Dark History 101: Dark History of Fast Food: Toxic, Tasty, and Targeting You
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Aug 30, 2023 This podcast explores the origins of fast food with the invention of the auto mat, the rise of automats and fast food in America, the early history of fast food in Wichita with Jay's hamburger stand, the impact of White Castle Burger on American culture, the negative experiences of a student in a hamburger study, the rise of drive-ins and fast food franchises, the impact of fast food culture, the unhealthy nature of fast food and its targeting of children, the science behind fast food addiction, and how fast food companies manipulate our eating habits and exploit addiction.
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Fast Food's Grip
- More people recognize McDonald's Golden Arches than the Christian cross.
- Fast food is engineered to be as addictive as drugs, blurring the line between a Big Mac and crack cocaine.
Rise of the Automat
- Automats, vending machine-style restaurants, offered fast, home-cooked meals for affordable prices, democratizing dining.
- Their popularity peaked in the 1940s, serving diverse clientele from all income levels.
Birth of the Burger
- Jay Walter Anderson, frustrated at a diner, accidentally invented the American hamburger by smashing a meatball and putting it in buns.
- He opened a successful stand, becoming the "King of Hamburgers."