Fast Food Nation (by Jack Rosenthal)

[ By on May 15, 2017 ]

As an American, I think it’s natural to wonder what people from other countries think about us as a nation. It’s fascinating, and almost funny to get a different perspective from someone so distant from you. I want to explore a national stereotype that us as americans have not only accepted as a part of our society, but one that we have become oblivious to. This is the national crisis of obesity and fast food in the United States. So what makes america so huge? Is it lack of exercise? Sitting at the office to long? No money in the bank? Recent studies have shown that although those all have to do with living a healthy lifestyle, our problem in america is the constant temptation of fast, good looking, delicious, accessible, cheap food. The problem isn’t just their sheer existence. The problem lies in the foundation of companies business model, and the government’s subsidization of products like corn which help create 96% of starch products consumed by the US. It is virtually impossible to pass through a town or city in the US and not pass a Mcdonalds, Burger King, or Subway. These “restaurants”  have branded their names into american culture and american households. These chains have infected the american people more than any disease or sickness ever could. Its an epidemic that no perscription or doctor’s appointment can cure. Im fascinated on how this industry ticks, and how there does not seem to be an end to this disease.

Trackback URL

4 Comments on “Fast Food Nation (by Jack Rosenthal)”

  1. KNF

    Another consideration, apart from the proliferation of fast food, is the cost. A family of four can likely feed their family for a lot less money with concepts like the $1 menu than they can by buying fresh food. Unfortunately we live in a country where healthy and fresh food is a lot more expensive than fast food – and that is before the convenience factor. Just go to your local farmers’ market and check out the prices.

  2. KNF

    This topic was particularly interesting to me as well. I recently watched a documentary called “Fed Up” in which they discussed the rise of not only obesity in the United States, but also Type 2 diabetes, which hadn’t been found in young children 50 years ago. They claim that the increase in sugar intake in our diet has led to the obesity epidemic in our country. It is interesting how we have found a way to essentially poison our country with sugar while charging people for insulin pumps. Is there a way to solve this problem or has our relationship with food become too poisonous for our own good?

  3. KNF

    Kelley Nicholson-Flynn

    [ May 16, 2017 at 4:23 pm ]

    This is a project ripe for ethical exploration. First, you see the moral decisions in business. Second, there is a real demand for an assessment of the power / limitations of science in determining what makes a healthy diet. Finally, who is the moral agent?

  4. KNF

    How do you think capitalism plays a role in this cheap, unhealthy food being so widely accessible? After researching the health detriments of fast food, as well as the social and economic inequalities fast food restaurants seem to perpetuate, do you think that fast food places should even be legal? Or highly regulated maybe. I am thinking of a comparison between cigarette consumption and its risks, and fast food consumption and its risks, and how one has become much more regulated recently while fast food is still very under regulated.

Hi Stranger, reply with your thoughts:
