fast food

FAST FOOD

FAST FOOD

Common denominators

immediate customer service

packaging "to go

inexpensive pricingOrigins vague

Food immigration:comforting connection with their ethnic pasttamales

knockwurst

Fare of the masses

Simple foods to working-class customers on a "short-order" basis

Hamburg steak"

White Castle Kansas, 1921

Chicago, 1952

Hamburger-eating culture

Serious setback during World War II

Build one restaurant in every American town

franchise investors

enforced strict product uniformity throughout their chains

aggressively advertise

Criticism

poor sanitary conditions

unhealthy food products

related environmental problems

unfair working conditionsIncreased litter

Employ inexpensive teenage workers

Hundreds of millions of hungry customers eat fast food daily

ignore health risks

inexpensive, quick, convenient, predictable, tastes good

cultural normMetaphor for mainstream American life

ready availability

superficiality

mass-produced standardization

lack of authenticity

poor qualityTool of cultural imperialismIndia

Japan