Now the subject of a film by Richard Linklater, Eric Schlosser's explosive bestseller ''Fast Food Nation: What the All-American Meal is Doing to the World'' tells the story of our love affair with fast food. Britain eats more fast food than any other country in Europe. It looks good, tastes good, and it's cheap. But the real cost never appears on the menu. Eric Schlosser visits the lab that re-creates the smell of strawberries; examines the safety records of abattoirs; reveals why the fries really taste so good and what lurks between the sesame buns - and shows how fast food is transforming not only our diets but our world. ''''Fast Food Nation'' has lifted the polystyrene lid on the global fast food industry ...and sparked a storm''. (''Observer''). ''Has wiped that smirk off the Happy Meal...Thanks to this man, you'll never eat a burger again''. (''Evening Standard''). ''Startling...Junk food, we learn, is just that ...left this reader vowing never to set foot in one of those outlets again''. (''Daily Mail''). ''This book tells you more than you really want to know when you're chomping on that hamburger...Have a nice day? Listen - you should live so long''. (''The Times'').Eric Schlosser is a correspondent for the Atlantic Monthly. His first book, ''Fast Food Nation'', was a major international bestseller. His work has appeared in the ''Atlantic Monthly'', ''Rolling Stone'' and the ''Guardian''. He has received a number of journalistic honours, including a National Magazine Award for an Atlantic Review article on the drug trade, which was later adapted into the book ''Reefer Madness''.