The fast food industry has caused irrevocable changes to America's culture, workforce, and economy. The days of families dining together as a unit have become fewer, and for most the answer is quicker meal options. Companies like McDonald's have helped create many new jobs in America and continue to do so. Faster and cheaper food production has caused a rift in the American economy forcing farmers to adapt to the new way of producing food. In this way, the largest companies became economic giants. Technological advances, especially after industrialization, helped change the way products such as meat were handled. In the late 1800s, due to industrialization, Americans began mass producing, mass marketing, packaging, and distributing different types of food. Then, in the 1920s, the refrigerator was perfected. With this technological change, companies were able to store mass-produced meat. This has given people ideas on how to take advantage of this new way of handling food. Over the last century, the food industry has changed significantly. It's hard to imagine that food was processed any differently than today. The first White Castle opened in 1921 and then McDonald's in 1940. With the introduction of these types of restaurants, similar competitors such as Burger King and Taco Bell opened. Fast food was a completely new term that Americans were unfamiliar with. Back then, the demand and popularity of fast food was not what it is today. These companies we know so well today were not always the great companies we know today. The food Americans ate in these new restaurants was processed at a slower pace, but it was also more natural... . middle of paper ......a restaurant to have dinner with the family after a "hectic day" at the office in our always fast-paced and busy work environment. In conclusion it is clear that big business in the food sector has, through the use of advertising, contributed to the cultural changes that our society has experienced in recent decades. Large businesses observed a need that would positively aid consumer desires as times changed. This change has alleviated the task of preparing the family's daily evening meal. A fact that has taken on significant consequences in light of the average family which today is made up of two heads of household. An irrevocable change as it appears highly unlikely that our society will ever go back to having a single parent earning enough money to maintain a “normal” lifestyle in these fast-paced, highly technological times...