What did research in Russia, Japan, and Hong Kong find about fast food and indigenous cuisines?

Anthropological research conducted in Russia, Japan, and Hong Kong does not support the claim that the spread of fast food undermines indigenous cuisines by forcing a homogenization of dietary preferences.1

Instead of replacing local food traditions, the introduction of fast-food chains has been found to influence public conduct and social behaviors in these regions:

• Japan: The popularity of McDonald’s hamburgers helped shift social etiquette regarding eating in public. It is now common for commuters in Tokyo to eat without using chopsticks or spoons, a practice previously considered a breach of etiquette.1
• Russia: The arrival of McDonald’s in Moscow initiated a social revolution in customer service. The company’s employee training programs helped replace the historically rude service standards with expectations for polite and friendly interactions.1
• Hong Kong: McDonald’s is credited with introducing the practice of queuing. By using monitors to organize customers into orderly lines, the chain helped establish queuing as a hallmark of the city's cosmopolitan, middle-class culture.1

Additionally, these restaurants have set new standards for public cleanliness and introduced Western consumer practices, such as the celebration of individual birthdays and the concept of personal choice in food selection.1