Rhetoric
Shlosser uses the rhetorical device, syntax, by making lists to emphasize his points. For example "In other mass production industries ruled by the assembly line, labor unions have gained workers higher wages, formal grievance procedures, and a voice in how the work is performed" Labor unions are one of Fast food's biggest enemies because as Shlosser shows they provide decent opportunities for workers to have slightly better conditions and syntax here is used to emphasize the protection labor unions can provide against exploitation from fast food companies. Another example is "The McDonald's Corporation insists that its franchise operators follow directives on food preparation, purchasing, store design, and countless other minute details." Such things have led to the ever increasing uniformity amongst chain restaurants which lead to increased urban sprawling and uniformity. Another example of syntax that uses lists is "The blunder allowed Steel and Morris to turn the tables, putting McDonald's on trial and forcing a public examination of the chain's labor, marketing, environmental, nutrition, food safety, and animal welfare policies." Using syntax to list all of those points makes the points stand out. After McDonald's had accused Steel and Morris of libel the later exposed deficiencies in all of the above fields in McDonald's.