The Real Cost of Fast Food
The door swings open easily, the smell of grease and fries pours out of the door enveloping you in a heavenly cloud. Its loud inside, but there's something comforting about it, it sounds like family, friends. You give a quick look around before you step into the short line, the tiles are an off white, something you've grown familiar to. You wait patiently for the small line to trickle away until it's your turn. It goes fast, you've always liked that about a restaurant. Soon you are in the front standing directly in front of the register ordering your usual proudly. You chat casually with the worker as you fork over your money. She slides you a plastic square, almost see through so you see all the wires.
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You don't think about it until you're hungry and want a quick bite to eat, and the only restaurant that comes to mind is mcdonalds. We are constantly being taken advantage of and we just let it happen. Companies pay million of dollars to have their products in movies. That red bull casually placed on the desk in your favorite move wasn't an accident. We shame the movies that include cigarette brands, but say nothing when these unhealthy eating habits are being thrust upon all of us? You don't think about it when it's happening and can't remember after the fact, but it's always happening. American children see 253 mcdonald's adds annually and that's just one company. By taking control of our youth they are taking control of us. No matter how much we dislike to admit it our youth are making most of our decisions, some seem just like small like decisions for example where to eat. Your money is your vote, so whoever you decide to give money to, whether food or its everyday items, you are giving them your support. Media is constantly influencing us and the fast food companies are taking advantage. When you're scrolling down instagram or snapchat and ad pops up, it's simple and quick, but it's still their. In other words fast food companies take advantage for our need for convenience. We …show more content…
A big change to bring it into the 21st century is much needed. In this time period the needs have to be met, so let's force our needs onto these companies, we need better pay and treatment for the employers and workers, we need kids to be able to have their own opinions and not taken advantage of, and we need for us the consumers to be heard and treated with the respect we deserve because without us their wouldn't be a them. Imagine a future where you walk in that door and our greeted with tons of smiling faces who are their because they want to be not just because they have to be, you know your food was made by some who was paid fairly for it, and the food is actually healthy and still has the same delicious taste. A future where kids are healthy and happy, not suffering from health diseases and risks.The future is coming whether or not you like it, it's time for the fast food companies to hop onto this idea or fade into
The New York Times bestseller Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal is one of the most riveting books to come out about fast food restaurants to date (Schlosser, 2004). Fast food consumption has become a way of life for many in the United States as well as many other countries in the world. The author Eric Schlosser an investigative reporter whose impeccable researching and bold interviewing captures the true essence of the immense impact that fast food restaurants are having in America (2004). Beginning with McDonald’s, the first fast food restaurant, which opened on April 15, 1955 in Des Plaines, Illinois to current trends of making fast food a global realization McDonald’s has paved the way for many fast food restaurants following the same basic ideal that is tasty foods served fast at a minimal cost (2011). Schlosser explains how fast food restaurants have gained substantial market share of the consumers; he also shows that by marketing to children and offering less unhealthful fare, that are purchased from mega-companies which are often camouflaged with added ingredients and cooked unhealthful ways, that these companies are indeed causing irreparable harm to our country (2004).
‘Fast Food Nation’ by Eric Schlosser traces the history of fast food industry from old hot dog stands to the billion dollar franchise companies established as America spread its influence of quick, easy and greasy cuisine around the globe. It is a brilliant piece of investigative journalism that looks deep into the industries that have profited from the American agriculture business, while engaging in labor practices that are often shameful.
The obesity problem in this country has gotten worse, a lot worse, and the surge in obesity can be tied directly to fast food. I was appalled by the fact that since 1980 the number of people either fat of obese has doubled, and in that time frame there are twice as many overweight children and three times as many overweight adolescents. Looking strictly at the numbers, it is very easy to find a direct correlation between the number of overweight or obese individuals and the number of fast food establishments. However these fast food outlets are not created in a vacuum, they are servicing a demand. Each day one in four Americans visits a fast food restaurant. Our culture has evolved to one of immediate gratification, we want it convenient, and we want it now. The fast food industry has simply seized that cultural demand and has taken advantage of it all the way to the bank. I think we have a cultural weakness that looks for someone to blame for our problems and McDonalds certainly makes a nice target.
Eric Schlossers book Fast Food Nation is not only an expose of the fast food industry but also shows how the fast food industry has shaped and defined society in America and other nations as the fast food culture spreads globally. He connects the social order of society to the kind of food it eats and the way it eats that food, and relates fast food to other social processes and institutions. His facts are based on years of research and study, and are presented in and easy to follow narrative. Schlosser is so thorough and convincing in his argument, it's impossible to read this book and not feel disenchanted by the unethical practices of fast food companies, shocked at its effect on our society, and empowered to do something about it. Fast Food Nation takes a look at what we don't see behind the fast food business, and questions a high cultural cost verses a low dollar value meal.
In “Don’t Blame the Eater,” David Zinzcenko illustrates a very valid argument. His conflict seems to be with the food industry and its horrible variety of products. The results have been staggering to the public’s health, especially teenagers. Fast food restaurants are Zinzcenko’s primary target for causing this epidemic. Zinzcenko stated, “lunch and dinner, for me, was a daily choice between McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Kentucky Fried Chicken or Pizza Hut. Then as now, these were the only available options for an American kid to get an affordable meal” (pg.241). This statement is very true and has been for a while. Fast food is very convenient, especially for teenagers. People are reaching obesity at a very early age and remain that way throughout their lives.
Out of the millions of ways to spend twelve hundred dollars yearly, American’s are found to spend this amount of money in the fast food industry. The working class, lower class, and children are mainly attracted through fast food marketing methods. These methods enable continuous growth within the fast food industry, and allow for it to be a staple for these socioeconomic groups. The nutritional value is not a top priority for both parties because it is inexpensive, made quickly, and taste good. These socioeconomic groups are vital towards the success of the fast food industry. It is producing billions of dollars in revenue from disadvantaged consumers, endangering meanwhile their health. They widely use the cradle-to-grave marketing strategy
Fast food has changed the face of the world. Major chains like McDonalds span all over the world. Fast food chains are continuing to grow despite numerous facts of their unhealthiness. Fast food has been proven to be a dangerous food source, yet people continue to purchase it. The more people buy fast food the more it allows the big corporations to grow. People continue to eat fast food because there are no other convenient options.
Ask a teenager what their favorite fast food restaurant is and most of them will probably say McDonalds. "McDonalds operates approx. 30,000 restaurants on 6 continents, and feeds about 46 million people in a single day! In the U.S. alone, McDonalds accounts for 43% of the fast food market." Manhattan alone contains 82 restaurants packed into the island (Super Size Me). McDonalds has been criticized by the media and other people for offering too many unhealthy choices on their menu, therefore leading to obesity in America. Eating too much McDonalds, or any other fatty food, will give you many long term health problems.
For instance, there are more McDonalds in Manhattan than anywhere else in the world. The city of Manhattan is only thirteen miles long, by two miles wide, and there are eighty three fast food locations which is nearly four stores per square mile. Also there is more McDonald’s location than Kentucky Fry Chicken, Popeye’s, Taco Bell and Wendy’s combined in Manhattan. Another thing that stood out to me in the documentary is that McDonald’s spent over 1.4 billion dollars on advertisements and Pepsi spent 1 billion dollars on direct advertising, Hersey candy spent 200 million dollars and the five a day fruit and vegetable campaign spent 2 million dollars on advertisements. The fast food industry impacts Americans because we spend a lot of money on it which most of the food is very unhealthy. In the movie, its states that 45 percent of families will go out to eat fast food instead of cooking at home. If customers start to eat at home and save their money, the big companies will reduce their prices on products. They will also increase their marketing strategies and advertisements to lure one to start purchasing again. Certainly the onus is not to be swayed by their strategies of lowering cost thinking it is a great deal for our money. The important factor is one 's
The fast food has a negative impact on the American people. The fast food industry can be compared to that of a drug dealer pushing their product down the throats of suspecting, but ever willing customers. The community is doing nothing to stop this going industry and yet encouraging them to continue to impact the health of its customers.
For millions, fast food restaurants are the source of positive associations with birthday parties, play dates and accessible comfort food. For others, they represent a lifeline meal on a busy day, or the secret to quieting a cranky toddler on a long trip because hurrying residents of cities have no time to cook a healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner. Fast food presents even in the lives of people who are trying
Remember how happy you were when your parents bought you a happy meal as a child. It came in that cool little red box with some fries and chicken nuggets. Oh, and best of all it always came with a toy; your parents would tell you not to open it until you finished your food but that never happened. Or the time you forgot money at home but still managed to scrap up a dollar and sixteen cents from your car for an iced sweet tea. Fast food always comes in the clutch, but what is really behind the happy meals and sweet teas. We all know fast food is not good for you, but who’s to blame. Is it fair that we blame fast-food chains or are we just to afraid to blame ourselves?
Many customers will buy more package food in the future as it is cheaper and more convenience because customers can buy it in high volume and keep it for the long time.
When researching McDonald’s through online sources, it is clear that nutrition is a major concern of the public visiting the fast-food chain. Secondary research conducted shows that there are several case studies and other secondary source searches around the same topic. McDonald’s has often been the center of nutritional attention within the fast-food industry. Secondary research shows that the restaurant has recently made changes to the American Happy Meal to reduce the amount of French fries offered and replace the portion with fruit (Strom, 2011). In a study conducted by McDonald’s a secondary source reports the meal cuts calories by 20% for the children’s meal (Strom, 2011). This is a critical move by the organization on children’s obesity is currently a hot topic within food chains and attention is driven by the Obama administration. Secondary research also shows that although the public has major health concerns with the food chain, profits are increasing during a high point of an economic recession (Dahan & Gittens, 2008). Acco...
The average American kid watches over two-hundred fifty McDonald’s advertisements a year on TV-- far more than any other fast-food company. Parents can not win the fight against McDonald’s advertising alone. Kids beg and plead to go to their favorite restaurant without knowing better. Parents can say no, but the kids throw fits. Ultimately, sometimes the kids win and they go to the restaurant and get the toy that they saw on TV. McDonald’s knows the kids do not care about the food inside the box, they care about the toy inside the box. Thus, McDonald’s spends over 520 million dollars on advertising and toys, 350 million dollars being on the toys alone (Neis). Children are exposed to far too many fast food ads, and the American government has done nothing to prevent