Fast Food Nation

Eric Schlosser's Fast Food Nation has been on the "to be purchased and read" list for some time now.  After years of procrastination, it even fell off the list... especially after seeing Morgan Spurlock's own take on the "dark side" of fast-food in his 2004 documentary Supersize Me.  But a few weeks ago, when I was in the midst of my "buy 4 books for the price of 3" at Borders, it finally made the cut (plus Todd was interested in it as well... so 2 reads for the price of 1).

Like Spurlock's film, FFN is a breezy "learning is fun" read... though what you learn is definitely not much fun at all.  While Spurlock primarily focused on the health issues of the fast food diet, this book takes a much broader look at the industry... though the health aspect is addressed (hmmm, I'm guessing it is no mere coincidence that obesity rates increase as fast food establishments invade a country).

So where to begin?  Well, if you think Wal-Mart is the evil-incarnate of the corporate world, you can probably thank McDonalds for laying the foundation.  FFN tracks McDonalds (and many other fast food chains) from their humble beginnings in California to its rise as a business behemoth that can pretty much demand anything it wants from its supply chain.  And you know the drill... prices are driven down, competition squeezed out, and the almighty bottom $$ line that often sacrifices the quality and safety of the end product.

So you say... that's okay... I am one of the rare human beings who do not eat at fast food restaurants.  Well, if your prepare any kind of meat at home... things are not any better in your own kitchen.  Arguably, the most disturbing aspect of the book was its look at the nation's slaughterhouses. Talk about one of the least desirable work environments on the planet... and its just not what goes on there (which I assume most of us just meat-eaters to try repress) ... but the unsafe work conditions, mostly due to the speed at which...umm, the product needs to be processed... in order to meet the high demand and keep prices low.  Add in an under-educated (often immigrant and illegal), under-trained, high turnover, non-unionized workforce... throw in a low regulation and a understaffed, under-funded governing agencies ... and you just don't have a very good mix of ingredients.

So you say... ha!  I am a vegetarian/vegan... there is nothing for me in this book.  Well, hopefully you been a vegetarian for a decade or so.  One thing that made McDonalds french fries so unique and tasty were that they were cooked in beef tallow -- in fact, more beef fat per ounce than a McD hamburger!  This has since changed (the chain has used vegetable oil since 1990), but it almost caused a near riot in McDonalds in India - but the company states that recipes (and food preparations) are adjusted to local traditions/standards... countries with high Hindu populations do not use beef by-products... that said, if Hindu consumers visited another country (say Japan or Australia) pre-1990 and expected the same dietary restrictions, they would have been wrong.

So you say... ha!  My lips have never touched a McDonalds french fry... well, you would probably still be interested in learning about the "flavor" industry.  Chemists are largely responsible for making those McD french fries taste the same as when they were fried in beef tallow.  In fact, they are responsible for making a huge amount of the food we eat "taste" better.  Our nose is more important than our mouth when it comes to taste -- so if you've had anything fruit, butter, or smoke flavored -- you can be assured it was created by a "flavorist", in some test tube, in some lab probably just off the New Jersey Turnpike.

As you gather, a fascinating read... and despite this somewhat lengthy post, I really just touched on few details of this meticulously researched book (25% of the book is footnotes and appendices).

And yes, if you are curious, I did eat fast food during and after reading this book... while the facts of this book are not terribly pleasant, the convenience trade-off for me is just insurmountable... but, as they say, everything in moderation!

Comments

[Kim]

I loved this book and I quit eating fast food after reading the book. My son has never been to McDonalds and daughter has only been for birthday parties. The only place I will go now to is In&Out Burger because they say in th book it is the only place with fresh ground beef and fresh fries with cholestral free oil. Anyway, I think it is a must read for everyone!