Chew on This

Kids love fast food. And the fast food industry definitely loves kids. It couldn’t survive without them. Did you know that the biggest toy company in the world is McDonald’s? It’s true. In fact, one out of every three toys given to a child in the United States each year is from a fast food restaurant. Not only has fast food reached into the toy industry, it’s moving into our schools. One out of every five public schools in the United States now serves brand name fast food. But do kids know what they’re eating? Where do fast food hamburgers come from? And what makes those fries taste so good? When Eric Schlosser’s best-selling book, Fast Food Nation, was published for adults in 2001, many called for his groundbreaking insight to be shared with young people. Now Schlosser, along with co-writer Charles Wilson, has investigated the subject further, uncovering new facts children need to know. In Chew On This, they share with kids the fascinating and sometimes frightening truth about what lurks between those sesame seed buns, what a chicken ‘nugget’ really is, and how the fast food industry has been feeding off children for generations. What really goes on behind the counter, in the factories, and in the corporate boardrooms? The Secret of the Fries: Discover why McDonald’s fries taste so good—and the surprising ingredient that kept vegetarians in the dark for years. The Youngster Business: Learn the tactics used to turn children into lifelong customers, from Happy Meal toys to commercials designed to make you nag your parents. From Farm to Factory: An unflinching look at where hamburgers and chicken nuggets really come from, and the hidden costs to animals, workers, and the environment. McSchools: See how cafeterias are turning into fast-food courts and what it means for students’ health when soda and junk food are sold on campus.