Fast Food Nation - Eric Schlosser [210]
“The real McDonald’s”: Quoted in Alby Gallun, “McDonald’s Mid-Life Crisis,” Crain’s Chicago Business, April 30, 2001.
277 One of President George W. Bush’s first acts: For the implications of Bush’s move, see “Working America Challenges Corporate America,” U.S. Newswire, March 6, 2001; Victor Epstein, “Arguments over Ergonomics Keenly Felt by Injured Workers,” Omaha World-Herald, March 8, 2001; and Mike Allen, “Bush Signs Repeal of Ergonomics Rules,” Washington Post, March 21, 2001.
Norwood sponsored legislation: In 1997, Norwood sponsored a bill (along with Congressman Joel Hefley from Colorado Springs) that essentially aimed to repeal the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. See “Hutchison, Hefley Introduce Proposals in House, Senate to Overhaul OSHA,” Asbestos & Lead Abatement Report, April 7, 1997.
repetitive stress injuries from skiing: See Sarah Anderson, “OSHA under Siege,” The Progressive, December 1995.
The meatpacking industry’s lobbyists were delighted: See Allison Beers, “USDA Plans to Change School Lunch Specs for Ground Beef, Pork, Turkey,” Food Chemical News, April 2, 2001; Marc Kauffman, “USDA Proposes to Reverse School Ground Beef Rules,” Washington Post, April 5, 2001; and Marian Burros, “U.S. Proposes End to Testing for Salmonella in School Beef,” New York Times, April 5, 2001.
roughly 5 million pounds were rejected: Cited in Beers, “USDA Plans”.
278 “For flavor enhancement”: Quoted in Viji Sundaram, “Where’s the Beef? It’s in Your French Fries,” India-West, April 5, 2001.
“Eating a cow for a Hindu”: Quoted in Laurie Goodstein, “For Hindus and Vegetarians, Surprise in McDonald’s Fries,” New York Times, May 20, 2001.
279 “We came to warn them”: Quoted in “Hardline Hindus: Close McDonald’s,” Ha’aretz, May 6, 2001.
“If you visit McDonald’s anywhere”: “Healthy Eating,” McDonald’s Corporation, Australian Web site, www.McDonalds.com.au, 2001.
adjusting its french fry recipe: Interview with Anna Rozenich, the McDonald’s Corporation.
“We regret if customers felt”: “McDonald’s French Fry Facts”, McDonald’s Corporation, May 2001.
“confusion” was the wrong word: Quoted in Transcript, “Class Action Suit Against McDonald’s Claims Company Misleads Consumers About Fry Oil,” CNN News, May 3, 2001.
“We apologize for any confusion”: The spokesman was Walt Riker, repeating a denial made on numerous occasions. Quoted in Transcript, “Class Action Suit.” See also “McDonald’s Apologizes,” Calgary Herald, May 25, 2001.
280 “Thank you for contacting us”: Letter from Beth Petersohn, Manager, Customer Satisfaction Department, McDonald’s Corporation, to Ms. Laura Strickland, May 5,1993.
the fast food industry did not gain any new customers: Cited in Robert O’Brien, “Consumer Update & Industry Outlook,” NPD Foodworld, March 2001. See also Milford Prewitt, “COEX Attendees Upbeat Despite Economic Cloud,” Nation’s Restaurant News, March 12, 2001, and Peter Romeo, “Is Fast Food Ill?”, Restaurant Business, April 1, 2001. Romeo, the editor of Restaurant Business, subsequently spoke with me about some of the marketing challenges and economic problems that the fast food industry now confronts.
not only hamburger chains, but also pizza: Cited in Robert O’Brien, “Consumer Update & Industry Outlook,” NPD Foodworld, March 2001.
at a cost of more than $70 million: Cited in Jennifer Ordonez, “How Burger King Got Burned in the Quest to Make the Perfect Fry,” Wall Street Journal, January 16, 2001
a “K minus” program: For the details and the rationale of “K minus,” see Richard Martin, “Taco Bell Accelerates ‘Value’ Exploration,” Nation’s Restaurant News, November 18, 1991; Ronald Henkoff, “Service is Everybody’s Business,” Fortune, June 27, 1994; and Tim Durnford, “Redefining Value: For Whom the Taco Bell Tolls,” Cornell Hotel & Restaurant Quarterly, June 1997.
fell by 9 percent in the fourth quarter: Cited in Chuck Hutchcraft, “Off the Mark,” Restaurants and Institutions, May 1, 2001.
281 “We are not doing a great job”: Quoted in