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It's hard to escape the constant barrage of advertisements from major fast-food chains like McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s. Despite the widely acknowledged fact that their offerings are far from healthy, a considerable number of Americans find themselves drawn to these establishments multiple times a week. Their appeal lies in their omnipresence, affordability, and, let's face it, the delicious taste. Fast food has seamlessly woven itself into the fabric of American society, and its grip shows no signs of loosening anytime soon.
McDonald's isn’t just a fast-food chain; it's become a symbol of America's service economy, responsible for a whopping 90% of new jobs in the country.
Picture this: in 1968, McDonald's had about a thousand restaurants; today, they're a global force with around thirty thousand outlets worldwide, adding nearly two thousand new ones every year. Astonishingly, one in every eight American workers has had a stint at McDonald’s. It's a colossal employment giant, annually hiring about a million people, surpassing every other American organization, public or private (Schlosser 5).
From a nutritionist's standpoint, the meteoric rise of fast-food giants is nothing short of bewildering.
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The irony is glaring: fast food, notorious for being unhealthy, continues its expansion. Ever wondered what gives McDonald's fries that distinctive taste? Initially, it was a mix of 7% cottonseed oil and 93% beef tallow. But, in 1990, faced with criticism over cholesterol, McDonald's switched to pure vegetable oil. To maintain the familiar flavor, they introduced “natural flavor” to the ingredient list — a euphemism for synthetic additives, a common theme in the processed foods dominating our diets (Schlosser 119).
Processed foods dominate American consumption, with a staggering 90% of our food budget going towards them.
The techniques used to process food, like canning and freezing, strip away much of its natural flavor. This is where the flavoring additives industry steps in, a shadowy world where companies like International Flavors and Fragrances operate from places like Dayton, New Jersey. Fast-food giants like McDonald's incorporate these additives to give their products that familiar taste, all while keeping the exact composition under wraps.
Fast-food companies are masters at marketing and advertising. They cleverly exploit the connection between memory and smell. Childhood experiences heavily influence our preferences, and fast-food companies capitalize on this by targeting children with items like "Happy Meals." The taste and smell of fast food create powerful nostalgic associations, explaining why some individuals find themselves craving these foods regularly. Studies even show that color plays a significant role in how we perceive taste, prompting fast-food companies to use additives to get the perfect visual appeal for their products.
Flavor has played a pivotal role in history, from shaping royal empires through the spice trade to Christopher Columbus sailing in 1492 in search of seasoning. The craving for flavor, historically decisive, continues to influence our choices today. The success or failure of modern corporations, be it soft-drink companies, snack-food manufacturers, or fast-food chains, hinges on how their products taste. Decades of research have led fast-food companies to create foods that not only satisfy cravings but also foster a dependence on their products, all at the expense of our nutritional well-being (Schlosser 123).
Eric Schlosser's exploration of the fast-food industry provides a critical lens through which to view its impact on American society. The industry's relentless growth, reliance on additives, and targeted marketing strategies pose serious concerns for public health. McDonald’s, with its global reach, epitomizes the unstoppable march of fast food into every aspect of our lives. To counter this influence, it's crucial for the public to become informed consumers, resisting the allure of convenient but nutritionally deficient options. The expansion of these fast-food giants can only be halted through collective awareness and conscientious choices, ensuring a healthier future for individuals and society as a whole.
The Fast-Food Dilemma: Its Grip on America's Health and Culture. (2017, Apr 01). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/fast-food-and-americans-essay
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