Not literally, though, but every year fewer and fewer individual restaurants survive in this world. Many economists fear that these large conglomerates will absorb part of the industry until they monopolize their specific piece of the pie. Much like Standard Oil in the 1800s, a lack of competition could lead to companies forcing consumers to eat low-quality food at the expense of price. Lack of competition in a free market will give the company too much power over the consumer, putting the company's profit interests ahead of its concern for consumer happiness. This fear is not ridiculous, the meat industry is already divided into 5 large companies. Fast food threatens to grow in the same box, the same few fast food chains (McDonald's, Burger King, Arby's and Jack in the Box) will move into small American towns and drive out the old restaurants and family restaurants, those who our parents would remain dear as old childhood memories. This process repeats itself over and over again: already attractive chains offer cheap food in large quantities that other places can't keep up with. Fast food is killing our food culture very quickly and replacing it with the same neon signs and tasteless food, but no one can compete with the simple but highly refined practices of the mega million.