Fast Food Nation: Chapter 10

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  * In foreign countries, what group does most fast food advertising target?
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  The cliché “It’s like taking candy from a baby” is even closer to reality as the fast food industries main targets are adolescents. A survey was taken by 9 and 10 year olds in which they were asked whether or not the infamous Ronald McDonald knew what they should eat. Half of them frighteningly but not surprisingly said yes. Our elementary school children have been successfully identifying Ronald McDonald something I am ashamed to admit I was able to do as well. On page 231 the author makes an allusion to another common cliché “You are what you eat” saying that the man who foolishly introduced McDonalds to Japan has made it a reality. It seems false advertising comes into play when said man Den Fujita told his countrymen and I quote “If we eat McDonalds hamburgers and potatoes for a thousand years, we will become taller, and our skin will become white and our hair will be blonde”. Is he inferring that if you consume McDonalds that you too will become the Aryan race that is American?
  
  *Why is obesity a problem for American society as a whole?
  America, the birthplace of various fast food chains, has been the central control center for obesity. While driving down Tuskawilla Road fast food chains are on every corner. Traveling hungry is no longer a problem for Americans. Why are we obese? We have direct access to some of the most disgusting and ingenious foods in the entire world and of course we take advantage of that. Because of discoveries in technology, Americans are on the computer rather than on the treadmill, watching baseball on TV rather than actually playing America’s favorite pastime. Why are we prone to obesity? Because America has constantly been showered with luxuries in the form of Big Macs and Mac Books? Perhaps our obsession with MAC anything in general has contributed to our overweight population. Our morals have disintegrated into oblivion. Instead of thin fit women and men modeling the ideal American Image our billboards will show our reality. As if our personal image wasn’t already revolting to other countries.

Fast Food Nation: Chapter 1

What restaurant chain did Carl Karcher start?

Carl Karcher a.k.a. The Creator of the BEST burger in the entire world was the founder of Carls Jr. Which happens to be the place where my first meal in California took place. I think Carl Karcher is an absolute genius. Even though McDonalds was totally giving him a run for his money, Carl never gave up the fight.

Why did General Motors want to buy trolley systems throughout the U.S.?

In the late 1920's, General Motors began buying up trolley systems left and right. Their primary goal was to rip them apart and start opening up bus lines. GM began scheming up a plan, they persuaded other motor companies to help pay the costly prices of their take-over. The whole time their ambition was to wipe our railway competition by any means.

Their plotting was quite devious in my opinion. They were using other companies greed for their OWN gain. Although I'm quite pleased that they ended up getting busted and punished. A $5,000 fine may not seem like a feasible fine but due to my prior knowledge I understand that for the 20's that was quite the pretty penny.

What was the "Speedee Service System" and how was it different from what other fast food

The McDonalds brothers began to grow unsatisfied with their carhop buisness.They were tired of their teenage customers were constantly defacing their glassware, and quite frankley they were tired of their teenage customers. So the McBrothers decided to have their chain undergo DEEP RECONSTRUCTION, and BAM! The speedee service system is born.

In 1948 McDonalds fired all their carhops and closed their doors. They began to install larger grills and then they reopened their doors three months after. In addition to the make-over to their appearence McDonalds also had a brand-new method to preparing their food. The McBros designed this method to increase speed, slash prices, and bring in more customers. As if this wasn't enough they also eliminated certain menu items, like the ones that required the use of a plate and silverware. Like many modern slaughter houses, Mcdonalds also had their workers performing one specific task repeatedly.

Other fast food restraunts, or so they claimed still stuck with the carhops. They werent as industrialized as McDonalds.

Fast Food Nation: Chapter 9

What authority does the U.S. Government have to demand the recall of tainted meat?

The U.S. Government is unable to demand a meat company to cease the production of the tainted meat. Unfortunately the meatpacking firms have tight connections with the Republican members of Congress. I find it utterly preposterous that our government has the authority to recall pointless items such as toys and sneakers but does not have the authority to put an end to the production of infected meat.



What was the first national hamburger chain & what did it do to try to change the image of the hamburger?

The first national hamburger chain was White Castle. Before their opening, hamburgers were thought to be an inferior meal for lower class. White Castle made an effort to change America's judgements on the innocent hamburger. They placed the stoves within eyesight of the customers in attempt to prove that they used only the freshest of meats. The name White Castle was thought up to appeal to upper class citizens by sounding "pure". White Castle even sponsored an experiment at the University of Minnesota where medical students ate nothing but white castle burgers and water.

What are the effects of E. coli 0157:H7 on the human body?

In the book it states: E. coli 0157:H7 is a mutated version of a bacterium found abundantly in the human digestive system. It releases a mighty toxin called a verotoxin which bombards the intestines. Many people who come in contact with this lethal bacteria suffer from watery, and often bloody diarrhea as well as excruciating cramps. If the verotoxin enters the bloodstream it may cause hemolytic uremic syndrome, which may lead to kidney failure, internal bleeding, anemia, and the demolition of vital organs.

Fast Food Nation: Chapter 8

What kinds of injuries do workers in meatpacking plants typically suffer?

The horrific conditions in which the workers of slaugter houses are forced to endure cause many injuries. Not only visible injuries i.e. cutting off fingers or amputating limbs but also internal injuries as well suck as shoulder and back pain. They may also get carpal tunnel syndrome and "trigger finger" as a result of their careless work environment.



Why don't more workers complain about safety conditions in the plants?

The supervisors of the slaughter house tell the workers if they dont tell anyone about the injury they have, the supervisors will temporarily allow them to work an easier job until they heal. The supervisors may also tell the workers that they will be able to return back home for the duration of their injury.




What does the author describe as the most dangerous type of work in these plants and what kinds of injuries do these workers risk?

The author states that the most dangerous type of work in the slaugter houses in the clean up crew. During their jobs they have to use heated cholorine and water hoses to wash off all the machinery, while the machinery is still running. These hoses, because of their temperature, cause alot of fog in the slaughter house. And because the machinery is still running the noise disables the worker's hearing. Resulting in vasts amount of injuries i.e. amputation of limbs, crushing of the skull, and having your body ripped apart. In simpler terms the workers who perform these jobs have a high risk of death.

Fast Food Nation: Chapter 7

What changes did IBP introduce to the meat packing industry?



In 1960, IBP became the McDonalds of meat packing and processing. Currier J. Holman and A.D. Anderson constructed their buisness with money in their minds. They completely eliminated the need for skilled workers and they designed their plant as a "One story structure with a disassembly line" pg 53. Their main idea was afor their workers to stand in one place all day and perform one simple task such as the same swift cut over and over. In addition the location of their meat packing plants changed as well. By moving from Urban areas to Rural areas, they became closer to the road which made it possible for meat to be transported by truck rather than train. When they opened up a plant in Dakota City, Nebraska they began not only slaughtering cows but cutting them into smaller cuts of meat i.e. loins, chucks, and rounds. In place of packaging whole pieces of beef, IBP vaccumpacked these smaller cuts and called them "boxed meat".




Why were newer meat packing plants located in rural areas rather than in cities?



As I stated in the question above, IBP decided to relocate its buisness from Urban areas to rural areas because rural areas were closer to highways which opened new transportation opportunities for them. These highways made it possible for meat to be taken from point A to point B by truck rather than train.





What were the links between IBP and organized crime?



In 1970 Mr. Holman and three others had a meeting with Moe Steinman who was affiliated with the mob. The butchers in New York had formed a strike against IBP beef, in collaboration they refused to sell any of their beef. Moe Steinman offered his assistance in exchange for a 5cent commission on ever pound of beef they sold. They were of course tried and convicted for bribing union leaders and meat wholesalers.

Fast Food Nation: Chapter 6: On the Range

 Chapter 6: On the Range

o How does the nutritional value of a McNugget compare with that of a hamburger?

Throughout history, chicken has been classified as the healthy choice when it comes to meat. Americans line up at the McDonald's drive through to purchase an 8-count mouth-watering Chicken Selects (c) meal. But what McDonald's has done is decieve us. Our Author states that like their french fries, McDonald's McNuggets were once cooked in beef tallow. Of course they were forced to switch to vegetable, and are now prepared with "Beef extract". Compared to the McDonald's hamburger, McNuggets have twice as much fat per-ounce. Is America handing one way tickets to obesity to all its younger generation? This is the question I have been constantly pondering while reading each chapter.

o How does the suicide rate for ranchers and farmers compare with the rate for U.S. citizens in general?

The suicide rate among ranchers and farmers in the US has now skyrocketed about three times higher than the national average though in Rural America the suicide rate has maintained a slow steady rate. Our author things that Farmers have a constant weight on their shoulder. They want to keep the family buisness within the family and when they do not succeed, Farmers feel as though they have failed their family. Suicide is they way out.


o What are the conditions or terms of business under which most poultry farmers operate?

      Large chicken processors do not grow their birds on their own property. They supply growers with one-day-old chicks. Between their day of birth and the day they are executed, the chickens spend their lifetime on a grower's property. Processors provide feed, veteranry services, and tech and set up feeding schedules in order to ensure that the growers are growing the finest chickens. Aside from growing the chickens, the chicken growers provide the land on which the chickens live, the labor, and the poultry houses. The price for these necessities do not come cheap and growers often have to take out loans.
       Growers have little power over the processors. Poultry contracts are short-term and growers who complain will find themselves with no chicken to tend to. It is hard to comprehend how the growers are putting in far more labor than the processors hardly get a say or a cut of what ever is produced.

Fast Food Nation: Chapter 5: Why the fries taste so good

Fast Food Nation: Chapter 5: Why the fries taste so good

___Who was J.R. Simplot? What connection does J.R. Simplot have to the fast food industry?

J.R. Simplot, or as the author dubs him the " Great potato baron" was basically the potato god! His entire potato industry opened up doors for the fast food industry. J.R. started off traveling from farm to farm with his fancy potato sorter machine catering to different farmers. He soon advanced from taking care of other farmer's needs to buying and selling his own potatoes. As if this amazing accomplishment wasn't enough he later became the largest shipper of potatoes in the west! His industry flourished and he was soon dehydrating potatoes for the army and when the fad came along, invested in frozen food technology. He began selling frozen fries in 1953, but unfortunately the outcome wasn't the skyrocketing success he'd hoped. Being the savvy businessman he is, Simplot made an offer McDonalds just couldn't refuse. He dedicated his business to the production of McDonald's delectable french fries. Linking him directly to the fast food industry as McDonalds if compared to the levels of the Hindu caste system would be on the priest level. Therefor Simplot has a direct connection to the fast food industry since he is not only the sole provider for McDonald's when it comes to fries but to other fast food chains too!

__What makes McDonald's french fries taste different than those of other fast food restaurants?

McDonald's irresistible french fries unique taste is the result of the type of oil they use. For decades the secret behind the taste of America's favorite french fries has been 7% cotton seed oil and an artery clogging 93% beef tallow. Delicious to most, I however find the idea that the fresh fries used to contain more beef per ounce than the hamburgers quite grotesque. I'm glad that in 1990 cholesterol complaints forced the company to switch to vegetable oil! Caps off to those companies that choose that path from the start.

___What are some of the similarities and some of the differences between "artificial flavors" and "natural flavors"? Where is the "flavor industry" located?

As "natural" as natural flavors sound, both flavorings are man-made. The author gives us an example suggesting that perhaps in this case natural in not necessarily the way to go. He states and I quote "When the almond flavor (benzaldehyde) is derived from natural sources such as apricot pits it contains traces of hydrogen cyanide, a deadly poison. Benzaldehyde derived from a different process ...... does not contain hydrogen cyanide". Natural Flavoring means that the flavor's being derived from out-of-date technology, there is nothing healthy and "natural" about it. Both are man-made and contain the same chemicals, it is just a matter of where they come from. The Flavor industry is located off exit 8A in Dayton, New Jersey.