I recently read Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal by Eric Schlosser, which was on the New York Times Bestseller list (probably a while back). This book talks about everything fast food, from its history in Anaheim, California, the growth and expansion of franchises, the hiring/firing/working/and union-prevention, the fries, the entire meat processing flow (from feedlots to slaughtering to patties), its marketing, its economic effects, its health effects, and political ties. An interesting read, for sure. But not really a life-changing one. What I did take out of it is that In-N-Out Burger is probably the best place, and the safest, to have a fast food meal; not to mention the best place to work if you are in the industry.

Fast Food Nation points a lot of fingers, and I don't blame it. Some fun facts... Statistically, the percentage of beef patties with E-Coli is high, due to the fact that there's feces in the burgers. There's actually beef in their fries (not in all countries). McDonald's Golden Arches are now the most recognizable symbol, knocking off Coca Cola.

I got the 2005 publication, but the book was first published in 2001. Certainly there have been quite a few changes in the industry since its original publication - and perhaps in part thanks to this book. A lot of book reviews and readers have said that they will never eat at McDonald's again. Not for me though. I don't eat fast food that often, but I'll still enjoy a meal at a fast food joint, because it's quick, inexpensive, and fairly tasty (I'm playing right into their hands, aren't I?). In fact, I just had a McChicken yesterday for lunch.