I am already a vegetarian, but reading this book would make anyone think twice about consuming food sold in fast food restaurants. Larger ethical issues are addressed as well, along the lines of who has the power to regulate food. I was shocked at what I read here, and I already assumed it was pretty bad. I'm now questioning purchasing processed food at all. Blech.

As always, some quotations:
 “After closing my eyes, I suddenly smelled a grilled hamburger. The aroma was uncanny, almost miraculous. It smelled like someone in the room was flipping burgers on a hot grill. But when I opened my eyes, there was just a narrow strip of white paper and a smiling flavorist.”

“Each steer deposits about fifty pounds of manure every day… The amount of waste left by the cattle that pass through Weld County is staggering. The two Monfort feedlots outside Greenley produce more excrement than the cities of Denver, Boston, Atlanta, and St. Louis – combined.”

“The market is a tool, and a useful one. But the worship of this tool is a hollow faith. Far more important than any tool is what you make with it. Many of America’s greatest accomplishments stand in complete defiance of the free market: the prohibition of child labor, the establishment of a minimum wage, the creation of wilderness areas and national parks, the construction of dams, bridges, roads, churches, schools, and universities.”

“Much like the workings of the market, technology is just one means to an end, not something to be celebrated for its own sake.” “No society in human history worshipped science more devoutly or more blindly than the Soviet Union, where “scientific socialism” was considered the highest truth. And no society has ever suffered so much environmental devastation on such a massive scale.”

Look what they've done to my cow, lord
Look what they've done to my cow.
They ground him up, feces and all Then they fed him to us all
Look what they've done to my cow.

Look what they've done to our souls, lord
Look what they've done to our souls
We're getting fat, we're getting sick Can't even pick up a stick
Look what they've done to our souls

If I could, I'd leave this earth
Go to a planet where the food is good
But I'm stuck here on this greedy earth
Look what they've done to my cow
Look what they've done to our souls.

I actually thought I read this already ...

I grew up with McDonald's, Pizza Hut, KFC and pretty most chains that now you can find globally. This book gave me a very good insight towards the fast food industry we have, how the food industry has changed with the introduction of fast food, the power of lobbying with the mass large firms in U.S. and many others.. It shed so much light on how this humongous industry functions and how it became what it became

What intrigued me throughout this read was how disgusting firms can be in protecting themselves and in their quest for seeking more profits. And I guess this doesn't apply to just food but to many other industries in the world.

And the chapter on meat, meat packing and the diseases.
I squirmed at every page of it but boy, it was like reality slapping in my face. I'll never look at meat the same way again.

Definitely a good read.

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.

"As God as my witness, I shall never eat another hamburger as long as I shall live!" That's what I said after reading this book. Then the phone rang. It was my friend who wanted to go grab a quick bite at Wendy's. I had a cheeseburger. I never looked back baby!
It's not that this book paints the fast food industry in a wicked horrible light. It doesn't become a witch hunt, this isn't "Hey, you know, Elie Wiesel is right, Nazi's are real sons of bitches!" (which is what I expect most people think after reading Night. I've never read it myself... I just expect people think that after reading said book... though to be honest, most people probably think that already, unless you're Mahmoud Ahmadinejad), but it's not all puppys and flowers either. Really, it's rich old white men looking out for themselves (and who else are they going to look out for?)
It's been a few years since I've read the book, so I could be wrong about this, but I'm going to say this book isn't even as harsh on the fast food industry as Supersize Me (A film which I refuse to see, because: Duh! Eat nothing but fast food for a month and you're going to get sick? Who was shocked by this movie? "No, but you don't get it... it's how sick he was, and how fast." That's usually the opposing argument I get. I still say "Duh!" I'm going to make a movie where I shoot up heroin three times a day for a month, or smoke seven packs of cigarettes a day for a month, or hit myself in the head with a hammer five times a day for a month, and see what happens. I really want people to say, "Man, I knew that hitting yourself in the head with a hammer was dangerous, but who knew how dangerous it could be. I mean he was brain damaged by the second day! I'm never hitting myself in the head with a hammer again!" But I digress, this isn't about film... this is about books).
It's a pretty good book for the history lesson on how fast food got started, and how the industry has done a good job screwing everyone from farmers, to fat kids, to illegal migrant workers, to small business owners, to who knows who else. And just when you start to think, "Man, screw fast food..." the author himself says he still eats fast food... then you think, "I sure do like them McDonalds fries." Then you hear about the newest Halo 3 tie in at Burger King, where not only will your fries be wrapped in a Halo 3 themed package, but your soda will come in a Halo 3 cup!?!?"
So what, so what if the meat might be tainted with the fingers of an illegal, or so what if the farmer who sold the slaughtered cow can barely aford new boots, dammit, I want it my way, and I want it my way now!
Plus there is this one part of the book that talks about how some fast food companies will donate money to schools in exchange for advertising space or a spot in the cafeteria... and let's be honest, what would you rather have fat smart kids, or fat dumb kids? (Smart thin kids isn't an option- this is public school we're talking about here).
It's a light romp through the dark underbelly of the fast food world. It'll learn you but good, and it certainly gave me pause, right before I went out and got a #4 supersized with a Dr. Pepper (cause Dr. Pepper rulz).

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

I began reading Fast Food Nation under the impression that it would be something like a book version of the very frightening documentary Supersize Me. An analysis of just what fast food, especially fast food consumed day in, day out, day after day, year after year, can do to your body.

I was wrong. Schlosser does touch briefly on how a sustained diet of fast food can make you ill by pumping concentrated doses of fats, sugars, and highly processed, chemical-heavy junk into your system, but that’s only a very minor part of what this book covers. He begins with what seems a nostalgic trip down memory lane: a history of the ‘founding fathers’ of the fast food industry, how men like the McDonald brothers, Ray Kroc, and Carl Karcher, and others, riding on the back of the booming automobile industry, set up restaurants to cater to people on the move. Food cooked factory-style assembly line, self service, drive throughs. Uniformity, low prices, no cutlery needed.

So far so good: interesting, informative, but not scary.

It gets scary the deeper Schlosser goes into what makes the fast food industry so bad for pretty much everybody except the big wigs in the industry. One section at a time, Schlosser examines the fast food industry from different angles. The young and minimally trained employees who work behind the counters. The children to whom this food and drink is marketed ruthlessly, using a ‘cradle to grave’ approach. The franchisees. The suppliers, in particular those who supply the potatoes and process them into fries, and the slaughterhouses that process the beef and chicken that go into most burger-and-fries orders. The chemists and scientists who create the flavour cocktails that make your shake or your chicken patty or your fries taste the way they do—always.

He looks into how the fast food industry has become the face of the globalisation (or, perhaps more specifically, Americanization) of the world. And how there could be an alternative, how the same burger-and-fries meal could be clean, safe, and ethically produced.

Fast Food Nation was an eye-opener for me. Some (a very little) of what Schlosser mentioned, I already knew of. A lot was new and horrifying. The sheer lack of ethics, the callousness and greed that guide the most inhuman behaviour on the part of the fast food industry and those who supply it took my breath away. There were facts here, too, that I hadn’t even thought about (for instance, that fast food stores, often full of cash and staffed mostly by teenagers, are easy targets for robberies). The conditions in slaughterhouses and meatpackers’ factories. What cattle are really fed.

If you are a frequent customer of McDonald’s and the like, this book might help you think differently. Not just about how your burger can kill you, but also how it’s possibly killed, debilitated, or otherwise negatively impacted many people in its journey to you.

A must-read.

I heard such great things about this book, but I have to say that I really had a hard time digesting it. Sorry, that pun was intended. It had so much gloom and doom and I really lost interest. Plus, I felt like I already knew more than half of the gross-out, oppressive factoids it spewed at me. The only part I enjoyed was when it talked about In-N-Out Burger and what a great employer they are and that John 3:16 is printed on the bottom of the cups. When I went to an In-N-Out and the clerk handed me my cup, I immediately flipped it over and saw the John 3:16 and then showed my two friends. The worker behind the counter asked what I was looking at and I showed him. When he said that he had no idea that those words were under the cups, it made me happy to know that In-N-Out wasn't forcing their religious beliefs down their workers' throats. Mmmm... For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only a juicy In-N-Out burger. Amen!

This book was really sobering. Talk about corporate greed! Big Meat fighting laws that would make meat healthier and safer for consumers, including SCHOOLCHILDREN. Why anyone would fight such laws is beyond me (except for greed) and I am glad that I read this book. I'm reading this book about 15 years after its publication, and it's encouraged me to research into what has been done then. THis book was timely when it was published and still is.

There's a witty and disturbing satire by Stanislaw Lem called The Futurological Congress. It's one of those books where the hero gradually comes to understand that the world isn't as it seems. He's ended up in this future utopia, but there are some puzzling details that don't quite fit. For example, why do people often appear out of breath when they get out of the elevator?

In the end, all is revealed. He's sitting with a friend in a fancy restaurant, and the guy says that yes, much of their life is an illusion. This is well known, though people prefer not to talk about it. But if he's so curious, there's a thing he might want to try. It's a chemical that will strip off all the multiple illusions that are projected in order to make life look pleasanter than it really is.

So the hero hesitates a moment, and then he takes the red pill. (In this book, it's a preparation based on very intense smelling salts, a touch I liked). The real world appears. He suddenly sees why you're breathless when you get out of the elevator. There are no elevators: people are swarming up and down the grillwork of the shafts like climbing apes. His friend, who a moment ago looked like a healthy, successful, middle-aged scientist type, is revealed as a hideously deformed cripple. The cordon bleu meal in front of them turns out to be a ghastly pile of chemical slop.

His friend looks at him in alarm.

"Was I... much changed?" he whispers.

Well, it's not quite as bad as that with Fast Food Nation, but, as Gulla says in the comment below, you won't want to eat a hamburger again. It will be much changed.

I could easily give this book a 5 for its well-researched and informative content, its engaging pacing, its excellent mix of dry facts and gossipy tone. I literally couldn't put the book down since I picked it up from my sister's bookshelf.

I started reading with high hopes. I heard so much about the book and how it changes people's perception on fast food. I do not eat a lot of fast food but I enjoy my occasional burgers from Burger King, crave Chicken McNuggets from time to time and adore KFC with heaps of fries, rice and ketchup.

The book begins with the history of McDonalds which encompasses not only the corporate history but also the history of fast food and its supporting industries. So far so good. As I proceed, I find it hard to accept its two major themes: big corporations are the big bad wolf who feast on little people and the king of the pack is McDonalds.

Although the author writes that he doesn't say McDonald and the fast food corporations are the roots of all American problems, he essentially implies so throughout the book. That is not fair. The reason for finger pointing to McDonald and some unknown Carl Jr and Jack in the Box is not apparent in the book. Brand-wise, I wonder how KFC fare in all these debacle although tacobell, owned by the same company, gets an honorary mention. Consumerism-wise, what about those insatiable American appetites?

Another strong message is that the big corporations sell cheap food, by taking advantage of suppliers and their poor, illiterate workers, not from the goodness of their hearts but for humongous profits. Fair enough. But he goes on to argue that the marketing tactics employed, though necessary, are unethical. I am not comfortable with this statement. Since when have we all lost our cognitive power and freedom of choice? When an advertisement says that drinking insecticide is good for us, won't our instinct warn us otherwise? If the kids insist on eating McDonald to collect the latest figurine from Nemo, where are the parents with conscience who will firmly tell them no when a no is warranted?

I have no problem with presenting selected facts to support a theory or argument. But I have problem with authors who do not explore or conveniently neglect the other side of the equation. One particularly disturbing fact-massaging is his argument that fast food restaurants are favourite crime targets and the crimes are mostly inside jobs. On the same page, he mentions that fast food industries have high labour turnover and can afford only to hire people with questionable background. Now, is it chicken first? Or egg?

The author offers obvious solutions in the epilogue. One of the most irritating ones is proposing that free-roaming cattle rearing is the way to go. He conveniently avoids these questions: How can he reconcile the math of vast overhead to maintain the land, huge labour cost (we want our workers to be paid and insured well), and small customer base (transporting meat to all over the country is bad!) with affordable prices? Aren't these organic, grass-fed beef normally sold in chic upscale supermarkets? Is he suggesting no-child policy to curb the population and to make way for those healthy, happy cows?

The book doesn't stop me from anything. Prior to reading, I already know that these fried foods are not good for my health and moderation is key to all my eating activities. I enjoy reading the book but feel misled by its content. The problem with the fast food nation is not the cheap end-product at high social cost but the lack of common sense and excessive gluttony of its consumers.

I remember someone who wrote an email full of expletive because, after reading this book, he felt McDonalds caused his children's addiction to the Happy Meals. Now I understand why he, like countless fans, was so readily bought: the book's theme is David vs. Goliath, its tone straight from tabloids, its information tasty morsels from the dark side of an otherwise wholesome industry. The book provides ammunition for people who prefer to absolve personal responsibilities. In short, this book is served the way people like it, regardless of its content.