From America to Mongolia, you can go into a restaurant run by a global fast-food chain, and buy the same meal. So how did fast food become so successful? Across the world, last year we spent more than 900 billion dollars on fast food. The USA, where it all began, consumes the most, but even in France, despite its history of haute cuisine, more than half of households regularly enjoy burgers and fries. Julia Paul learns about its origins in the USA, and hears how it spread globally, thanks to the franchise model. She speaks to a superfan who’s eaten at one chain in 25 countries. Critics say global brands shipping food around the world is bad for the environment and for local economies. There are some places where some brands have failed, and some where they haven’t even opened yet. Julia hears how local burgers, and the worldwide recession, saw off McDonalds in Iceland, and speaks to a Nigerian female chef who’s competing to offer fast local food in Lagos. If you would like to get in touch with the programme, email thefoodchain@bbc.co.uk. Presented and produced by Julia Paul. (Image: A large burger. Credit: Getty Images/BBC)
Can I get a Twister wrap meal?
Please eat again, please.
Welcome to the food chain from the BBC World Service.
I'm Julia Paul and this week I'm in one of the UK's 42,000 fast food restaurants.
What sauce would you like?
Red sauce.
So our options are pepper, mayo, barbecue sauce, sweet.
As you can hear, I'm not really a big fast food eater, but around the world, millions of you love the food they serve.
Last year you spent more than $900 billion on fast food and here in the UK, with the second biggest consumers after the USA, usually a quick McDonald's, something like that.
Is it a bit of a treat?
It is.
And it's no washing up.
Which restaurant do you prefer?
There's not a bad one.
Yeah, they're all good, convenient and that was lovely.
And we're not the only ones.
I will travel around the world just to eat KFC.
Eating KFC in 25 countries so far.
The Burger King we have here in Nigeria, people also patronizes them and majorly families.
You know, kids are comfortable when they hear, will you go to Burger King?