I read this for school and it was actually really interesting!! I don't think I'm gonna ever eat fast food again, though....

Fast Food Nation: The Biased side of the All-American Meal: A review.
Sporting an eye-grabbing cover and an interesting title, Schlosser starts off telling you this unimaginable truth: Fast food doesn't equal health food. His catchy, clever tagline makes you laugh: Do you want LIES with that?
And lies he delivers.
He claims the book is non-partisan, un-biased, with just the facts, and then says that if it WERE biased, (which it's not), it would point out that Democrats are good (only 2 mentions, both positive--including the one on the Clinton Administration. [I don't know anyone that doesn't have at least one complaint, even if it is about the former President's inability ot keep his trousers in place. But I digress]) and Republicans--along with business, money, profit, and omnivores--are evil (14 mentions, and not a positive one among them).
The other huge lie (besides his blatant statistic-twisting) is that this book is about Fast Food. This book is about the horrors of meatpacking, the horrors of capitalism, managers who hire at-risk youth (I still don't get that one), potatoes (So. Much. About. Potatoes.), Disneyland, and the people who started the industry (the only viable subject out of all of these). What promises to be exciting (by the title and tagline) turns into something that is alarmist to the core, and yet as dry as a stale sesame seed bun.
I did not read this book for fun. No one reads this book for fun. This is a supposed 'reference' book, but good luck finding anything worthwhile to 'reference'. The Hastings I bought (ugh) it at shelved it almost correctly--'Political'. It would've been fantasy for me.
Being the optimist I try to be, however, there is something positive to say here: Schlosser has one heck of a publicist. This book is EVERYWHERE.
Fast Food Nation, for ages 14+ for graphic descriptions of animal slaughter and illusions (or outright references) to political and social events since the 90's (or so), rated .05/5 stars.
Stupid English Homework.

Excellent

The last sentence of the book (that I appreciate a lot) : 'Despite all evidence to the contrary, I remain optimistic'.

The topics documented in this book have been meticulously researched.
This book is filled with many more reasons for people to abstain from supporting the horrors of the meat industry.

Lots of horrible stuff in this book. Lots of interesting facts too. It’s more about the corporate side of fast food than the actual health and food science side, but I didn’t dnf it so that’s something. The book is also outdated— many laws and regulations have changed or been added in the 20+ years since it was written. The Jungle comes up all the time both in the book and in reviews of it, but there’s a clear comparison. Read this like the Jungle— a snapshot of the meatpacking industry at a certain point in history (again? Why didn’t they learn their lesson the first time?)

Oh, America. When will you wise up?

In 1998, the seed of Fast Food Nation appeared in Rolling Stone Magazine. Schlosser's expose has since been expanded to a book and then a movie, and still international love affair with fast food continues. The latest edition also contains an afterword addressing 'mad cow disease,' or bovine spongiform encephalopathy. In it, Schlosser accomplishes the almost Herculean task of weaving together the birth of the fast food industry, the growing connection with car and highway culture, the growth of kid-targeted marketing (McDonalds and Disney were early leaders), the developing connection between the industrialization of our food and family farmers (particularly chicken, potato and beef), the anti-union connection and the development of the engineered food product. I liked it more than I thought it would; expecting a didactic cardboard entree, I was provided with a seven-course meal.

He shows true journalistic roots by beginning sections with a human-interest angle, from the beginning with Carl Karcher (Carl's Jr.) and Richard McDonald, to the potato kingpin J.R. Simplot, to a Colorado rancher fighting to protect his ranch against enroaching suburbs, to a union representative fighting for safer conditions in slaughterhouses. If there was any weakness in the book, it would be the challenge in bridging the stories from the individual to the larger philosophical and systemic issue. I understand the human face helps a reader create meaning, but for me it occasionally felt contrived, particularly in the international settings.

For me, there was an especially powerful moment of revelation when Schlosser points out the drawback of dealing with corporations, not local owners:
"The nation's meatpacking firms, on the other hand, have proven themselves to be far less committed to remaining in a particular community. They have successfully pitted one economically depressed region against another, using the threat of plant closures and the promise of future investment to obtain lucrative government subsidies. No longer locally owned, they feel no allegiance to any one place."

Doesn't that just about sums up the state of industry in the U.S.? The only times a corporation can't cut and run is when it depends on a highly skilled workforce. It's one reason the "create jobs" political platforms make me a little crazy.

I found myself wishing this was required reading. It's not that I'm opposed to fast food; I'm opposed to a lack of informed choice. Full disclosure should include understanding some important points from Fast Food Nation:

1) Flavor experts are utilized to create the optimal taste combination that hits our salty-fat-sweet spot. Thus chicken pieces contain an average of 30 different ingredients, of which salt has been added in at least three different steps and an artificial strawberry shake contains over 28 ingredients (http://nutrition.mcdonalds.com/getnut...)
2) the industry has been key in fighting against food regulation and testing, even when known outbreaks of E.coli in school lunches have killed children
3) the burger is sourced from cattle feedlots, where 75% of the pre-cooked meat contained microbes normally found in fecal material
4) companies specifically target children so that they can manipulate their parents into taking them against parents' better judgement
5) potatoes and chicken come from marginalized farmers who are basically one step up from indentured workers, buying raw ingredients from the company and selling the 'grown' product back to them, and insulating the company against risks such as weather, crop failure or disease
6) companies target teens and non-English speakers as workers because they are less liable to demand 'rights' or 'living wages,' and still the company gets a tax break for 'training'
7) absolutely, positively, there is no way to eat healthily at McDonald's with the exception of: a side salad (no dressing), fruit and yogurt parfait (5.2 oz), grilled premium chicken classic sandwich, apple slices and egg whites. (http://nutrition.mcdonalds.com/getnut...)
You may be healthy in spite of the food, but not because of the food.

Again, not saying I condone the choice--I have my once-a-year Shamrock shake, and an intermittent fry craving, proving just how great childhood marketing is and the lure of salty-sweet carb goodness. Less than 5 stars is because for me, the journalistic style over-reached, especially on the section on the German McDonald's, both in Eastern Germany and the one near Dachau as well as Gorbechev speaking at a Las Vegas convention of franchise owners. But overall, it was an excellent book, entertaining and insightful. Reading it gave voice to my intuitive feeling that there is something rotten in the system.


Cross posted at http://clsiewert.wordpress.com/2013/0...

Varför suger alla skolböcker

This was a fascinating in depth read about how the fast food industry developed and how it has literally changed the landscape of our country and the health of its inhabitants.

I've read several books on the evils of the food industry but this one goes into incredible detail about many of the things only glanced over in other books (the source of "natural flavors" was more than a little shocking) and takes a look at both sides of the story. It goes in depth into the history of the industry and taps into the emotional human side of things by outlining the little guys who started it all with high hopes and lots of determination.

The one story that I can't seem to get out of my head is that of the illegal immigrant who went to work at a slaughterhouse in order to make a better life for his family. After giving his all to the company including charred lungs, a broken back that never healed correctly and countless other broken bones and horrifying health ailments he continued to support the company because he believed in them. His commitment left him with a completely broken and useless body and he was then fired when he had nothing left to give. But the greedy, heartless wusses couldn't even dredge up the nerve to tell him personally. He realized he was no longer an employee when they stopped cashing his health insurance checks and he called to inquire as to the reason. Awful, just awful that this kind of thing is allowed to happen.

The afterward goes into detail about Mad Cow disease in relation to the fast food industry. I already know way too much about BSE as it's a minor obsession of mine but I'm very glad he included the updated information in this version for those unaware of the ongoing problem. Agri-industry still has a firm hold on how animals are cared for and are still practicing dangerous feeding habits that endanger not only the animals (the "food" animals and our pets) but the future well being of our society.

I haven't eaten beef since reading Mad Cowboy and this book. Read the book and make up your own mind. I doubt you'll come away from it unaffected.

Horrifying, depressing, important. (And I still eat fast food when the mood strikes.)

I expected this story to be the written version of Supersize Me, but it is actually much more comprehensive. Schlosser provdes a pretty in-depth history of the development of the cattlle, poultry, and potato industries and also fast-food chains. Schlosser has his moments of leftist, Republican-bashing arguments, but for the most part he tells a balanced story. The meatpacking industry comes off looking very malicious, but surprisingly Schlosser is somewhat light on his criticism fast food chains. He does not talk extensively on the obesity epidemic that is fueled by Big Fast Food.

I think the pertinent themes that resonate in this book are:
1) The drive for smaller government is far less benign than it sounds. Regulation of industries is an undertaking that only governments (and not individuals or self-policing businesses) are equipped to do. When governments are regulating effectively, OSHA is able to ensure safe work environments, small businesses are able to stay competitive thanks to anti-trust regulations, and food products are relatively uncontaminated. When budgets get slashed, all the above (and also apparently the financial markets) are compromised.
2) Some will argue that the ends justify the means and that our food is as cheap as it is only because of the objectionable practices of the meat and fast food corporations. Schlosser argues that in fact fast food chains like In-And-Out and other companies making organic products provide decently priced foods without squeezing workers to death or being lacksadaisical with safety. A point is also made that cheap food should not be our blind end goal.
3) Turnover and low skill sounds bad for employers, but in the meatpacking and fast food industries, quick turnover and low-skilled workers are ideal in order to prevent having to provide benefits and also to prevent successful unionization.

The writing style was very smooth and easy to fly through.

All in all, this is an exemplary work of investigative reporting that will hopefully one day be regarded similarly to Upton Sinclair's The Jungle.

Two inaugural observations, to begin with.. Firstly, Schlosser's study spans the whole fast food supply chain, from the abattoirs that source the flesh, to the sweatshops that crop the frozen fries to the business headquarters that create marketing campaigns targeting children. He meticulously traces the industry's rise from the 1950s to its dominance in the late 20th century, revealing how fast food giants like McDonald's, Burger King, and others became beacons of American consumer culture, pushing for standardization and efficiency at the cost of human health and labor. Secondly, this tome goes beyond the mechanics of the industry and probes into its deep social effect. Schlosser paints an ugly picture of the working conditions in fast food restaurants, where low wages, long hours, and a lack of benefits dominate. He also discourses the exploitation of workers in meatpacking plants and the environmental degradation caused by factory farming. Additionally, this book studies how the fast food industry has deployed public discernment through marketing and lobbying, often prioritizing profit over the well-being of its consumers. This one, single book goes on to offer a convincing, painstaking examination of the fast food industry and its far-reaching consequences on American society, culture, economy, and health. Published in 2001, this investigative work uncovers the dark underpinnings of the fast food world, challenging readers to reconsider the apparently guiltless appeal of the rapid, expedient, and cheap meal. One of the book’s most striking insights is its connection between fast food and the broader American cultural and economic background. Schlosser shows how the fast food industry capitalized on post-World War II America’s drive for convenience and efficiency, aligning perfectly with the rise of corporate culture and the suburban ideal. In doing so, the industry not only reshaped how and what Americans ate but also influenced societal values around consumerism, work, and health. Schlosser also critiques the effect of fast food on global culture, highlighting how American chains have spread across the world, contributing to the homogenization of food cultures and health issues worldwide. The writing is attractive, yet detailed, blending investigative journalism with insightful analysis. Schlosser does not merely present facts; he humanizes the subjects, whether it's the exploited workers, the victims of diet-related diseases, or the corporations profiting from it all. His ability to combine data with personal stories creates a powerful narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is alarming. This book is not only an exposé but also a call to action. Schlosser’s work encourages readers to consider their food choices more consciously and to challenge the practices of an industry that has shaped the food system in troubling ways. The book raises questions about the ethical responsibility of corporations, the consequences of unchecked capitalism, and the cost of convenience. In fine, the author presents a provocative and eye-opening narrative that exposes the often unseen consequences of the fast food industry. Schlosser’s study provides valuable insights into the complexities of food production, ingesting, and the larger societal subjects tied to it. Whether you're a consumer, a worker in the industry, or just a worried citizen, this book offers an essential perspective on one of the most powerful industries in the world. Grab a copy and melt it down.

Where I got the book: purchased on Kindle.

I’ve pretty much given up fast food over the years, with a very sharp decline in visits to such restaurants in about the last three years. This was due to my chronic gastric problems and the gradual realization that they were linked to preservatives and additives in food—fast food doesn’t sit well with the moves I’ve been making toward eating quality, preferably organic, food. Discovering that American bread was one of the culprits in my case also made it difficult to eat hamburgers, and since I’ve now been told by my holistic doctor that I need to avoid grains and dairy altogether, I’m pretty much done.

And a good thing, too. Because after reading Fast Food Nation, I don’t think I’ll ever eat a fast food hamburger again. Schlosser’s book is as much about the cultural and economic effects of fast food as about the food itself, but the long chapter on food poisoning (introduced into the beef chain by the conditions under which the animals are kept (which also raises many ethical issues) is pretty much enough to turn you vegetarian.

Schlosser describes the development of the fast food industry from the growing popularity of hot dog carts in the newly mobile California of the 1930s and 1940s, through drive-in restaurants, to the moment in 1948 when the McDonald brothers decided to eliminate carhops and silverware and sell hamburgers created on an assembly-line basis, giving working-class families their first shot at affordable restaurant food. The beginnings of the world’s largest restaurant chains were, it seems, marvels of innovation and inventiveness, and over the next 40 years entrepreneurs applied the new ways of thinking to other easy-to-eat foods such as pizzas and fried chicken. One of the great innovations was marketing these products to children, who would then carry their love for these trusted brands into adulthood. I feel like I should cue the Jaws music here, because we all know where this is going—supersized people sipping from 40oz buckets of flavored, diluted corn syrup as they waddle around Wal-Mart . . . .

Schlosser goes on from his recounting of what, after all, were some pretty amazing examples of how to grow a business to get into what fast food has done for American industry. Among other things, it’s consolidated food processing to the point where most of our meat comes from a very few processing plants, created a huge workforce of mostly teenaged employees, resisted unionization so effectively that most employees barely earn enough to eat (and resort to robbing their own workplaces to supplement their income) and industrialized the production of food to the point where we’re eating a frightening combination of low-quality carbohydrates and proteins masked in chemical flavors. What’s more, this commercialization of eating is supported by public money—and has driven the traditional kind of farmer off the land.

And then things get truly gross. Schlosser describes conditions in meat processing plants (one of the things I learned was that while chickens, that can be grown to uniform size, are processed by machine, cattle have to be slaughtered and butchered by hand by people up to their ankles in blood and shit) that raised the hair on my head. These jobs, mostly held by immigrants (not all legal) are some of the most dangerous you’ll ever read about, and cleaning up the plant at night is just as risky as swinging a knife by day as the cattle rattle by at speeds of up to 400 per hour. Having shown how the meat is processed, he then goes on to describe what happens when you eat a hamburger with shit in it as a result of these processing methods, and that’s the point, dear reader, where you might toss your cookies. I have a strong stomach, but that chapter was hard to take.

And finally, Schlosser describes how America’s fast food corporations are exporting all of the above issues, including obesity, to countries around the world. Fortunately, the world does appear to be a bit more resistant to American corporations than are Americans themselves, and there are stories of triumph.

This book was published in 2001, so the examples tend to be from the 90s—but Schlosser notes in his recent afterword that not much has changed since. He does, however, cover some stories of hope—the growing interest in quality, organic, locally-sourced food and particularly in combating childhood obesity is providing farmers who resist the corporate lure with a way to survive. But I think we all know that the corporate greed that’s at the root of everything Schlosser describes is still there, and that Americans, en masse, don’t seem to be able to resist buying food that they know is bad for them. That’s a pretty dangerous combination.