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Fast Food Nation Summary

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Fast Food Nation begins by discussing Carl Karcher, one of the fast food pioneers. He was born in 1917 in Ohio, where he worked on a farm. Later in life, Carl bought a hotdog cart which later turned into a drive-in Barbeque restaurant. The post world war II economy provided him with many customers. When he compared McDonald’s with Walt Disney, Schlosser pictured Ray Kroc as a perceptive businessman only concerned in expanding his business. Schlosser demonstrated how fast-food industries, which offers little nutrition in their foods, manipulates young minds into purchasing their products. They try to portray themselves as trusted friends of consumers and they prey on the schools who systems have declining income. Teenagers have been the bulk of fast food workforce because …show more content…

Schlosser interviewed high school students who said they work up to twelve hour shifts. They spend more time buying expensive and useless items rather than getting an education. Schlosser visits a Little Caesars, owned by NHL player Dave Feamster. He opened the restaurant after he got hurt playing hockey. To become a franchisee, Feamster had to pay $15,000. J.R Simplot grew up working in a potato house. He also invested in frozen food technology and began selling frozen French fries to McDonalds. Schlosser visits a Colorado rancher named Hank. Hank shows him his ranch, with the intent to show him the difference between what he does and what the fast food industry does. He takes many precautions, making sure his land and animals are well raised. Meatpacking companies combined allowing farmers to sell their cattle at competitive rates. Many farmers were forced to sell their cattle off and quite the business. Many farmers, including Hank, take their own life away. Iowa Beef Packers opened slaughterhouses using the same principles that McDonalds did with its fast food

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