Schlosser examines and discusses how the increasing dominance of fast food and the whole industry supporting it, have lead to a number of changes in American society. In particular he argues that companies involved in the fast food industry have used their political influence to increase their own profits at the expense of the health of the nation and the social conditions of its workers.
In his examination of the meatpacking industry Schlosser finds that is it now dominated by casual immigrant labour and that levels of injury are among highest of any occupation in the United States.
Schlosser notes that there are more robberies at fast-food restaurants than at banks, gas stations or convenience stores.