Rating: 
Summary: Hard to swallow now
Review: After reading "Fast Food Nation", I must admit it was pretty hard for me to entertain the idea of stopping at a fast food place if there were any other possible alternatives. And I have found there are other options. We really don't have to feed our children the "food" from these places.This is a scholarly work, well researched and convincing in its presentation. Perhaps the most frightening image I have taken from this book is Walt Disney and Ray Kroc cooperating from beyond the grave. Whew! It's difficult to even watch the McDonald's commercials advertising Disney tie-ins now.
Rating:
Summary: Everyone Seems to Be Reading This One
Review: I didn't get this book earlier because I thought it would be a dry non-fiction full of statistics. Boy, was I wrong! When I recommend this book to people, I tell them to read it because, overall, it's funny. Schlosser is a master at presenting the facts and finding ironic connections linking them. I'd rather not elaborate on more details of the book, since they have pretty much been covered in the other reviews. So, on top of reading the book, I'll do an Amazon first and recommend that you read the other reviews here... I myself come from a food industry family. We owned a Popeye's restaurant when I was growing up, and my brother graduated culinary school to be an innovative chef in Atlanta. Someday we may open a restaurant together, hopefully not one like the restaurants portrayed in the book. Some people may say that the author uses isolated events to paint his debate. Yet I saw this type of stuff all the time, especially how the restaurant industry treated labor. I can tell you of incidents I have witnessed of people getting their fingers cut off in food processors and of Domino's delivering pizzas that have fallen off the conveyor belt onto the floor. "Fast Food Nation" has influenced my eating habits some, but old habits die hard. Yes, I had two Big Macs this weekend. And they were GOOD! But now I feel like I need to go to confession after eating them (and I'm not even Catholic).
Rating:
Summary: A modern day muckraking classic
Review: Schlosser combines great storytelling and research skills to create a powerful expose of the fast food industry. While I anticipated that the author might discuss worker exploitation, the unscrupulous use of advertising to target young children, and the connection between obesity and fast food, the book delivered far more than that. I was alarmed to learn about the terrible conditions that prevail on the production side as well (such as independent farmers becoming the pawns of large agribusiness corporations, and the unsafe and unsanitary conditions that exist in many slaughterhouses and packinghouses). It seems that we may all be at risk consuming the contaminated beef that is routinely produced by the industry. On the other hand, it was heartening to learn about In-N-Out, a fast food chain that pays decent wages and serves higher quality food at a competitive price. The author cites it as evidence that the McDonald's model is not inevitable. Indeed, Schlosser believes that the over reliance on technology and uniformity that made McDonald's a market leader in the 20th century may ultimately turn out to be a losing strategy in the 21st century. Schlosser's book has convinced me to quit supporting this industry until it cleans up its act. I encourage you to read the book and make up your own mind.
Rating:
Summary: Everything you ever wanted to know about food
Review: This book is a wonderful review of the fast food industry and its effects on America and the entire world. It will show you in simple terms how we as consumers can change the world dollar by dollar. It discusses issues such as E.Coli, Mad Cow disease, globalization, health and diet, the environment, animal rights and the meat industry, media/advertising (how the industry tries to influence children, etc.), and worker safety (child labor, illegal immigrants, etc.). If you are interested in any of these issues, this is the book for you! The book is in the same category as John Robbins' masterpieces: `Diet for a New America` and `Food Revolution` because of his in-depth look at our food, our health, our environment, and the treatment of food industry animals (mainly cows and pigs). But, Schlosser goes much more into detail about worker safety and media/advertising, which is what makes this book so different than all the rest and so interesting to read. Also important is the fact that Eric Schlosser is a great writer. The book is not slow and dry like Sinclair's `The Jungle` or Lappe's `Diet for a Small Planet.` The book is in simple language for everyone to enjoy and is quick and fun to read. He has a quick intellect and a sharp wit. He is never preachy, near-sighted, or sarcastic like many books of this sort. He gives examples to support his findings through hard facts and scientific studies listed in detail at the end of the book (in the form of endnotes). But, he also gives examples through funny stories and anecdotes that you will want to tell your friends about.
So, I highly suggest this book for anyone interested in their health, the health of the people and the planet, or America's fast food and meat industry.
Rating: 
Summary: Fast food fright
Review: Eric Schlosser presents a thoroughly researched, insightful yet startling expose of the fast food industry. Schlosser starts at the beginning, telling us the success stories of the pioneers of the industry such as Ray Kroc and the Mac Donald brothers. The rationale for the developement of fast food is explored. With more women in today's workplace, less time is available for the preparation of meals and thus the need for fast food. The marketing of fast food is a subject that is brilliantly conceived by the industry, with children being a major target audience. The really frightening part of the book deals with the procurement of foods that make up the bulk of our fast food, beef, chicken and potatoes. Schlosser explores in depth the meat packing industry. He takes us inside the slaughterhouses where cattle are prepared for shipment as beef. The deplorable and unsanitary conditions present there are a danger for both the factory workers and consumer alike. Unsafe working conditions cause numerous injuries to the largely unskilled workers there. Tainted beef largely unregulated by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture has been allowed into our markets causing both sickness and death. Powerful lobbyists speaking on behalf of the fast food industry quash any legislation that would try to rectify these problems. The expansion of the fast food industry into foreign markets guarantees that the unsavory practices used to maximize profits for these huge corporations will continue unchecked. Before taking a bite of your Big Mac pause for a second and consider what transpired to allow that piece of food to be in your hand. You might reconsider that bite!
Rating: 
Summary: Dissapointing-too much one sided rhetoric
Review: It's all about selling books folks-in this case,Schlosser compiled as much "dirty laundry" as he could," in order to line his own pockets. Truth be told there have been, continues to be, and will be be in the future, problems within the fast food and the meat industries. As there are in ALL industries. I believe though, both produce and market the safest products in the world. Maybe Sclossers next book shoud be, Fast Food Nation, The BRIGHT Side Of The All American Meal.
Rating: 
Summary: Lots of Beef- No Sizzle
Review: This diatribe has more holes in it than a swiss cheese factory.Schlosser has people at restaurants in the 1950's putting their food in micro-wave ovens- after that little else can be believed other than his conspicous distaste for corporate America and capitalism.A must read for Ivy League vegans.
Rating:
Summary: Great reading but tough chewing!
Review: What Ford did to the automobile industry, McDonald's has done to the fast food industry in terms of application of principles of assembly line and efficiencies of mass production. The similarity seems to end there. While the automobile industry is applauded as the mother of all industries, the fast food industry in its present form is depicted as the source of many evils. Increasing waistlines for consumers and miseries to farmers; Exploitation of immigrant labor and spread of dangerous bacteria through contaminated food; the list is very exhaustive and sometimes stinks. The Law seems to be a silent spectator to these brutal facts thanks to the powerful lobby of the fast food chains. The brunt of the attack is borne by McDonalds, because it is the most recognized brand worldwide; perhaps more than the Stars and Stripes. There is of course the other side of the coin conveniently ignored in this book. I read in a book on Globalization that no two nations having McDonalds have gone to war with each other. Statistically speaking, if we have McDonalds in every country we could ensure everlasting peace and wind up the Military. Bombers can be used to drop Burgers and French-fries. McDonalds has certainly helped modernize the food industry in many developing countries and has become a symbol of globalization. Personally, when I travel outside India, I prefer and in fact search for McDonalds or Pizza Hut and the moment I sight one, a sigh of relief. What more do we need than the assurance of consistent quality of food at affordable prices. It is also heartening to note as admitted in the book that for lovers of vegetarian food, lots of new items are getting added on the menu. If not today, competition will ensure that the tastes of the consumer will ultimately prevail. One more study and this time on unbranded and unorganized sector of the food industry is needed. That would probably bring out the better side of the big brands. The big brands have the muscle to demand and get quality inputs from their suppliers, control prices and assure standards. It is important to focus on these strengths and eliminate the ills. Let us not throw the baby with the bath water. Despite my points in defense of the fast food industry, this book is certainly a must read for all to understand the industry from a different perspective. But when you enter a fast food joint, please forget what you have read in this book if you are keen to enjoy the food. Let's have a bite!
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Summary: POLITICAL DIATRIBE
Review: WHILE I THOUGHT THE BOOK CONTAINED MUCH VALUABLE AND VERY INTERESTING INFORMATION REGARDING THE WAY IN WHICH AMERICANS HAVE COME TO RELY ON FAST FOOD, I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE AUTHORS CONSTANT REFERENCE TO HOW "INDUSTRY LOVING" THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS AND HOW THEY SEEM TO DO EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO CONSORT AND ASSIST THESE "EVIL" FOOD GIANTS. HIS POLITICAL AGENDA SHOULD BE LEFT TO ANOTHER BOOK. HE WENT OVERBOARD AND AS A RESULT I HAVE TO QUESTION SOME OF THE FACTS OF HIS "UNBIASED" JOURNALISTIC EFFORT. I BELIEVE HE HAD AN AGENDA WHEN HE STARTED AND DID WHAT HE COULD TO CONFIRM IT. NEVERTHELESS, IT WAS AN INTERESTING BOOK, JUST FRUSTRATING IN THAT REGARD.
Rating: 
Summary: Them french fries is bad!
Review: Eric Schlosser's Fast Food Nation seemed like the perfect book for me. I rarely eat fast food, I haven't eaten red meat for years, and I harbor a distrust for the corporate landscape of America. Finally, a look into the secret world of the country's fast food industry, I thought. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on the foods you eat), I was disappointed in the "expose" in these pages. Perhaps it's because I grew up too closely with the farming community or my stint as a teen working in fast food (and enjoying it). Nothing seems all that shocking here. Meat (especially red meat) is processed in cruddy conditions as quickly as possible with no real governing agencies of any power. Fast food makes you fat and is designed to taste good. McDonalds tries to hire cheap labor in the form of the elderly and the young to make more money. Where are the surprises here? If you didn't know these basic facts you can certainly use a stroll through Fast Food Nation. Schlosser seems to have the ridiculous idea that, given the opportunity, Americans would choose healthier food or food that has been prepared in a different fashion. Right. That's why the little cafes and mom 'n' pop restaurants are closing all over the country while fast food signs pop up at an alarming rate and cars overflow the drive-thrus. People like fast food. They like the taste and they like the cost and they like the speediness. One thing that did shock me, however, was some of the more unseemly business practices that the chains use to cut their already-low costs. Some of the dealings (especially with small business loans and franchises) struck me as brazenly un-American and certainly not fair business practices. The conversion of our country to McUSA is sickening for sure, but allowing them to abuse the law while doing it is just as bad as eating there. Bottom line: If you get shaken up easily at the horrors of the corporate farming and meat-packing industries, give Fast Food Nation a read. For many of us there's just no big shock in Americans demanding this way of life and getting it.
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