The title of Tina Volpe’s book, THE FAST FOOD CRAZE, is misleading.  I read the title and felt the book would be all about the downfalls of eating fast food.  Following the popularity of the documentary/movie, “Super Size Me,” the nutritional value of fast food has been under much scrutiny.  However, THE FAST FOOD CRAZE is more of an in-depth look at why eating all meat is bad for you.  Basically, the book is pro-vegetarianism.

I have a plant in my house that I bought three years ago from a clearance rack for 50 cents.  I’m notorious for killing every plant I touch, from my husband’s Jade tree to spider plants.  This tropical plant, I have no idea what it is, thrives.  It has grown from three-inches to two feet, and it still grows a few inches every month.  My husband swears it is because I named my plant “Fred”, and I talk to him on a daily basis.  I believe that plants are living organisms, but that won’t stop me from eating one.  Therefore, no argument will persuade me from eating meat--not even the photographs that are included for shock value.

Tina Volpe is a firm believer that those who eat meat are wrong.  Her book is packed with information, studies and interviews with other vegetarians.  I won’t discount the information provided, other than to say that I have known a vegetarian who avoided everything including cheese and milk and ended up with cancer.  Stating that fast-food chains should have to put “May Cause Cancer” labels on their food seems extreme to me.  No diet offers you a lifetime guarantee to remain disease free.

I also had issues with the whole “you wouldn’t think of drinking dog’s milk or giraffe’s milk” argument.  If it was the popular drink for calcium, yes I probably would, instead the author suggests that humans should only drink human milk.  I breastfed both of my children, and my thought would be who is going to limit caffeine, drugs and alcohol for a lifetime to provide this “milk”?

If you are anti-meat, THE FAST FOOD CRAZE may appeal to you.  The rest of us will probably find little of interest.