Discussion questions for Fast Food Nation
Chapter 1
What character traits do fast food franchise creators have?
Why did the ff chains start up in So. California?
Would you consider Carl Karcher’s empire a success even though he is still deep in debt?
Chapter 2
Should companies be allowed to market to children? Why or why not?
Why does McDonalds wish to be a trusted friend to the public and what does that mean?
What is the relationship between the ff industry and k-12 education and is it a good one? Why or why not?
Chapter 3
Why did Colorado Springs grow so fast after the 1990’s?
What do ff employers do to motivate their staff instead of increasing wages?
Why haven’t ff restaurants unionized?
Chapter 4
Which was the first company to become famous for franchising and why?
Which ff chain is the cheapest to open? And what is beguiling about it’s low franchise price?
Chapter 5
Why is the color of a food so important to it’s success for a ff restaurant?
Why do the fries taste so good?
Who invented a crucial piece of French fry making technology?
Chapter 6
Why did the prominent rancher Hand take his own life?
How has NAFTA affected the trade agreement in Canada and Mexico? How has NAFTA affected the ff industry?
How did McDonalds change the system for raising poultry?
Chapter 7
Why aren’t workers in the slaughterhouse/meat packing industry unionizing?
Does the situation in the slaughterhouse/meat packing industry need to be improved? If so, why and how?
Chapter 8
Is the monetary compensation for work-related injuries just? Explain why or why not
How can working conditions in slaughterhouses improve and why isn’t anything done about this?
Knowing how meat for ff chains is produced, do you have any reservations about eating it? Explain why or why not
Chapter 9
How does American food production relate to food borne illnesses?
Why couldn’t President Clinton form a meat inspection system?
What steps did Jack in the Box take to change and improve the safety of their food? Were they successful?
Chapter 10
What is globalization?
Why was the town of Plauen appealing to McDonalds for globalization?
What caused the attack on McDonalds and KFC in Beijing in May of 1999? Why were those stores targeted?
Epilogue
Compare In-n-Out and McDonalds in terms of food preparation, treatment of employees, and food quality.
List reasons why you would still purchase ff and why you would not
What are the steps the author recommends Congress take in order to reverse the negative effects of ff?