Task 1 – The globalization of

McDonald’s

Lesson 11

Q4. Do you regard the popularisation of McDonald’s worldwide as an example of cultural globalization? Why do you think so?

Yes. Yes. This is because McDonald’s fast food This is because McDonald’s fast food

dining culture and American dining culture dining culture and American dining culture have not only spread to different parts of have not only spread to different parts of the world, they also affect local dining the world, they also affect local dining cultures and lifestyles (e.g. people dine at cultures and lifestyles (e.g. people dine at McDonald’s instead of home) and values McDonald’s instead of home) and values (e.g. customers demand efficient service.)(e.g. customers demand efficient service.)

What you should learn? (p.44)

Economic globalization promotes cultural Economic globalization promotes cultural exchangeexchange

In Unit 4, we discussed how capital, goods and labour overcome In Unit 4, we discussed how capital, goods and labour overcome regional barriers and move globally. regional barriers and move globally.

Actually, as the world’s economies are integrating (Actually, as the world’s economies are integrating ( 結合結合 ), cultural ), cultural exchange also takes place at the same time.exchange also takes place at the same time.

The American fast food restaurant McDonald’s The American fast food restaurant McDonald’s has been expanding its business worldwide. has been expanding its business worldwide.

This not only shows that economic This not only shows that economic globalization is taking place, but also helps globalization is taking place, but also helps the dissemination (the dissemination ( 傳播傳播 ) of culture – bring ) of culture – bring American dining culture to all parts of the American dining culture to all parts of the world.world.

As another example, Starbucks Coffee’s global As another example, Starbucks Coffee’s global expansion has helped spread the habit of expansion has helped spread the habit of coffee drinking to all parts of the world.coffee drinking to all parts of the world.

E.g. Starbucks Coffee was established in 1971 E.g. Starbucks Coffee was established in 1971 in Seattle(in Seattle( 西雅圖西雅圖 ), America. In the 1990s, it ), America. In the 1990s, it expanded internationally. Currently, Starbucks expanded internationally. Currently, Starbucks has more than 9,000 outlets (has more than 9,000 outlets ( 店舖店舖 ) in over 30 ) in over 30 countries.countries.

Therefore, economic globalization and cultural Therefore, economic globalization and cultural globalization are closely related.globalization are closely related.

Task 2 – Changes in the local dining culture

Survey on fast food restaurants in Hong Kong

(August 2004) Major findings:Major findings:

98% of Hong Kong people 98% of Hong Kong people visited fast food restaurants visited fast food restaurants more than 7 times a month.more than 7 times a month.

11% of Hong Kong people 11% of Hong Kong people visited fast food restaurants visited fast food restaurants more than 21 times a month.more than 21 times a month.

The number of fast food restaurants was The number of fast food restaurants was about 10% of all the restaurants in Hong about 10% of all the restaurants in Hong Kong.Kong.

Between 2001 and 2003, the number of fast Between 2001 and 2003, the number of fast food chains (food chains ( 連鎖商店連鎖商店 ) increases by 14%.) increases by 14%.

McDonald’s was the most popular fast food McDonald’s was the most popular fast food restaurant in Hong Kong.restaurant in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong people spent approximately HK$11 Hong Kong people spent approximately HK$11 billion (110billion (110 億億 ) in fast food restaurants every ) in fast food restaurants every year, which is about 20% of the total sales year, which is about 20% of the total sales volume (volume ( 總銷量總銷量 ) in the food and beverage ) in the food and beverage industry (industry ( 飲食業飲食業 ).).

Types of food Hong Kong people consumed at fast food restaurants (p.45)

Western food 34%Western food 34% Chinese food 29%Chinese food 29% Hamburgers/ sandwiches 23%Hamburgers/ sandwiches 23% Others 14%Others 14%

3. Do you think western fast food restaurants have changed local dining habits? Why or why not?

Free response.Free response.

麥當勞放置 1 年無腐壞 專家質疑添加過量防腐劑

同一份麥當勞「開心樂園餐」，相隔同一份麥當勞「開心樂園餐」，相隔 1212 個月拍下的個月拍下的兩張照片，看起來竟然幾乎一模一樣。據香港兩張照片，看起來竟然幾乎一模一樣。據香港《《文匯文匯報報》》報導，一般來說，放了一年的食物應該發霉或分報導，一般來說，放了一年的食物應該發霉或分解成一堆廢料，但麥當勞兒童餐卻幾乎沒有腐壞，只解成一堆廢料，但麥當勞兒童餐卻幾乎沒有腐壞，只是漢堡牛扒萎縮和不新鮮的漢堡麵包乾裂。是漢堡牛扒萎縮和不新鮮的漢堡麵包乾裂。

拍下照片的美國營養師布魯索表示，這證明瞭拍下照片的美國營養師布魯索表示，這證明瞭麥當勞食物含太多防腐劑。她說麥當勞食物含太多防腐劑。她說 :: 「食物最終「食物最終應該要分解、腐壞並發出難聞臭味。」應該要分解、腐壞並發出難聞臭味。」

6262 歲、有歲、有 88 名孫兒的布魯索承認，她家靠近名孫兒的布魯索承認，她家靠近科羅拉多州丹佛落基山脈，氣候乾燥。但她補科羅拉多州丹佛落基山脈，氣候乾燥。但她補充，在為期一年的實驗期間，她多次開窗，卻充，在為期一年的實驗期間，她多次開窗，卻沒有蒼蠅或其他昆蟲被這些食物吸引。「如果沒有蒼蠅或其他昆蟲被這些食物吸引。「如果蒼蠅不吃開心樂園餐，蒼蠅不吃開心樂園餐， (( 說明說明 )) 微生物也無法微生物也無法分解它，那麼孩子的身體也無法正常地將它代分解它，那麼孩子的身體也無法正常地將它代謝。現在你知道它為什麼叫垃圾食物了吧。」 謝。現在你知道它為什麼叫垃圾食物了吧。」