Fast Food

Somewhat outdated, so some of the statistics and practices may be wrong, but it is still a fascinating read on account of what is described in terms of human behavior.

I am currently on page 79 of this book, and so far, I'm not liking it. As I started to read, I thought to myself, "I think this book is going to be like 'The Two Income Trap'--a book whose premises I agree with, but not their solutions." I was wrong. So far, the author has not talked one bit about the food part, but more about the industry. For pages, he covers the rise of Carl's Jr. and it's founder Carl Karcher, pointing out that he grew up without running water or electricity, but then seems disappointed that Karcher was okay with the changes in Anaheim CA from "progress." So far, the author seems anti-progress, pro-labor unions and nostalgic to a fault.

I'll admit, there is romanticism in thinking of days gone by, with family farms, rural communities, etc., but I think we live in a much better world today with nearly every American having running water, electricity, telephones, refrigerators and air conditioning.

He decries the marketing done to children, and while I admit that marketing to children is borderline evil, I worry that later he'll propose more government laws against it. Do you know what I did about it? I cancelled my cable/satellite... years ago. My children rarely watch commercials. Heck, they don't even go to public school where he complains that, now, fast food or other less-than-healthy food companies are advertising at schools to help school districts close budget gaps.

But what made me get up and write a review at this point in the book (to be added to when I finish the book) is his portrayal of the industry as anti-union. Frankly, I don't like unions myself (twice in my college career, I wrote research papers on the pros and cons of unions and their history/impact). I don't think that an industry that gives low-skilled workers the skills and experience to move into another (probably) better paying job needs to be unionized! Besides, the author himself on page 78 says, "Almost every fast food restaurant in Colorado Springs has a banner or sign that says 'Now Hiring.' The fast food chains have become victims of their own success, as one business after another tries to poach their teenage workers. Teenagers now sit behind the front desks at hotels, make calls for telemarketers, sell running shoes at mall. The low unemployment rate in Colorado Springs has made the task of finding inexpensive workers even more difficult." Well, look at that, other business are COMPETING to get those low-skilled, young, low-paid workers. The fast food chains are either going to have to improve working conditions, or pay more, or keep their high turnover rates as people use a McJob as a stepping stone to something better. Sounds like the free labor market is working just fine.

Okay, I've finished the book now, and I'm sticking with what I said above and my 1-star rating. It wasn't until the second to the last page that he finally said the obvious: "The first step toward meaningful change is by far the easiest: stop buying it." I think that more government is rarely the answer. The private sector already has the UL and the Good Housekeeping seal of approval for many products, so that consumers know that an independent company has tested the product and found it safe/trustworthy. Why can't an independent meat certification company rise up and stake its reputation on meat being clean/uncontaminated/etc. Why? Because whenever there is a problem, everyone runs to the government first. The USDA (and all the spread out agencies that are supposed to keep the food supply safe) suck because they are government run. The author basically calls for more rules and increased government efficiency. Sorry, that's an oxymoron. The meat for the fast food industry has improved (the author admits that) because they demanded it of their suppliers... McDonalds doesn't want it's customers getting sick... it ruins their reputations. As more consumers demand it, the same will happen for grocery stores. It just takes some time--more so if people keep looking toward the government to save them.

Oh, I should also say, that I expected to really like this book from the little I knew about it. I'm very into healthy eating (less processed foods, more whole foods, water instead of soda, more fruits and veggies, less meat), so I thought it would be right up my alley. I guess I was wrong.

Also, I think one major factor that led to the decline of the "family farm" way of life--which the author mentions in passing on one page of the entire book--is the estate tax (aka "death tax") that unduly harms those who make their living off of the land. After each generation, the tax would come due, but without liquid assets, the way to pay the tax is to sell some or all of the land in order to pay the tax. Not enacting the death tax in 1916 would have made a world of difference for the All American family farm.

Pink-grapefruit juice gets its color from puréed Peruvian bugs!! Gobsmacked.

“Cochineal extract (also known as carmine or carminic acid) is made from the desiccated bodies of female Dactylopius coccus Costa, a small insect harvested mainly in Peru and the Canary Islands. The bug feeds on red cactus berries, and color from the berries accumulates in the females and their unhatched larvae. The insects are collected, dried, and ground into a pigment. It takes about 70,000 of them to produce a pound of carmine, which is used to make processed foods look pink, red, or purple. Dannon strawberry yogurt gets its color from carmine, and so do many frozen fruit bars, candies, and fruit fillings, and Ocean Spray pink-grapefruit juice drink.”


This and other fascinating facts made many chapters unexpectedly fun to read. Great investigative journalism.

Worth it just for the enthusiastic and riveting section on french fries, and the incredible machine that makes them (part of it is like a fire hose that shoots potatoes instead of water, shoots them projectile style into razor sharp blades, cutting into fries....fascinating!) as well as the section on flavor and smell, and the scientists, volatile fluid chemists.

I did skim some bits or skip ... anything on animals has become too difficult for me.

But overall informative, at times mind boggling and reading was more fun, and less horrifying then I would have expected. (But I’ve read some pretty tense books on vegan ethics.)

Overall fairly fascinating read, must have info for all.


4 french fries.

This book is making me hungry.

Determined not to let an imposing wall of acronyms block my progress, I forged on, ignoring my growling stomach, (which stopped growling when I read There's shit in the meat) and ended up underlining half the book, adding exclamation marks, question marks, exploding stars, asterisks, and enraged notations in the margins: How can they live with themselves!! and Those satanic conservative Republicans!! and Those Republicans AGAIN!! and every now and then yelling indignant outbursts of OH!!

Read this book to find out the multiple interesting ways fast food causes suffering and death. And one final thought: The Shiga Toxins would make a good name for a band.

Although a little dated, this book takes a good look at the fast-food industry and what effect it has had on people's lives--starting with the history of how it all began.

Some of the issues that Schlosser is concerned with here are: good nutrition, food safety, animal welfare, worker rights and sustainable agriculture. What also is of concern is the Americanization of food around the world, bringing food of questionable nutrition and its accompanying health issues, such as obesity and heart disease.

#2016-aty-reading-challenge-week-47: a book with a type of food/drink in the title.

Oh wow, this was very interesting. I expected it to go more into why fast food is bad for people, but it's more about how fast food companies are building up their empires. This is a well researched book that presents the history of fast food in a non-boring way. It's easy to read and I feel the tone is non-condescending. Definately recommended!

Written on May 29, 2012:

I am glad that I had a large Pizza and a KFC burger at the Delhi airport before I started this book. Adios fatty fries, triple-decker domes and cheesy discs, you will be missed. Ignorance is indeed bliss sometimes.

Update: June 22, 2014

I am happy to report that I have largely stuck to this. Ever since reading this I have virtually avoided this sort of trash and must have eaten a maximum of a couple of burgers and pizzas in the last two years (and that too most reluctantly, when unavoidable). Thanks, Schlosser.

O livro dá uma boa esmiuçada na industria do fast food, desde a origem dos alimentos, até a produção e comercialização. Também trata das condições precárias dos trabalhadores, dos lobbys do setor e da forma imperialista como tem se alastrado pelo mundo. Apesar de alguns ítens não prenderem muito minha atenção, condiz com o que esperava da leitura.