Fast Food: The Good, the Bad and the Hungry

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Description

Fast food is the most pervasive culinary trend of our time. It is an industry that has changed the way the world eats, as the model works virtually everywhere. At its heart are large multinational chains, running an estimated one million outlets in virtually every corner of the world, serving hundreds of millions of people every day. It provides access to reasonably tasty food with speed, economy and convenience, and appeals to customers of practically every nationality, ethnicity, religion, age, gender, class, financial status and culinary tradition on earth. Fast food has harmed the environment, undermined the health of customers, degraded the diets of children, and underpaid its workers.Fast Food: A Global Perspective examines the industry's options and those of its customers, and asks what society as a whole can and should do to ameliorate the major problems generated by fast food.

Reviews

Fast Food examines some of the serious controversies related to the fast-food industry, focusing with plenty of facts and figures on six of them: the industrys globalisation the nutritional quality and healthiness of its food and drinks its mass marketing techniques, particularly aimed at children and young people its impact on the environment its massive influence on meat production and the way the industry treats its workers . . . Being well documented it is an important book * Methodist Recorder *
Fast Food is highly recommended, a timely reminder of exactly whats happening in this pernicious industry. The only drawback is that consumers of fast food are unlikely to read this excellent book. * OxVeg online *
There are numerous facts and figures, but Fast Food: The Good, The Bad & The Hungry is much more than just a compilation of disturbing statistics. Its a timely reminder of whats happening in this pernicious industry, and despite the frequently grim subject matter its a really good read . . . Perhaps the government should consider forcing McDonalds to replace the free toy in every Happy Meal with a copy of this excellent book * Vegan Life *
The controversies related to the fast food industry are responsibly examined by Smith . . . The work discusses how tie-ins of toys, proximity to schools, and mass marketing through television advertising and social media guarantee fast food popularity with children and teenagers. Smith writes how recent trends toward the use of renewable energy, more nutritious offerings, and more environmentally friendly packaging and architecture are small moves in the right direction. This work includes extensive references that will facilitate further research. Recommended * Choice *

Author Bio

Andrew F. Smith teaches at the New School, New York City. He is the author or editor of 32 books, including Fast Food: The Good, the Bad and the Hungry (Reaktion, 2016).