What we eat has changed more in the last 40 years than in the previous 40,000. The survival of the current food system depends upon widespread ignorance of how it really operates.
Eric SchlosserRead
The executives who run the fast food industry are not bad men. They are businessmen. They will sell free-range, organic, grass-fed hamburgers if you demand it. They will sell whatever sells at a profit.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Business practices are driven by consumer demand rather than moral judgment.
This quote highlights the reality that executives in the fast food industry operate as businessmen primarily concerned with profitability. It suggests that if consumers demand healthier and more ethical food options, businesses will adapt to meet that demand, indicating the power of consumer choice in shaping industry practices.
Themes
BusinessConsumer DemandFast FoodMoralityProfit
In practice
Example use cases
During a business ethics lecture about consumer influence on industry standards.
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Fast food is popular because it's convenient, it's cheap, and it tastes good. But the real cost of eating fast food never appears on the menu.
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