In the article, Randy Rieland employs persuasive rhetoric by contrasting the mundane image of cheese sticks with the innovative potential of edible wrappers, framing the latter as a more sustainable option. The comparison to “high-end truffles” elevates the cheese stick's packaging, emphasizing the wastefulness of traditional plastic wrap and appealing to the reader's sense of environmental responsibility. By presenting the USDA researchers’ development as a groundbreaking solution, Rieland effectively highlights the intersection of convenience and health, underscoring the urgency for more sustainable food packaging. The author’s purpose is to inform readers about this novel advancement in food packaging while advocating for a shift towards more eco-friendly practices.
Here's a Food Wrapper You Can Eat"
by Randy Rieland
Consider the cheese stick. It is not a beautiful food. It also isn't particularly healthy. Cheese sticks are about as commonplace as snack food gets.
Yet in the packaged version that ends up in so many kids' lunch boxes, each cylinder of mozzarella or cheddar is individually wrapped, like a high-end truffle. And, every day, thousands of those little pieces of plastic wrap are thrown in the trash.
But that may not be the case for long.
Two researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have developed a film made from a milk protein. The film can be eaten with the cheese. Which means that it may not be too long before we have a wrapper we can eat. It also could be healthy. Edible plastic exists, but it's largely made of starch, not protein.
In 3–5 sentences, analyze how the author used rhetoric to advance their point of view. Include a statement explaining the author’s purpose.
3 answers
In the article, Randy Rieland uses comparison and vivid imagery to make the idea of edible wrappers for cheese sticks sound exciting and important. He highlights that while cheese sticks are not very special, their current plastic packaging is wasteful, with many being thrown away every day. By describing the new edible film made from milk protein, he makes it seem like a cool and healthy solution to reduce trash. The author's purpose is to show readers how this innovation could change snack foods for the better and encourage more environmentally friendly practices.