[Lee Stewart]

In the early 1900's, ground beef was actually a very unpopular food after the release of Upton Sinclair's exposé The Jungle, which revealed the meat packing industry's poor sanitation practices. Not only did White Castle establish itself as the first fast food hamburger chain, but it also helped reshape the public's perception of ground beef by focusing on the cleanliness of its restaurants. The buildings were painted white all over with stainless steel interiors, and employees wore spotless uniforms. Apparently, it worked.