Abstract
According to this paper, the fast food industry plays a major role in issues related to poor nutrition such as hypertension, obesity and diabetes, and, the fast food industry not only regularly engages in unethical practices but is skilled in hypocrisy by creating institutions to measure the health damage that it causes. However, the paper contends that to blame that industry for the current epidemic of obesity and bad state of nutrition which is so prevalent in North America is misleading and denies the structural approach entirely. The paper argues that pointing to a corporation such as McDonald's is simplistic and actually would destroy the structural perspective. The paper maintains that instead of focusing on fast food corporations entirely, the effective approach is to ask who eats at places like McDonald's and why do they do so; the fast food industry did not grow in isolation but within a whole rapidly changing society so that numerous factors coalesced to create the current situation.

From the Paper
"The fast food industry plays a major role in issues related to poor nutrition such as hypertension, obesity and diabetes. Furthermore, the fast food industry not only regularly engages in unethical practices but is skilled in hypocrisy by creating institutions to measure the health damage that it causes. However, to blame that industry for the current epidemic of obesity and bad state of nutrition which is so prevalent in North America is misleading and denies the structural approach entirely. Pointing to a corporation such as McDonald's is simplistic and actually..."

Tags:food, industry, health

Abstract
A critique of the fast food industry that discusses Eric Schlosser's book, "Fast Food Nation" and Morgan Spurlock's documentary film, "Supersize Me". It contends that both present ample evidence that the health and longevity of the American people are being severely damaged by the fast food industry.

From the Paper
"Eric Schlosser's, "Fast Food Nation" uses the truth to persuade his readers of the reality of the facts and opinions presented in his book. Unlike the devious deceptive and manipulative methods used by the fast food industry to stimulate sales on ..."

Tags:obesity, fast, food

Abstract
This paper examines the fast food industry, further comparing it to other industries. It further provides a critical review of various criteria as they relate to the fast food industry. The comparison is based on automation, uniformity, and low prices.

From the Paper
" The fast food industry is a rather controversial industry within the United States and on an international basis. However, it is useful to understand some major tenets of its operations and to use these as comparative measures to see if the strategic objectives of the industry are different or similar to that of other industries, and to also understand the business management aspects of the fast food industry model. This paper will choose three criterions and provide a critical review of these criterions in the fast food industry. These will then compared to other industries for a crucially review of the overall fast..."

Tags:fast, food, uniformity, automation

Abstract
The paper asserts that obesity at the present time is an epidemic. The paper explains that when people are overweight, they are at a high risk for diabetes as well as such diseases as cardiovascular disease. This paper investigates the link between the rise and growth of the fast food industry and the high prevalence of obesity. A question related to this concerns why certain people are obese while others are not. A structural approach demonstrates that there are many factors which contribute to obesity. The paper explains that the structural approach allows us to argue in an effective way that people are not simply obese because they eat at McDonald's but many contributing factors influence the way that people consume food. The paper shows how health differences among people must be viewed in terms of different environments that are linked with the determinants of health (Raphael, 2004).

From the Paper
"Obesity at the present time is an epidemic. When people are overweight, they are high risk for diabetes as well as such diseases as cardiovascular disease. Just a few years ago, obesity was not a prevalent issue. This paper will investigate the link between the rise and growth of the fast food industry and the high prevalence of obesity. A question related to this concerns why certain people are obese while others are not. A structural approach demonstrates that there are many factors which..."

Tags:fast, food, power

Abstract
The paper addresses the fast food industry's attitude and actions towards its low-income labor force, using Eric Schlosser's "Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All American Meal" as guide. The paper notes that while purchasing goods from Wal-Mart, given its labor practices, may be ethically dubious, eating fast food also robs the consumer of his or her health, through obesity and poor nutrition. The paper then discusses how while processed food may have become endemic to American life, fast food restaurants make such food infinitely easier and more pleasant to consume. The paper argues that fast food robs the land, numbs the soul to worker abuses, and numbs the palate with unsanitary and unhealthy food.

From the Paper
"According to Eric Schlosser's "Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All American Meal", the fast food industry has completely and irrevocably changed the American landscape, workforce, and culture. Many of the aspects of fast food culture Schlosser demonizes are also applicable to other forms of American capitalism--for example, Wal-Mart also makes use of poorly paid workers who receive few benefits, and are used as disposable commodities, rather than participants in a company who can look forward to being promoted and share in its profits."

Tags:labor, force, nutrition, obesity, food, diet

Abstract
This paper examines the fast food industry, a rather controversial industry within the United States and on an international basis. The paper maintains that it is useful to understand some major tenets of its operations and to use these as comparative measures to see if the strategic objectives of the industry are different or similar to that of other industries. It adds that it is also useful to understand the business management aspects of the fast food industry model. The paper chooses three criteria - automation, uniformity, and low prices - and provides a critical review of these criteria in the fast food industry. These are then compared to other industries for a crucial review of the overall fast food industry model. The paper includes graphs and charts.

Outline:
Introduction
Automation: Fast Food Industry Technological Advancements
Insurance and Fast Food: Comparison of Automation Criteria
Uniformity in the Fast Food Industry
Exploring the Uniform Criteria: Comparing the Fast Food and Coffee Shop Chains
Low Prices in the Fast Food Industry: Is that Necessarily a Negative Criterion?
Low Pricing Model: Comparison of Wal-Mart and Fast Food Companies
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Automation within the industry has been noted to optimize efficiency, enhance physical and financial assets, and to minimize waste, all of which increases the profit margin for many companies within the industry. Automation in the fast food industry is primarily driven by consumers increased demand. For example, McDonald's has utilized a mobile point of sale software at some locations to increase sales by serving more drive-thru customers faster, increasing accuracy for orders, and decreasing the standard wait time in the store."

Tags:business, franchise, automation, uniformity, price, cost

Abstract
This paper explains that a faster-paced lifestyle with more women joining the workforce results in the detriment of "traditional" American family meals, but it is an enormous advantage to the fast food industry; virtually everyone loves fast food, even though there are concerns about health, and the industry is firmly established around the world. The author points out that the multi-billion dollar fast food industry today is said to have been started in 1936 by Maria del Gray, who named the original McDonald's after her fiancee who was killed in a vehicular accident; Ray Kroc later founded the McDonald's franchise system based on del Gray's McDonald's. The paper concludes the process of "McDonaldization" continues to spread the inexorable forces of capitalism and standardized food products around the world; everyone is eating fast foods, even if they are protesting it as soon as they are finished with their burgers and fries.

Table of Contents
Review and Discussion
Background and Overview
Social Effects
Structural Changes in the Fast Food Industry
Figure: Franchise Percentages Owned by Parent Company as of 1991
Current and Future Trends
"McDonaldization"
Fast Food's Impact on Health
Focus on Service
Conclusion

From the Paper
"Today, the fast food industry has evolved in a number of important ways from the early days of Maria del Gray's McDonalds. The fast food industry is highly competitive, but remains fairly homogeneous and nonunion; however, some restaurant outlets are owned and operated by parent companies while others are owned and operated by individual franchisees. In a typical franchise agreement, the franchisor (known as the parent company) grants the franchisee a license to operate a standardized restaurant with a specified technology and widely recognized trademark; in exchange, the franchisee pays the parent company a fixed fee and a monthly royalty on gross sales (Krueger says this is generally 8 percent). In some instances, the franchisee will be required to post an explicit performance bond as well. The total start-up cost of a franchised restaurant in a major chain is ordinarily between $400,000 and $600,000."

Tags:franchise, advertisement, women, lifestyle, globalization

Abstract
This paper looks at the global features and implications of conducting international operations within the fast food industry. It also analyzes the macro and micro environments affecting the fast food industry in the United States. It then looks at how changes in consumer behavior and successful management have resulted in the growth of the fast food industry.

Table of Contents:
Abstract
The Fast Food Industry
Societal Developments
Economic Forces
Political Climate
Technological Developments
Ecological Developments
Market Forecasts - Future Scenarios
Equilibrium of Power
Regulatory Framework
Franchising in the Fast Food Industry
Conclusions

From the Paper
"The fast food industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world and most of their success has been based on the changes occurring in the micro and macro environments. People have reduced time to cook and fast food products are the handiest solution. The future of the industry looks bright, but difficulties could be posed by regulatory measures and changes in the society. The potential threats refer to inabilities in retaining the staff members (due to the low wages), the consumers' preference for healthy foods, environment protection policies, an unstable economic background or an economic perception for creating economies of scale."

Tags:consumer, franchise, health

Abstract
The paper examines the workplace issues at fast food restaurants. The paper portrays the realities of low wages and poor motivation of the employees who work at these places. The paper also notes that one of the reasons that workers at fast food restaurants have poor morale is that workplace conditions are typically dirty and poor and too often the emphasis is on speed rather than the safety and quality of the product. The paper also discusses a study where researchers monitored the "frequency of fast food restaurant use" (FFFRU) amongst adolescents and found that FFFRU was directly linked to fat intake.

Outline:
Introduction
Motivational Problems in the Fast Food Industry
Motivational Problems Due to Poor Working Conditions
Low Wages in the Fast Food Industry
What About Those Who Eat at Fast Food Restaurants?

From the Paper
"Americans spent more in 2001 on fast food than on "books, CDs, newspapers, magazines, and videos combined - about $110 billion," writes Julie Finnin Day in The Christian Science Monitor (Day 2001). "What's more," Day continued in her review of Eric Schlosser's book, Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal, "the golden arches are more universally recognized than the Christian cross." Moreover, Day summarizes Schlosser's focus on how the labor force in the meat processing industry has changed, from skilled, unionized workers a generation ago to today's workforce in fast food restaurants, which is "mostly recent immigrants, many of whom are illiterate and non-unionized." The plight of those who work in the industry that provides chicken, beef, pork and other meats to the fast food industry "has met with public indifference and industry secrecy - largely, Schlosser argues, because of their dark skin color.""

Tags:immigrants, obesity, fat, morale

Abstract
This paper discusses how the fast food industry has dominated American industry. It mentions Eric Schlosser's book "Fast Food Nation" that quotes how Americans today spend more money on fast food than on higher education, personal computers, computer software or new cars. The paper also explains how Schlosser's book redefined how the American fast food industry is viewed and how indulgent eating has now become a social problem.

From the Paper
"In order to understand the social implications of fast food nation, we have to develop a better understanding of the sociological theory of the matrix of domination. This theory was developed by Patricia Hill Collin in her black feminist writings. It explains that oppression issues that specifically deal with race, class, and gender are all interconnected despite their different social classifications (1). The basic assumption of this theory is that many different social categorizations meld together in order to form an individual's holistic identity and oppression can occur on multiple levels as a result of this interconnectivity. "Fast Food Nation" addresses the issue of the Matrix of Domination through the application of the fast food industry. He explains that in American today, more than one out of every eight workers has at some point been employed by McDonald's, and that the nation's 3.5 million fast food workers are considered the largest group of minimum wage earners in America. The implication is that fast food as "infiltrated almost every aspect of our culture, transforming not only the American diet, but also our landscape, economy, workforce and popular culture" (2). The fast food industry has a virtual hegemony within the United States low end workforce. They maintain this by being the only "game in town" through instituting poverty level labor in all of its stores. Since the lowest bracket of the American economy is typically Hispanic and African American, McDonald's and other fast food business target these individuals for employment. This is evidenced by the fact that 70% of all domestic McDonald's workers are either Hispanic or African American. Since these
individuals are consistently entrenched within poverty, they are discriminated against because of their race, class and social status. Furthermore, it institutionalizes low wage labor because there is so much competition on the low end for such jobs, therefore wages are maintained at a bottom tier level and fast food workers are subjected to substandard wages and even worse, entrenched into a system of perpetual poverty."

Tags:oppression, impact, health