Fast Food Nation

I've just finished reading Fast Food Nation. Amy lent it to me. She hasn't read it yet because she's not ready to give up eating fast food. I told her I'd read it and let her know whether she has cause worry. She should worry. The book is well researched and reasoned. In an afterword, the author includes negative criticism of his book, and does a good job of defusing it. In the final chapter he discusses In'n'Out burger and its successes not only in the financial sense but also in the quality of its food. I wish they'd start conquering the east coast.

The book is not just an Upton Sinclair endictment of the meatpacking industry, but illustrates how powerful lobbies have influenced public policy for the worst, and how fast food companies have managed to acquire public funding for their private gains. In the end, MacDonald's proves to have greater power over safe food practices in the beef industry than the government. MacDonald's boasts they have the "world's largest shopping cart." Unfortunately, they don't use their clout altruistically to improve the health of the public, but only in reaction to public outcry and public relations disasters. And that is where Eric Schlosser tells us the hope lies. In this capitalistic society, the businessmen will offer what sells. It is up to the public to decide that what they buy should be healthy and safe. MacDonald's et al will cater to what sells. And though marketshare hasn't increased much lately, their hamburgers still manage a brisk business.

[Listening to Quannum Spectrum.] Posted by eku at June 19, 2004 3:11 PM