Fast Food (Death) Industry

There will need to be vast changes if there is to be a future planet to leave for the next generation. People have become comfortable with society pleasing at hand and foot with improving the ease of chores, errands, and duties than ever before. But is there any speculation how some things come as easy as they do, and what harm those may bring to the environment — or even worse — to society’s health? Is there a second thought to how with changes can come chaos without order? One of the most impeding real-life situations that is being swept under the rug and hidden is nutrition. Every other 30 seconds or so during a commercial break, initiates brainwashing of patrons with beef, bacon, and cheese. Candy, chips, or sodas. When listening closely, not one statement during the commercial mentions being good for the overall health, just how good it may taste. Many do not know, but commercials are no longer for prolonging health — just lessening life expectancy. If there is no action soon, children will die before their parents.

The fast food industry is a complex web, similarly like the pharmaceutical and the healthcare industry. These three industries work hard to make sure people stay sick, in order for the corporations to continue raking in the money. It runs like a hamster on a wheel, where the food corporations are the hamster, the wheel is the healthcare industry and the kibble that energizes the hamster is the pharmaceutical industry. Like other major corporations that reign in the United States, the food industry must also prioritize their stockholders and their financial return. Not only must they make profits, but corporations are forced to meet quarterly growth targets that are enforced by Wall Street (qtd. in Ludwig, Nestle 1809). Ultimately, corporations are left with two options being able to accomplish their goal: convince customers to eat more food or to increase profit margins which can be completed by rebranding and repackaging products. Americans already eat more calories than necessary in the daily intake without any concern to their health. Manipulating people to spend more money on food may be tricky if corporations do not want to pour more money into products when products sell currently without any extra assistance. So why not lower prices? Why not hand out coupons to make people believe they are getting a deal? When in reality, damage to long-term health makes them more money.

When thinking about how long term affects from fast foods may not show immediate symptoms, fast food industries tend to not have the best methods of maintaining or distributing their assets. The sadistic acts that are conducted in order to make products for fast food and grocery stores are barbaric and carry a lack of morality. Many times, diseased cows and chickens are left to die in their own feces and filth while those who seem to be “healthier” are stuffed in small crates or slots and continuously tortured and broken beginning their end of days. Leaked videos from undercover farm workers depict the abuse farm animals are forced to suffer before becoming another quarter pounder at McDonald’s. Baby calves are stomped until they are lifeless, cows are dehorned by a piping hot pair of shears without any anesthetics and their tails are cut off as well. In America, it seems to be an “outta sight, outta mind” mindset that seems to be consistent in many different aspects. But along the lines of our food, people do not strive to chase what is good for health, but what is good to the taste buds. That is where people lose the fight on food. People can continue to be swindled by food corporations because they know exactly what it would take to have people coming back: a new flavor. Marketing is the lifeline for food corporations. And with technological advancements, it has become easier than ever with social media and email newsletters. America needs to take back health and make food whole again. If it is not for the animals, which some people do tend to care less, people must do it for the children.

Child obesity is growing rapidly, and the culprit is no other than food. Fast food, chips, candy, soda, pizza to be specific have a greater impact on health than they have since the 1970’s. In fact, those numbers have tripled since then; meaning 1 in 5 school aged children and also young adults between the ages of 6 and 19 have obesity. (CDC Healthy Schools, Childhood Obesity Facts) With electronic entertainment becoming more adamant in normal life routine, children are not getting the necessary exercise to burn the calorie intake and results in fat. Diabetes used to be known as an “adult-onset condition”, but with the increase in obesity in youth, diabetes has been a growing concern amongst children as well. Type 2 diabetes is a condition that affects how the body absorbs and consumes sugars. With type 2 diabetes, the body will either not produce enough insulin to regulate glucose levels or your body resists the insulin which is productive in assisting to regulate movement of sugar in the cells. This is very serious due to the fact there is no cure for type 2 diabetes, but studies have shown that eating healthy, maintaining decent weight, and exercising can help stabilize the disease. (Mayo Clinic) Pre-diabetes plays a major factor in type 2 diabetes; having high blood sugar levels that go left untreated tend to be the biggest symptom for type 2 diabetes. The body converts liquid sugars into fats when the blood sugar is too high, in addition to lack of exercise, is a recipe for long term illness. Children are dying before they get the opportunity to live. Is this the work of changes in the American standards? Has society set up a death trap where there is no escape? Are people willing to exchange their commitments to fast food for their well-being? Their children’s?

References

1. Ludwig DS, Nestle M. Can the Food Industry Play a Constructive Role in the Obesity Epidemic? JAMA. 2008;300(15):1808–1811. doi:10.1001/jama.300.15.1808

2. “Obesity Facts.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 Apr. 2019, www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/obesity/facts.htm.

3. “Type 2 Diabetes.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 9 Jan. 2019, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20351193.