QTPC 26

Quote: “Sinclair described a long list of practices in the meatpacking industry that threatened the health of consumers: the routine slaughter of diseased animals, the use of chemicals such as borax and glycerin to disguise the smell of spoiled beef, the deliberate mislabeling of canned meat, the tendency of workers to urinate and defecate on the kill floor” (204).

Talking Point: Since Sinclair’s novel was published over one hundred years ago, the FDA has been established and has set standards that food and drug companies must conform to. But the FDA does allow leeway, in ground beef production, there is a certain percentage of “junk” that can be in that mix.

Connection: I read Sinclair’s The Jungle when I was in fourth grade. Even though I do not remember it very well, I do remember that it was an interesting read.

QTPC 27

Quote: “When the first McDonald’s opened in East Germany, in December of 1990, the company was unsure how American food would be received there. On opening day the McDonald’s in Plauen served potato dumplings, aVogtland favorite, along with hamburgers and fries” (249).

Talking Point: It is quite interesting how McDonald’s, a privately held American company, can get into countries plagued with war, facing communism, or under oppression. The fact that McDonalds could enter East Germany so soon after the destruction of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union. It really shows the power that McDonald’s has and the “American” influence that they can put into different cultures.

Connection: Living in Montreal, Canada for three years allows me to have experience of witnessing the differences in the menu from country to country. I remember McD’s serving pizza, which was the weirdest thing, and they had a lot of different French inspired meals since Quebec is a mainly French speaking province.

QTPC 25

Quote: “Today it costs about $1.5 million to become a franchisee at Burger King or Carl’s Jr.; a McDonald’s franchisee pays roughly one-third that amount to open a restaurant (since the company owns or holds the lease on the property)” (98).

Talking Point: The capital investment is not the only thing one has to put into a franchise to become an owner. You also have to play a flat fee each month/quarter, pending on what corporate requires, and beyond that you have to pay a percentage fee to corporate for any profit that you make over the benchmarked amount set by corporate.

Connection: I have looked into different restaurants and chains that I could look at opening after graduation in the area that I am from—the area is mostly undeveloped in different eating establishments that are enjoyed in other big cities in the state. I was looking at Buffalo Wild Wings website one day, the closets BWW to me is in Delaware, and what they require to own a franchise is nothing compared to McDonalds. They require a certain number of years experience in the field, and a few million dollars, in illiquid and liquid assets, to even be considered as a potential owner.