--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Future historians, I hope, will consider…" description: "\"“Future historians, I hope, will consider the American fast food industry a relic of the twentieth century — a set of attitudes, systems, and beliefs t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/698/eric-schlosser-3894_faith_future-historians-i-hope-will-consider-t_1703788.png" --- # Future historians, I hope, will consider the American fast… ![“Future historians, I hope, will consider the American fast food industry a relic of the twentieth century — a set of attitudes, systems, and beliefs that emerged from postwar southern California, that embodied its limitless faith in technology, that quickly spread across the globe, flourished…” quote by Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/698/eric-schlosser-3894_faith_future-historians-i-hope-will-consider-t_1703788.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/698/eric-schlosser-3894_faith_future-historians-i-hope-will-consider-t_1703788.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/698/eric-schlosser-3894_faith_future-historians-i-hope-will-consider-t_1703788.png) > ““Future historians, I hope, will consider the American fast food industry a relic of the twentieth century — a set of attitudes, systems, and beliefs that emerged from postwar southern California, that embodied its limitless faith in technology, that quickly spread across the globe, flourished briefly, and then receded, once its true costs became clear and its thinking became obsolete. We cannot ignore the meaning of mad cow. It is one more warning about unintended consequences, about human arrogance and the blind worship of science.The same mindset that would add 4-methylacetophenone and solvent to your milkshake would also feed pigs to cows. Whatever replaces the fast food industry should be regional, diverse, authentic, unpredictable, sustainable, profitable — and humble. It should know its limits. People can be fed without being fattened or deceived.This new century may bring an impatience with conformity, a refusal to be kept in the dark, less greed, more compassion, less speed, more common sense, a sense of humor about brand essences and loyalties, a view of food as more than just fuel.Things don’t have to be the way they are. Despite all evidence to the contrary, I remain optimistic.”” [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The fast‑food model, driven by unchecked technological optimism, will become obsolete as its hidden costs emerge; future food should be local, diverse, sustainable, and humble. **In simple terms:** Fast food will fade; future food must be local and sustainable. Key Takeaway Embrace regional, ethical food systems. Themes technology food industry culture environment ethics Mood reflective optimistic critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - policy making - restaurant entrepreneurship - home cooking - community gardening - education curricula Key Concepts sustainability systems thinking consumer awareness Questions to Reflect On - How can we shift consumer habits toward local foods? - What policies can curb industrial food excess? A Different Perspective Fast food’s convenience may still dominate for many, limiting change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Fast food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fast-food/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Food industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food-industry/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Impatience Conformity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impatience-conformity-1176019/) [Industry Relic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry-relic-1156219/) [Sense of humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sense-of-humor/) [Southern california](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/southern-california/) [Thinking Obsolete](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-obsolete-1156220/) [Unintended consequences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unintended-consequences/) ## Related quotes > [Future historians, I hope, will consider the American fast food industry a relic of the twentieth century--a set of attitudes, systems, and beliefs that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-schlosser/future-historians-i-hope-will-consider-the-american-fast-food/) [Eric Schlosser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-schlosser/) > [The human mind moves always forward, alters its viewpoint and enlarges its thought substance, and the effect of these changes is to render past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-aurobindo/the-human-mind-moves-always-forward-alters-its-viewpoint-and-enlarges/) [Sri Aurobindo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-aurobindo/) > [“As events developed, the debate about jobs and energy extraction in general became more divisive. 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We cannot ignore the meaning of mad cow. It is one more warning about unintended consequences, about human arrogance and the blind worship of science.The same mindset that would add 4-methylacetophenone and solvent to your milkshake would also feed pigs to cows. Whatever replaces the fast food industry should be regional, diverse, authentic, unpredictable, sustainable, profitable — and humble. It should know its limits. People can be fed without being fattened or deceived.This new century may bring an impatience with conformity, a refusal to be kept in the dark, less greed, more compassion, less speed, more common sense, a sense of humor about brand essences and loyalties, a view of food as more than just fuel.Things don’t have to be the way they are. 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