Many of the reasons Eric Schlosser gives to explain his distaste for the fast food industry I find rather re-assuring (Stuff the kids, Guardian, April 24).
It is worth noting that within living memory many Britons (let alone the Asian children with who Schlosser begins his story) couldn't afford a decent meal every day, and what they did get was unvaried, often low quality, and (when they got meat) sometimes actually poisonous. By contrast, the fast food restaurants of today will sell you a decent meal at all hours, at the cost of half an hours work at minimum wage.
And within living memory, food served to ordinary Britons in public eateries was prepared by un-trained 'cooks' in un-hygenic and un-inspected kitchens. Compared to this, Schlosser's description of fast food suppliers having "turned restaurant kitchens into little food factories", with their "origins in the assembly-line system" and their hefty training manuals sounds like a step forward. As does food that "always tastes the same" -- and is relatively unlikely to make you sick.
Of course, it would be great if everyone could afford the money and time to prepare meals from food purchased at Borough Market. For now, let's accept that McDonald's and Co. represent a step forward, and ensure everyone's living standard continues to rise, so they can eat better still.
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