Would You Like Fries With That?

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Recommended: Fast food and obesity today

In today’s changing society and economy, more and more people are frequenting quick service restaurants, known as fast-food. With our country running 24/7 and everyone working different hours, there is less time for households or individuals to make a home cooked meal. There are time constraints on lunch breaks for the working individual. Since they don’t have time to pack a lunch before work, many will go pick up food from their local fast-food establishment. The current quick service industry is filled with high fats, high sugars, and the majority of foods being cooked with or deep fried in oil. The current condition of the food industry and the lack of people making better choices are increasing our country’s and other country’s obesity rates. Some blame the fast food restaurant claiming that they don’t provide enough healthy options; while others blame the consumers for not making better choices or lack of exercise. Is the current rise in obesity the fault of the consumer, or is the fault of the quick service industry?
What is the current condition and some of the standards of the quick service industry? One of the more well-known changes in the quick service industry is the requirement to provide nutritional information upon request. What this allows the consumer do is to be able to look at the breakdown of the food they are about to eat. Most people that do look at the nutritional information use it to see the calories. Another large and well known change is the ban of trans-fat in California. The FDA passed the law banning the majority of trans-fats in California in 2008. Most fast food restaurants have now switched to peanut oil. This is a great step in the right direction, but the calories are still high. If you average ...

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..., Study Says." Fox News. FOX News Network, 03 Feb. 2014. Web. 14 May 2014. .
"Who's to Blame for Obesity? Policymakers, the Food Industry, or Individuals?" MedicalXpress. N.p., 22 Jan. 2014. Web. 14 May 2014. .
Muntel, Sarah. "Obesity Action Coalition » Fast Food – Is It the Enemy?" Obesity Action Coalition Fast Food Is It the Enemy Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2014. .
Powell, Alvin. "The Whys of Rising Obesity." Harvard Gazette. Harvard Gazette, 13 Sept. 2013. Web. 29 May 2014. .

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