The History of Food Chains | Lexington County Library

By Jennifer Leary
July 10, 2023
big mac, burger king, burgers, coffee, dairy queen, doritos locos, fast food, feuds, food history, fries, history, mcdonalds, starbucks, subway, taco bell

Eccentric Chapters in Fast Food History

Fast Food Chronicles

Big Mac, Filet-O-Fish, Quarter Pounder, French Fries, Icy Coke, Thick Shakes, Sundaes & Apple Pie

If you were a child of the 80s, had a crazy chorus instructor in the 90s or just love Mickey D’s, chances are you’ve got the melody of this jingle engraved somewhere in your memory. But did you know the OG McDonald’s didn’t even serve most of the lip-smacking items mentioned in the tune? Perhaps you’ve pondered the epic feud between Burger King and McDonalds and wondered why it started in the first place.

Members of the CIA have access to their own Starbucks. If you want to order a latte at Langley HQ, you’ll need a security clearance just to get in the door. Even baristas undergo extensive background checks and are escorted around the premises. It’s like straight out of a spy film.

Taco Bell’s iconic Doritos Locos Tacos was inspired by a late-night snack run where an innovative executive combined a taco with a bag of Doritos. Talk about a match made in cheesy heaven.

The legendary “I’m Lovin’ It” jingle, the one that often gets stuck in your head, was written by Pharrell Williams, Mr. Happy himself.

Subway, the largest food chain in the world, once attempted to create a sandwich that could be eaten upside down without any ingredients falling out. Sadly, the “Anti-Gravity Sub” didn’t quite defy the laws of physics.

McDonald’s conducted a wacky experiment by testing bubblegum-flavored broccoli, aiming to entice kids into munching on more veggies with a pop of unexpected sweetness.

In China, KFC took their finger-lickin’ obsession to the next level by introducing an edible nail polish available in two lip-smacking flavors: Original and Hot & Spicy. Now you can have a delicious snack and fabulous nails all at once.

To make the perfect dog, Nathan’s Hot Dogs once collaborated with a team of renowned mathematicians to develop an equation for the ideal bun-to-sausage ratio, achieving the pinnacle of hot dog perfection.

Domino’s Pizza once ran a promotion where they delivered piping hot pizzas to customers’ doors by the magical power of reindeer. Reindeer-powered pizza deliveries? Now that’s a sleigh-ride of flavor.

Dairy Queen’s iconic Blizzard treat, originally known as “Candy Bar Stash,” was accidentally invented when a worker at a Dairy Queen store mixed toppings with soft-serve ice cream using a machine.

Burger King delved into the realm of scentsational experiences by testing a cologne named “Flame.” This fragrance aimed to capture the tantalizing aroma of their flame-grilled burgers, allowing die-hard fans to smell as mouthwateringly irresistible as the Whopper.

Starbucks also experimented with a line of “Coffee Perfumes” that allowed customers to smell like their favorite brew. The scents ranged from “Espresso Elegance” to “Caramel Caffeination.”

Taco Bell’s original mascot, the iconic Gidget, took the late 90s by storm, becoming a bona fide cultural phenomenon. With a sassy attitude and irresistible charm, she stole hearts and left an indelible pawprint on Taco Bell’s advertising legacy.

In 1967, the McDonald’s jingle “You Deserve a Break Today” became so popular that it reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Fast food jingles can be catchy chart-toppers, too.

In a quest to create the world’s most caffeinated beverage, Starbucks introduced “Black Insomnia” — a potent concoction packing a staggering 702 milligrams of caffeine. Possible side effects: spontaneous dancing and high-speed chatter.

And last on the list but first in our library hearts ♥ …