From pasta to pancakes, cheeseburgers to buffalo wings and everything in between, the only thing you need to turn your freezer into a gourmet restaurant is a microwave. I'm sure most of you keep at least a couple of frozen meals in your freezer, I remember those days. There is something deliciously satisfying in turning something caked in ice chips and frozen solid into a steaming hot meal by the press of a button. It's almost too good to be true. Well, this might be the case.
Studies have shown, time and time again, that the major frozen food companies really aren't paying much attention to what is going into their meals. Don't believe me? Wait until you hear this. In 2009, Kellogg had to recall some of their Eggo waffles because the Food Safety Network found Listeria Monocytogenes on some of the waffles. In other words, those might not be chocolate chips on your waffle.
This certainly isn't the only example of a recall due to contamination. Just within the last year, Rich Frozen Foods had a massive recall in Michigan. However, this one came when it was a little too late. By the time they recalled the food, 24 people had already become sick from an E. Coli infection. Evidently, Rich Frozen Foods might become a lot less rich considering some of the victims are threatening to sue.
Some of you may have had several frozen findings of your own. I myself have had a history of traumatic experiences with these frozen fiends. I once found some species of flying insect, perhaps a fly, in a meal of lasagna. I could never eat Stouffer's again. I shudder at the idea that perhaps countless other insects went unnoticed.
All this is not to say that you should never eat frozen foods again. It is just my way of warning everyone of their potential dangers. They should not be viewed as a good substitute to cooking your own food, but rather, as a last resort. If you have both the time and resources to either cook your own meal or eat out, do it.
Studies have shown, time and time again, that the major frozen food companies really aren't paying much attention to what is going into their meals. Don't believe me? Wait until you hear this. In 2009, Kellogg had to recall some of their Eggo waffles because the Food Safety Network found Listeria Monocytogenes on some of the waffles. In other words, those might not be chocolate chips on your waffle.
This certainly isn't the only example of a recall due to contamination. Just within the last year, Rich Frozen Foods had a massive recall in Michigan. However, this one came when it was a little too late. By the time they recalled the food, 24 people had already become sick from an E. Coli infection. Evidently, Rich Frozen Foods might become a lot less rich considering some of the victims are threatening to sue.
Some of you may have had several frozen findings of your own. I myself have had a history of traumatic experiences with these frozen fiends. I once found some species of flying insect, perhaps a fly, in a meal of lasagna. I could never eat Stouffer's again. I shudder at the idea that perhaps countless other insects went unnoticed.
All this is not to say that you should never eat frozen foods again. It is just my way of warning everyone of their potential dangers. They should not be viewed as a good substitute to cooking your own food, but rather, as a last resort. If you have both the time and resources to either cook your own meal or eat out, do it.
Works Cited:
Huffington Post (huffingtonpost.com)
www.care2.com
Dylan,
ReplyDeleteI had no idea you could find bugs in frozen foods. Your use of logos really convinces the audience to reconsider frozen foods to be the best thing ever. By giving the example of the Kellogg recall, it lets readers know there is evidence to show frozen foods are disgusting. Also on a more serious matter, you discuss the Rich Frozen Foods recall that caused 24 people to be infected with E.Coli. This evidence will influence readers to do away with frozen foods. You also use ethos to make your claim. You discuss your own experience of frozen foods, which makes you credible. Readers will be convinced you know what you are talking about, because you are a first-hand source to the mishaps of frozen foods.
I think you successfully convinced readers to rethink frozen foods. The language you use makes your blog easy to read. You also make a connection with your audience by saying why we all like frozen foods, because it is just a press of a button and the food is cooked.
Your blog was really good and effective, but maybe if you added more visual aid it would have really affected the reader’s emotions.
Dylan,
ReplyDeleteI think you did a good job presenting the issue of microwavable meals. As a college student it is very easy to just heat up something to eat rather than cooking a meal. Your use of logos to present your audience with incidents where frozen food has caused sickness really makes for a convincing post. For instance, “By the time they recalled the food, 24 people had already become sick from an E. Coli infection.” (par. 2) This sentence really gives the reader an idea of how dangerous frozen food can be. The use of past contaminations can be a persuading factor for readers to rethink their choice of buying frozen foods. Also, your use of pathos can be seen with your bad experience with frozen foods. “I myself have had a history of traumatic experiences with these frozen fiends. I once found some species of flying insect, perhaps a fly, in a meal of lasagna.” (par. 4) Your own personal account tells your audience that something like this could very well happen to anyone. You connect with the reader in this instance.
If there is something I would recommend to do, it would be to cite where you got your information from. Citing your information in the text convinces the reader you’re not just making these numbers up. But all in all, you did a good job with this post.
Dylan,
ReplyDeleteI think you did a really good job with this blog post. I had no idea about some of the issues you brought up regarding frozen food. I think the persuasive purpose of this article was to convince the reader to not eat frozen/microwavable foods. I believe your main appeal was to logos, because of your use of facts about food recalls to support your argument. I believe you also very strongly appeal to pathos because you elicit the emotional response of disgust from your readers when you say things like "I once found some species of flying insect, perhaps a fly, in a meal of lasagna" (par. 4). I believe, overall you did achieve your rhetorical purpose because you convinced me that I should cut back on my consumption of frozen foods (or at least check them for bugs first!) One suggestion I could make to you to improve your blog post is to go into more detail about what "Listeria Monocytogenes" are. I believe by adding more detail to the "gross factor" of what was in those waffles, you would strengthen your persuasive purpose. Overall though, good post!