The Fast Food Industry

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Recommended: The affects of fast food on society

As general prices have risen and wages have fallen consumers have changed their spending habits in particular food. This has lead fast food joints to profits, proving that there is an upside to our low economy Today's industry faces high real-estate prices and highway strips teeming with fast-fooleries, there is now one restaurant for every 2,700 Americans, compared with one for every 7,000 in the late 1970s (Clark). Chains have been branching out into sports arenas, airports, hospitals, colleges, turnpike stops, mall food courts, kiosks, airline in-flight meal services and even zoos. Although critics would argue that fast food has caused an unhealthy society, it is important for society to acknowledge the positive aspects of the fast food industry as well.

Due to the advances in food technology producing tasty and easy-to-cook food, such as French fries and with changes in labor combined with women's importance in the workforce, have combined to produce industries able to cheaply and efficiently to meet the demands of our busy lives. Unlike the past, women don't have to spend two hours preparing dinner every night; many have risen to exceptional levels of corporate and political power. Majorities of the US population live on a very busy schedule; it is more convenient to stop by a drive-thru than spending time at the grocery stores looking for the ingredients.

According to Eric Schlosser’s Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal, “Roughly 12% of all American workers have worked at McDonald's” (137).This only considers McDonalds, if we would apply this to all fast food industries, there are more jobs created especially for teenagers. Fast food employees must learn to work together under sometimes stressful sit...

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...n the marketing industry. According to the same article as mentioned above, “Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are the world's two largest soft drink companies, are the thirteenth and twentieth largest advertisers in the world; together, they spent $2.4 billion on ads in 2001” (Charles). This proves that such companies start initially at the selling point, spending billions of dollars, and generating income around the economy.

In conclusion, the society directly concludes the fast foods’ detriments; however, we should also consider the positive aspects of the fast food industry. The consumers should not also blame such companies for obesity, because it’s the consumer’s responsibility to maintain their health. Overall, from a business point of view, the consumers benefit from an inexpensive meal, and the companies make their profits. Therefore, it is a win-win situation.

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