Part IV

[Kathryn Jasper]

Please post your response to Chapter 10, the epilouge, and afterword.
Please remember - at least 4 sentances, NO PROFANITY, correct grammar/
spelling, and use intelligence.

[Leslie Jones]

While reading chapter 10, I was surprised by the enthusiasm of foreign
countries to become "Americanized." When a brand new McDonald's opens
in a country, the people are overly excited. For example, when a
McDonald's opened in Kuwait, the people were so excited they were
willing to wait in a line that stretched for seven miles. Here in the
US, we have so many McDonald's it's possible to drive to another one
right down the street if we don't feel like waiting. (page 230) I
guess that's something we take for granted. One thing all of these
countries know is to market these products and ideas to children, no
matter what country you're from, because children accept things easily
and apply them to their emotions. Children in Beijing even believe
Ronald McDonald is "funny, gentle, and kind" and that "he understood
children's hearts." (page 231) Also on page 231, I learned that
telling people they will actually look "American" by eating American
food is another marketing technique. A Japanese billionaire once said
that if his countrymen eat McDonald's hamburgers and potatoes for a
thousand years, they will "become taller", their skin "will become
white" and their hair "will be blonde." I also noticed that while the
US and Germany haven't gotten along in the past, Germany has accepted
a lot of American pop culture, such as McDonald's. In the epilogue, I
found it funny that US federal officials and meatpacking executives
say that the US has the "safest food supply in the world" (page 263)
even though we had a lot of E. coli and Salmonella outbreaks. Because
they have to take full responsibility for their suppliers' behavior,
McDonald's often make demands to ensure that their products are safe
and the employees in the meatpacking plants are not mistreated. (page
268) It's a small step, but it's better than nothing.

[mrcbryson]

When I began reading chapter 10 I just felt ready to move past the
beginning because this town, Plauen, seemed so creepy from how the
author was presenting it to be. At first I thought the people who was
asking why did he want to go there was probably just exaggerating but
then he stated that “the people are open, friendly, unpretentious—and
yet somehow cursed,” (pg 225) and that they have “the most suicides
[and] It also had the highest unemployment rate” (pg 226). Once I
read those two lines I went back into this fear of something bad was
going to happen as he talked about the bombings, but in the end it
turned out that this town had the first McDonald’s in Germany so I
ended my worrying. As I continued to read on in the chapter I wasn’t
surprise as they talked about the overseas McDonald’s because
McDonald’s is known to be everywhere, but I was surprised when the
said that 5 new restaurants open a day (pg. 229). I thought it was
smart to advertise to kids being that kids are very persuasive at
times so when they talked more about advertising to kids I wasn’t
really shocked but I found it funny when they mentioned the guy who
was using the “you are what you eat” technique by telling the people
if they eat McDonald’s they would become taller, white, blonde for we
all know that is not true. To me I feel that people overseas takes
McDonald’s to be something more special than Americans because we just
see McDonald’s as a place to get some burgers for cheap and continue
on with our lives but these other countries value the restaurant and
get excited over it but when a new McDonald’s pop up in America we
barely notice it being that we have so many. When reading the
Afterword I looked up to the author of Fast Food Nation because he had
the perfect timing of when to release the book and I felt that it was
smart that he released it when it was a Mad Cow disease epidemic going
on, because it attracted many readers and agreed with him when he
stated that if the book was released earlier people probably would not
have paid it any attention (pg 271). I was instantly wowed when I
read the statistics on pg. 274 and learned that the main problems with
the Mad Cow disease was overseas in others countries because it was
just very interesting to me after just reading about E.Coli. In
addition to reading the Afterword, I instantly became disgusted when I
read about the cattle being fed cattle remains from other cattle
because that is not right to me, that’s cannibalism. At first while I
continued to read on about them feeding the remains to other animals I
was like oh that’s just like we do because we eat animals too but I
went but they bought it back up about feeding it to the cattle so I
went back to reread it and I realized that I had read it right the
first time and I was just like why would you feed cattle the remains
of their own kind? Another thing that grabbed my attention while
reading the Afterword was when the author talked about Taco Bell’s
troubles, because currently we are all in the know of the lawsuit
going on with Taco Bell and to read about the other problems Taco Bell
has faced in the past it was just something that really made me really
want to stop eating from Fast food places because of all these
problems with them but I realized that this is also the meat that we
get from the grocery stores so even if we do stop eating at these
restaurants we are still at risk just by buying the meat from our
local Kroger’s or Wal-Mart. I was even more shocked when the
president of the chain actually said, “We are not doing a great job in
terms of quality, in terms of speed, in terms of cleanliness in the
store,” (pg. 281). It’s the fact that their central person of their
company even admits to problems so I feel this should have been a sign
that there is something seriously going on that needs to be changed.
The thing I liked the most while reading is that the FDA banned
imports from Europe so the mad cow disease wouldn’t get to the U.S.
because that made me feel like we have a little security, but
afterwards the author stated about baby chicken getting fed their
ancestors. This is another cannibalism situation and it makes me
disgusted and angry because of the fact no one is doing anything to
try to prevent this from happening. I just don’t understand why they
just can’t feed these animals the natural way how they are suppose to
be fed instead of making them feed off of their own kind!

On Feb 9, 10:55 am, Kathryn Jasper <kathryn.jas...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Taryn Graham]

I find it very interesting how excited people overseas are getting
about Mcdonalds opening up in their neighborhoods. Its interesting
mainly because they really don't know the health risks that they are
putting themeselves in every time they eat fast food. I don't think
they understand how unhealthy it is. I also find it crazy how we in
America have so many Mcdonalds that we could just drive to another one
right down the street if we didn't feel like waiting(pg. 230). I also
found it very hilarious, yet disturbing, that a man named Den Fujita
would tell people that they will get taller, whiter, and more blonde
by eating McDonald's.(pg.231). I can't help but ask why people believe
such crazy things. Pg. 281. states that the glory days of the major
fast food chains seem to be over, and I can't help but think that it
is for the better.

> > spelling, and use intelligence.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Khloe Jones]

In the book, I read this, " 'If we eat McDonald's hamburgers and
potatoes for a thousand years.' Fujita once promised his countrymen,
'we will become taller, our skin will become white, and our hair will
be blonde.'(p.231) " No offense to anyone, but this is by far the
dumbest thing I have ever read. If nothing else that I have heard
convinces me, this has definately shown me how the image if America is
centered around fast food. I really hope the guy who said this wasn't
serious. Another quote that I found said, "The glory days of the major
chains seem to be over." That is so untrue. In my opinion fast food
restaurants in America are doing better than ever thanks to
globalization. There is no way that this quote is correct in my
opinion. I know that most of the food that me and my friends eat is
from a fast food restaurant. If this is true of all teens in America,
then imagine how much money these companies are making! I actually
enjoyed this book despite the fact that it made me so angry(I think
that's why I liked it).

> > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

[Autumn]

On Feb 9, 10:55 am, Kathryn Jasper <kathryn.jas...@gmail.com> wrote:

In contrast to the previous posts, I was not overly surprised by
foriegn countries' excitement to the introduction of fast food chains.
I read on page 229 that McDonald's was the first fast food franchise
Turkey had. 15 years ago, fast food places weren't a part of people's
lives in the distant country, so it was natural for them to conjecture
thier own thoughts of what the food would do to them. I'll admit their
guess that it would make them "American-like" is a bit bizzare.
Initiating business overseas has caused fast food chains to have an
immense profit increase; Germany has the largest overseas market.
(p231) Spreading different aspects of our American culture is an ideal
thing to do, but I believe we should educated the foreign countries on
how the food can affect the. The people who consume our foods aren't
always aware that there are many unhealthy side effects that follow
indulging in fast food places' food daily. On pages 239-243, I learned
there have been failded and succseful ways of improving foods to
better suite lives of others overseas. At the ending of the book, I
learned how lethal mad cow disease can be and how people who love
hamburgers should be careful, alert and lenient with their intake of
beef.

[Cirby Smith]

I was'nt suprised by the fact that they were suprised about a country
being excited about Mcdonalds being opened up in their country either.
However them thinking that it will make them american like is not
bizarre at due to two vital reasons. The first reason being: America
is one of the leading countries on a global scale so it only makes
sense that they would, "look up to us", because countries overseas
are constantly being introduced to the stereotypical idea of an
american and an american lifestyle, and Mcdonalds, Coke, and KFC are
probably the most common things ( and the most popular) associated
with these stereotypes, "The values, tastes and industrial practices
of the american fast food industry are being exported to every corner
of the globe, helping to create a homogenized international culture
that sociolologist Benjamin R. Barber has labeled "Mcworld", (pg.229).
The second reason, goes hand in hand with the first reason, and the
second reason would have to be westernization. After reading this book
and the afterwords pertaining to "mad cow disease", I have to say im
on the borderline of making the following decision: becoming a
vegetarian; not necessarily because it would prevent all food
problems, but it would make eating safer.

[Cirby Smith]

I meant to say, " I wasn't suprised by the fact that they were excited

[Ronisha Stewart]

I also found it very interesting that people overseas are getting so
excited about new McDonald's opening up. I don't see why though
because 5 new McDonald's open up everyday and at least 4 open
overseas(pg.229) but it just shows how the world is being taken over
and homogenized by McDonald's. I agree with Khloe when it comes to
Fujita's theory. That is kind of outrageous but people believe what
they believe. I found it crazy that they say US has the safest food
supply in the world (pg.263) because we've had outbreaks of E. Coli. I
thougt the overall book opened my eyes to the possibilities that we
don't actually know what we're eating and we should make better,
healthy choices.

[amira shotwell]

I also thought that Den Fujita's comment,"If we eat McDonald's
hamburgers and potatoes for a thousand years, we will become taller,
our skin will become white, and our hair will be blonde.", was bizarre.
(pg.231) I wasn't sure if he was serious or not, or if he was just
trying to get more people to buy McDonald's. The only way that the
people would look like Americans, would be the impact of obesity on
their population.(pg.240) I like the way that Dale Lasater runs his
farm. He cares more about the quality of the cattle, than he does
about the money he makes, which is the way that it should be. I also
liked Conway's, where everything is done locally,where the products
can easily be tracked, and most likely do not include artificial
flavoring. I disagreed with the idea to "ban advertising that preys
upon children".(pg.267) The companies need a way to advertise, and if
that is the most effective way that they have found, I feel like that
is ok. The parents are ultimately the ones who decide if the food gets
purchased or not, so child advertising is not sole problem. A lot of
people are finding problems with fast-food resteraunts and other large-
scale businesses, and I agree with some of the problems, but many are
unessesary and are wasting time for the solving of more important
issues, like the meat-packing companies.

On Feb 9, 10:55 am, Kathryn Jasper <kathryn.jas...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Trey]

While reading Chapter 10,I learned that some countries were being
Americanized.The countires were excited because of the openings of new
McDonalds.McDonald was Turkey's first fast food franchise(229).I also
learned that Germany has the largest overseas market(231).I was
surprised that the book said that the U.S has the safest food supply
even with the outbreaks of diseases(263) After reading this i realized
something.I realized that what we think we're eating isn't what we're
actually eating.So we don't know actually what we are eating.

On Feb 9, 10:55 am, Kathryn Jasper <kathryn.jas...@gmail.com> wrote:

[AsianMelo's]

When I started reading the chapter, it didn't catch my attention as
much as when I read this passage....'If we eat McDonald's hamburgers

and potatoes for a thousand years.' Fujita once promised his

countrymen, 'we will become taller, our skin will become white, and
our hair will be blonde.'(p.231) " Seriously? What a bunch of
bull(sorry). This remind me of an episode of SpongeBob, when he was
trying to sell chocolate bars and told them if they eat it, they would
never grow old or they would be more beautiful.....Only an idiot would
believe something like that. That idea end up contradicting itself.
Now instead of taller, whiter, and blonde hair, we end up with
obesity, cancers, and other types of weird things..Then reading
farther, I'm not amazed about how people in other countries are so
excited about an American fast food restaurant opening in their
country. Being able to have a fast food restaurant establish in their
country allow them to feel connected to America and the American
culture. Because the most important thing that represent American
culture is the million of fast food restaurant that we have. But they
don't understand how it effects our health in the United States
because our foods are chemically made to taste how we think it is
suppose to taste. Compare to the United States, other countries fast
food are actually fresh, and I know this from first hand experiences.
Instead of frozen meat patties or fries, they have fresh meat and
fries, which are cut and made right there, behind the counter.
"Federal officials and meatpacking executives often claim that the
United States has the safest food supply in the world,"(p.263) I found
this ironic because what about the workers slaughterhouses that are
getting cuts and injuries for the high demand of making meats? Surely
they forgot to include that in the reports.

[Amina Naantaanbuu-Joens]

It doesn't amaze me that other than its location, and the language of
the menu am the only differences between a Mc. Donald in Germany and
the Mc. Donald in America. As long as there are kids and teenagers
with parents that are willing to spend the prosperity of Mc. Donald in
inevitable. In the subchapter the circus in Chapter 10, it took me a
while to get the comodity behind it. But think about, one of the main
aspects of every circus is a freak show, in a freak show the symbolic
fat lady is always sought out. The known average American is the FAT
LADY in, in that the static’s have shown more than half of all
Americans adults and about one quarter of ALL Americans children are
know obsessed. Today about 44 million adult are obese in additional
to the 6 million who are super obese. Think about the average Mc.
Donald’s meal a large coke 310 calories, super fries 610, that's up to
910 calories not to mention the luxuries burger

[Felicia Wright]

I agree with Mel..and everyone else! If Dena Fujita was to say
that,"If we continue to eat McDonald's hamburgers and potatoes for
thousands of years, we will grow taller, our skin will become white,
and our hair will be blonde." in recent times, I could see it being
like the press conference that George Bush had when they threw that
shoe at him! That is the craziest thing I have ever heard; it is
stereotypical of Americans. Although we do eat a lot of fast food, I
think McDonald's and other globalized fast food chains are portraying
the message that that we are centered around it. Hence, to me, the
title of the book! But I also found it strange that so much of the
world is becoming Americanized and how much our food changes to diets
of the country's consumers . Our culture is bring mixed with their
culture and is influencing a lot of differences in these countries.
The grand opening of the McDonald's in Kuwait was crazy; a line that
strecthed 7 miles. It's funny when I read what the kids are saying
about Ronald McDonald and how he is "...funny, gentle, kind and he
understands children's hearts" because I didn't think that; I actually
use to scared of him!
When I read the statistics on obesity in America, I wasn't surprised!
This book personally for me has provided insight and background
information on the fast food business. At time the book didn't supply
interest, but it supplied what I needed to hear. Although some things
in the book was outrageous it did open my eyes to see the madness
behind what I was really eating:)

[John Robert Mosby a.k.a J.R. a.k.a. DJ Lil Sprinkles b.k.a Sprinkles]

I'm really not surprised that other countries want to become like
America. I mean, we open new McDonalds every day, and look at how
successful we have become. Also, Fujita's quote, "If we eat McDonald's
hamburgers and
potatoes for a thousand years we will become taller, our skin will

become white, and our hair will

be blonde."(p.231) may not have been so senseless to them. With all
the additives within our foods, they may have thought it could enhance
their growth and what not. Now we know that this statement is idiotic,
but maybe they don't have the knowledge that we have. Now what I did
find idiotic was that foreign countries believe that we have the
safest food in the world,(pg.263) even with the numerous diseases (E.
coli, Salmonella, etc.). Maybe these countries wish that they only had
to deal with food diseases like E. coli. Who knows? But at least
McDonalds is taking full responsibility for their suppliers actions
and are making attempts to make meat packing safer and to ensure the
safety of the meat packing employees. And whoever said that the food
chains glory days are over is one of the biggest fools alive. If
anything, they are becoming more popular than less.

On Feb 9, 10:55 am, Kathryn Jasper <kathryn.jas...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Brayy:)]

I agree with John, the image of America seems to be perfect to other
countries. Yet, actually it's horrible and twisted. About 280,000
Americans die every year from being overweight(p.242), and what do
obese people like.....FOOD.....and where do they get the food.....FAST
FOOD PLACES! If the people overseas saw this great big flaw, they
wouldn't be so interested in McDonald's popping up in their area.
McDonald's has more than 17,000 restaurants in more than 120 foreign
countries(p.229). If I was a person living in a foreign country and
new the truth to American's lives, I would oppose to every fast food
chain in my area, because obesity is hard to cure (p.243). Also, I
found this quote hilarious "If we eat McDonald's

hamburgers and potatoes for a thousand years we will become taller,
our skin will become white, and our hair will

be blonde(p.231)." I can't even come to explain it, but I found it
interesting. Also, I was glad to read that their are still people who
truly use fresh NEVER frozen beef patties, such as the Conway's (p.
258). I believe people should really do their research on their food,
or you can end up like poor America.

[Daniel Moore]

This section of the reading as it talked about fast food from
McDonald's and KFC expanding outside of the United States to overseas
to build upon profit margins and secure its future in the world was
not surprising. But when the book said most of the McDonald's
Corporations profit comes from overseas and that in Kuwait people were
lined up for 7 miles in their cars for the grand-opening of its first
McDonald's, these facts were amazing. It shocked me how much other
countries are wanting to be like the U.S., but they don't know how
much much the food hints to obesity. The facts about obesity in the
U.S. were not all that surprising but it has made me wonder about what
is it at these palces I'm eating.

[Crystal B.]

"The McDonald's Corporation recently used a new phrase to describe its
hopes for foreign conquest:global realization.A decade ago, McDonald's
had about three thousand restaurants outside the U.S; today it has
about seventeen thousand restaurants in more than 120 foreign
countries"(p.229).This was the first realization that had me awestruck
because it shows that anything can go from nothing to something
BIG.McDonald's was a prime example of this."In this chapter, I've
learned that the fast food industries mainly target young children
because they have the have big imaginations, and when they see
something that is entertaining to them, they automatically want what
catches their eyes.Which is McDonald's main priority (p.231).A
billionaire by the name of Den Fujita, brought McDonald's to Japan
three decades ago. He promised his counrymen that if they ate
McDonald's hamburgers and potatoes, they would become taller, their
skin will become white, and their hair will turn blonde(p.231).Which
is a ridiculous.In chapter epilogue, on (p.259), that "In-N-Out has
followed its own path:there are verses from the Bible on the bottom of
its soda cups."With that being said, I wondered that since IN-N-OUT
uses Bible scriptures, do the people that don't study the same
religion, find that offensive and don't go to them for business.Also,
the people that do study the Bible find that offensive too, because
the verses are at the bottom instead of somewhere else on the
cup.Maybe that makes them think that their trying to make a joke out
of it.The last thing that caught my attention was on (p.268), and it
stated "The fast food chains insist that suppliers follow strict
specifications regarding the sugar content, fat content, size, shape,
taste, and texture of their products."I think that some fast food
industries aren't as unhealthy and bad at all.We are looking to
closely at the cons of fast food, and not enough at the pros.We should
look forward to the restaurants that actually contribute to our
health! And maybe we could live happier and healthier lives just by
eating healthy but good food.

On Feb 9, 10:55 am, Kathryn Jasper <kathryn.jas...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Crystal B.]

[Crystal B.]

"The McDonald's corporation recently used a new phrase to describe its

hopes for foreign conquest: "global realization.A decade ago,

McDonald's had about three thousand restaurants outside the U.S.;

today it has about seventeen thousand restaurants in more than 120

foreign countries." (p.229).This was the first thing i read that I
like "wow" about because the chapter first starts out talking about
global realizations and the expanions of McDonald restaurants.It
really suggest that anything has the potential to increase by simply
uprising advertisement.But the basic targets for not only McDonalds,
but other franchisements is "young children" because they believe
young children,even though they have no authority, has the power to
increase a sale by the blink of an eye.Why do they target children?
Because they are attracted to things that make them laugh, have fun,
share with other kids, etc.And when they get attracted to those
things, they tend to want everything that catchs their eye.(p.231). In
Japan, Den Fujita, who brought McDonald's to Japan, stated that if
whoever eats McDonald's then their social status would increase.And he
also said that if they eat it, then countrymen would become
taller,skin would become white, and hair would turn blonde..lol.I
don't think so.I wonder if the men really thought that.(p.259)Toward
the end, I noticed that "In-N-Out has followed its own path:there are
verses from the Bible on the bottom of its soda cups."That also made
me wonder, because some people don't have the same religious status,
so In-N-Out has to have some kind of reason that they would do
that.Would even people that read the Bible not want to by anything
from them just because they have that on their cups?I think it might
start a dilemna if people really looked into it.But, the most of all,
what really led me to research was on (p.268) when he said, "The fast

food chains insist that suppliers follow strict specifications

regarding the sugar content,fat content size, shape, taste, and
texture of their products." Which led me to believe that maybe ALL the
fast food industries aren't the same. Maybe we are looking to close at
the cons to much, and not really realizing the
pros.

On Feb 9, 10:55 am, Kathryn Jasper <kathryn.jas...@gmail.com> wrote:

[KORT]

With agreeing with brasia on page 242, its saying how everyone is
becoming more and more overweight due to the “Americanization” of the
world because of our fast food places i.e., McDonald’s, which would be
sickening because everyone in the world would be walking around fat
from getting a $1 cheese burger from the dollar menu because of the
speed service available. What also prominent is that fast food
companies might be America’s leading export at the rate its going in
the future time also.

[Madison Harrison]

It was weird, yet quite intriguing how the people in other countries
were so excited about the McDonalds, beoming "Americanized". When they
really have no idea how GROSS it is. As Crystal quoted, "The
McDonald's Corporation recently used a new phrase to describe its

hopes for foreign conquest:global realization.A decade ago, McDonald's

had about three thousand restaurants outside the U.S; today it has

about seventeen thousand restaurants in more than 120 foreign

countries"(p.229). America, to other places, has an image of
perfection. Why? We have countless problems, as well, as other places.
One huge factor, which is resulted due to lack of exercise and eating
badly(fast food) is obesity, and obesity is hard to cure (p.243). What
should be learned from this is that we have a big influence on the
rest of the world, they see us as mostly perfect, so we should show
them actual perfection.

On Feb 9, 10:55 am, Kathryn Jasper <kathryn.jas...@gmail.com> wrote: