Introduction

1. How does the amount spent on fast food compare with the amount spent on other things in our society?

Americans in 2001 spent more than $110 billion on fast food. We now spend more of our money on fast food then we do on higher education, personal computers, computer software, or new cars. American's spend more on fast food than movies, books, magazines, newspapers, videos, and recorded music combined!

2. Why is fast food worth studying?

Fast food is worth studying because you can learn where the food came from, how it was made, and what it is doing to the community around them.

3. What are some of the observations about McDonald's made by the author?

Some observations made by the author about McDonald's is that they spend more money on advertising and marketing than any other brand. As a result it has replaced Coca-cola as the world's most famous brand. McDonald's operates more playgrounds than any other private entity in the United States and is one of the largest distributors of toys. In addition it has become a powerful symbol of American's service economy, which is now responsible for 90% of the country's new jobs.

4. Where is the hearth of the fast food industry?

The hearth of the fast food industy is southern California.

5. What does the author say about independent farmers?

"Independent farmers whom Thomas Jefferson considered the bedrock of American democracy are a truly vanishing breed. The United States now has more prison inmates than full-time farmers."

6. What does the author say about the political clout of the meat packing industry?

"Aside from the salad greens and tomatoes, most fast food is delivered to the restaurant already frozen, canned, dehydrated, or freeze-dried. A fast food kitchen is merely the final stage in a vast and highly complex system of mass production."

7. According to the author, why did he write this book?

The author wrote this book out of belief that people should know what lies behind the shiny, happy surface of every fast food transaction. He believes that people should know what really lurks between those sesame-seed buns.