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Name the word McDonald's in any foreign country and almost immediately everybody will understand the universal language of fast food restaurants. Indeed, the famous and ubiquitous golden arches have certainly become one of the most popular icons in the world. Like it or not, it is inevitable to think McDonald's when a discussion about American restaurants pops up. After all, America is the birthplace of the hamburger and fries, fast food restaurants and ''drive tru's''. It comes as no surprise, even though the idea is quite startling, that according to Eric Schlosser's book Fast Food nation, Ronald McDonald has become the most popular figure for children coming second only after Santa Claus, and that the golden arches icon has become much more popular nowadays than the Christian cross!

With McDonald's featuring restaurants found in over 119 countries and with over 31,000 restaurants spread abroad and worldwide, including McDonald's in the list of America's favorite restaurants is a must. The only big problem is that the list often stops there. Not many people across the pond are aware of any other restaurants abroad other than perhaps a few steakhouses and other members of the fast food industry.

The bigger problem now is questioning if fast food restaurants portray a negative image of America. On one hand it appears not to, this is demonstrated by the popularity of McDonald's restaurants in other countries. For instance, the McDonald's found in Paris on Champs Elysee is always packed with tourists and locals. At peak times, it is almost impossible to get a seat. According to dsng.net, the most popular McDonald's in the world is found in Pushkin Square in Moscow averaging about 30,000 customers a day!

The globalization of fast food chains over seas therefore, from a culinary point of view, is certainly a positive one. Even not so modern countries have rejoiced when the first McDonald's appeared in their underdeveloped country! It made these countries feel like they have achieved something big, something that somehow mae them equal to many other countries in the world.

While there are people rejoicing, however, there are always those complaining. Many people are not fond of fast foods, they accuse them of causing obesity, artery clogging diseases and they generally dislike the overall image of a franchising company taking over the world. It would not come as a surprise if one day a fast food restaurant would even open in Mars!

So yes, America and fast food go together just as cheeseburgers and fries. The next question therefore, is what do other countries think about America's propensity in serving Big Macs and Whoppers? After all, doesn't the local cuisine of a country somehow portray a bit the country itself?

Perhaps they simply think that we are busy people leading busy lifestyles. They may also think that we are lazy, obese and care less about leading a healthy life style. Or on the other hand, they may simply think we love to indulge in some tasty foods every now and then, regardless of the calories, fats and sugars, just as almost everybody else does after all, when they spot a fast food chain right around the corner. Truth is, with over 47 million customers each day, McDonald's must be doing something right and people are surely still loving it! Now you surely understand better why Ronald McDonald has always that big smile on his face!

Learn more about this author, Janet Farricelli.
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