Put that Big Mac down. Pick up this book.
Written: May 04 '01 (Updated Sep 08 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Insightful; exposes hidden truth; can't put the book down
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: This book ties together very complex cultural and social phenomena surrounding fast food. It is less about the food than it is about the state of our country. Read it.
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| DViolet's Full Review: Eric Schlosser - Fast Food Nation Tie-in: The Dark... |
I could not put this book down. I have sworn off fast food for good now, for a number of reasons. One big reason was that I got food poisoning from Burger King. That made me really start thinking about what I was eating.
One of the previous reviews said. "if you like fast food, you probably shouldn't read this book." On the contrary, if you like fast food, that is the BEST reason to read this book. The people who do eat fast food need to know this information the most! I don't think everyone who reads this book will stop eating fast food, but at least they will be more educated about the risks they are taking and what kind of companies they are supporting.
The narrative style of this book is excellent. The way the author tells stories is extremely compelling. This is a great read. This book gets behind the slick packaging, marketing and lies being told by the fast food companies.
Some of the most interesting tidbits from the book:
* Chicken McNuggets and Wendy's Grilled Chicken Sandwich both contain beef additives that increase the fat content.
* Chicken McNuggets have, ounce for ounce, more fat than a hamburger.
* McDonald's french fries contain additives from animal sources.
* Meatpacking is America's filthiest and most dangerous job. It pays around $9.25 an hour.
* About 76% of beef contains some sort of contamination from fecal matter (you are eating crap)
One of the most insightful parts of this book is how fast food is helping to change the landscape of this country. The author links urban sprawl and homogenization of suburbs to fast food.
Another starling part of this book was the ghettos that are being left in the wake of meat packing plants. Once peaceful, rural, Rockwellesque communities are being turned into ghettos of crime, drug abuse and transient living. The sole factor in this is the meat packing industry. Who would have thought that places in Nebraska, Iowa and Colorado now have slum towns that otherwise wouldn't have existed?
I don't believe that any meat you buy in grocery stores is much safer than fast food meat. Furthermore, almost all meat comes from the same kinds of farms and slaughterhouses described in Fast Food Nation. There is no reason to consume beef if you want to stay healthy and avoid food poisoning. The beef industry will only listen when sales drop. Never underestimate the power of the consumer.
There are a few heros in this story, however. In-n-Out Burgers in California pay their employees the most, make their food the old fashioned way, and ensure that their beef supply is safe. Their store managers can make $80,000 a year! That's unheard of in other fast food places. The amazing part is their prices are still competitive.
I also have a lot of respect for the independent cattle farmers who are raising their cows in humane ways and allowing them to feed on grass. Unfortunately, they are a drying breed.
The world hunger rate is so high and yet we are feeding a huge portion of our grains to cattle instead of starving people. In the US, 80% of grain produced gets fed to livestock. It's a huge waste of food and energy. It makes no sense whatsoever. Also, the amount of natural resources that goes into cattle farming is enormous. For example, it takes 25,000 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef. It takes 25 gallons of water to produce one pound of grain. The difference is startling.
I've been a vegetarian for 8 years now. It makes me happy that the author is *not* a vegetarian. Now maybe my family, friends and colleagues will read this book and start to understand why I've made the choices I did. And they will hear it from an author who *does* eat meat. People who do eat meat would rather hear this sort of thing from other meat-eaters.
Recommended:
Yes
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DViolet
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Location: Chicago, IL
Reviews written: 31
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