle industries are giving them corn to eat. Eating corn makes them fatter and can bring health problems to the cows, which then leads to unhealthy meat. Later there can be a chance of the meat containing E.coli.  According to Marler Clarks research, “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 48 million foodborne illness cases occur in the United States every year.  At least 128,000 Americans are hospitalized, and 3,000 die after eating contaminated food (Clark).” We can see how much it is important for us to take precaution because there are high risks coming from contaminated food.  According to Peter Katels research there were five deaths in a year due to California’s Spinach infected with E.coli bacteria. Fruits and vegetables are healthy for us since they provide us with vitamins, fiber, and minerals, but recently there have been food outbreaks due to contamination of E.coli. They have found that E.coli has been found in lettuce, sprouts and cantaloupe.

Regulations and strict codes are necessary in controlling the processing of foods that may cause harm to the consumers. This is where laws such as the 1906 Federal Meat Inspection Act, Food Safety Modernization Act, and Kevin’s law come in handy. According to the FDA “the law also provides FDA with new enforcement authorities designed to achieve higher rates of compliance with prevention- and risk-based food safety standards and to better respond to and contain problems when they do occur.” It also states that it created sanitary standards established for slaughterhouses and meat processing plants. As for this the FDA also contributes in protecting our health when it comes to food issues and improving food safety. “In January 2011, President Obama signed legislation that gave the F.D.A. new powers to police foreign foods. For instance, the law for the first time gave the F.D.A. the authority to order companies to withdraw foods suspected of being contaminated. Previously the F.D.A. could only ask manufacturers to withdraw suspect foods (NY Times).” The Food Safety Modernization Act is also in charge to keep food supply safe and to prevent contamination. In other words the main goal is to keep our food safe.  They should be conducting inspections more frequently. Not only do these acts have an impact towards food safety, but so does Kevin’s Law.

Kevin’s law is about a real life tragic death due to contamination. It is named after Kevin Michael Kowalcyk, a 2-½ year old boy who died after eating a hamburger contaminated with E.coli. First he was hospitalized for dehydration and afterward his kidneys were worsening.  After being resuscitated twice he then died.  The law “Requires that USDA create and annually update a list of the most dangerous foodborne pathogens, like Salmonella, E.coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes(Chiff.com).” Elderly people, infants, and pregnant woman are at higher risks from infection of Listeria than other individuals.  It also “Requires that USDA test meat and poultry regularly to ensure that meat and poultry plants don’t exceed government limits on harmful bacteria(Chiff.com).”  This should make us think of what we consume and how it can affect our lives without knowing it will happen. Parents would not like their kids to die of the same situation Kevin did. Kevin’s parents would have never thought that by giving their child an ordinary hamburger he would end up being contaminated with E.coli.

Furthermore I believe a solution is for the Government to invest in food safety that will reduce huge expenses in treating food related disorders. “As with all food producers must be in compliance with local, state and federal health standards and food safety laws (E.Coli).” We should advice Government to make a change to stop foodborne illnesses and deaths as of today and in the future. We can see that the corporations main concern is money and not the well being of its customers.

Overall we can see the effects that come in regards to food safety issue. Even more important consumers should take precautions in order to decrease our chances of contamination. It is the government and food industries duty to ensure that there is no longer contaminated items and keep enforcing laws that help deal with food safety. Food safety laws have been around for many years, but will the US keep protecting people from high risk of food infections.

Works Cited

Clark, Marler. "About Foodborne Illness." Foodborne Illness: Food Poisoning. Web.  26 Apr. 2012.

"E. Coli Facts." E.Coli. Organic Trade Association, 8 June 2011. Web. 24 Apr. 2012.   
                       

"Food and Drug Administration." U.S. Food And Drug Administration. The New York Times, 11 Apr. 2012. Web. 24 Apr. 2012.

Katel, Peter. "Consumer Safety." CQ Researcher by CQ Press. 12 Oct. 2007. Web. 27  Apr. 2012.

"Kevin's Law - Protecting Consumers from Foodborne Illnesses." Chiff.com. Web. 26                          Apr. 2012.

"Rapid Tracing of Food Products Prevents Illness." FDA Transparency Blog. Web. 15            Apr. 2012.

Sammy's essay

Samuel Bermudez

Amy Reynolds

English 113 B

April 22, 2012

Animal Cruelty in the Food Industry

                        Animals in the food industry are not treated with respect. These animals are confined in cages, pumped with chemicals, live in unsanitary conditions, and are abused by employees. In order to stop this animal cruelty we need to inform the public about what goes on behind the scenes of the fast food industry and provide some possible solutions.

In the food industry’s factory farms one can find animals confined in cages. In a video called “Farm to Fridge-The Truth behind Meat Production” there was footage of a factory farm. In that footage you can see the animals in cages that are just slightly bigger than their own bodies. The food industry will argue that having animals in cages that small is more efficient and profitable because it allows them to have more animals in one area and the animal’s lack of mobility makes them gain weigh producing more meat. Although this might be more efficient and profitable the food industry fails to realize how it affects the animal. For example pigs, in the footage of the video you can see purple bruises and deep cuts with blood running down the pigs bodies. Bruises and cuts due to the pigs body rubbing against the cage. Those open cuts can get infected which will contaminate the meat after it is slaughtered.

These animals also live in unsanitary conditions. According to Michael Pollen, author for “Omnivores Dilemma” in his visit to a CAFO (concentrated animal feeding operation) he discovered that cattle there where knee deep in their own feces. The problem with this is that since there are so many cattle in one place crowded and knee deep in feces which makes it easy for disease to spread. If disease spreads among the population of cattle then the meat they produce can be tainted with it making it hazardous to consume. The reason why the meat may become tainted is because the cattle are pumped with hormones and other chemicals. According to idausa.org animals in the food industry are pumped with hormones and other chemicals to make them bigger and fatter. They also pump anti biotics so the animals can fight of diseases. Although in the point of view of the food industry this technique is more profitable, the animals suffer because of it. Peta.org explains that “Approximately 9 billion chickens are raised and killed for meat each year in the U.S. The industry refers to these chickens as “broilers” and raises them in huge, ammonia-filled, windowless sheds where artificial lighting is manipulated to make birds eat as often as possible?” These chickens gain so much weight that there legs break because they can’t sustain their own bodies, which leaves the chicken’s parentally immobile. But this isn’t as bad as what the employees of the food industry do to the animals.

Employees in the fast food industry frequently abuse and hit the animals. In the video “Farm to Fridge-The Truth behind Meat Production” one can see footage of the employees kicking, whipping, and hitting the animals. I found this interesting because of there is no reason why the employees have to abuse the animals in such a way. The food industry can’t argue that this is profitable or efficient, this is just wrong. PETA explains that people abuse animals for a number of reasons. But the biggest is to take out anger out on them. Which makes sense employees from the food industry may be under stress or maybe they themselves have been abused in the past. So when the employees see animals that are going to die anyways, they see it as an opportunity to blow of some steam. But just because these animals are sentenced to death doesn’t mean that one can go around beating these helpless creatures.

Meat is consumed by many households but many don’t realize that the meat they are consuming comes from animals that have been treated with cruelty. The animals in the food industry are confined in small cages where they can hardly move, they live in crowded knee deep in thee own feces, and to top it off they are abused and beaten by the employees that work for the food industry. Knowledge is power so now that I shed some light on what goes on behind the scenes of the food industry you can help stop them.