The Impact Of The Fast Food Industry

Although fast food chains have been around since the 1920s, the fast food industry took off in the 1990s during the economic boom (Schlosser, 2001). Since this time, the industry has grown into one of the most successful industries. Fast food chains are so popular due to their convenience and their low prices. McDonald’s is known for its “dollar menu” and kids toys. As a child, the fast food industry tries to reel you in. Why would the industry worry about kids? Kids are not the ones paying for it. The children demand to get the food from their parents and they do not stop until they get what they want. A McDonald’s commercial plays on the television and shows the newest toy that is offered with a purchase of the Happy Meal. A kid is instantly

Fast food is known for being unhealthy due to poor ingredients. Fast food is highly processed and most likely deep fried in trans-fats. These ingredients lead to a higher likelihood of high cholesterol and heart attacks (Freeman, 2007). The recommended amount of calories to be eaten is one day is 1,500-1,800. In just one meal at a fast food restaurant, it is easy to eat 1,500 calories. Many fast food restaurants have tried to offer healthier options, such as salads or grilled chicken instead of fried, but this still is not accounting for the rest of the calories in a meal. A meal usually consists of an entrée, a side, and a drink. At most restaurants it is an option to buy a different side or a larger drink. A Bacon Deluxe Double at Wendy’s is 880 calories alone, then add in the fries and the drink. This is making the meal even unhealthier, but people want more since it is so addicting. The salts, sugars, and fats are highly addictive ingredients when combined together, known as trigger substances (Cardiff 2013). People become so addicted to these three ingredients that they crave fast food and constantly go back for more. Since the research claims that these three key ingredients are what causes fast food to be so addictive, it is a possibility that removing these ingredients would cause humans to stop craving fast food so often. The food has become so addicting that people will choose fast food for every

Many restaurants have a dollar menu or a value menu, where food is offered for a cheap price. Meals are around $5-$6 and by buying more food to make it a meal, money is being saved. An entrée, side, and a drink on their own could be close to $7-$8, but by making a meal out of it, a dollar or two is saved. This seems to lure people into buying meals because they are technically saving money and getting more food out of it. At fast food restaurants, they have cut the sizes of shakes, fries, and other foods in order to keep prices set at $1 and not give away the store. Fast food owners are not a fan of the dollar menus for the reason that there is not much profit being earned. Although owners are not fond of the menus, customers are very fond of them and owners know this will increase the amount of customers coming back to their restaurants (Tuttle, 2014). Parents are more prone to go to a fast food restaurant for dinner since it is fast, efficient, and affordable. A family of five can easily eat at McDonald’s for $20-$25, while going out to a real restaurant would be around $50 or more. Fast food restaurants know that keeping their prices low will encourage customers to keep coming back. Parents know they can rely on fast food restaurants for cheap meals for their kids and if they go often enough, kids are being exposed to addictive foods, causing obesity. Although fast food is cheaper, the prices add