FAST FOOD NATION by

Nurhaniza binti Md Kamis (2012891414) and Nina Suhaila binti Nor Wahid (2012611328) from
EH1103B1










Although the world is suffering from the economic downturn and various businesses are
forced to shut down, fast food industry has been making lots of money. This is because more
people eat fast food. Lisa (2013) states that fast food and fast casual restaurants accounted for
more than half of the top 10 most-visited businesses in America. Thus, America turns into fast
foods number one fan as it is the origin of fast food country. It has influenced entrepreneurs
nationwide, leading to lots of problems to the Americans; hence, steps on resolving them should
be taken.
Americans work more hours today than a few decades ago, and more women especially
mothers who are meal-preparers continue to enter the labor force. About 75% of all mothers are
working (Bowman & Vinyard, 2004). Therefore, they are left with less time for food shopping
and food preparation. This situation is reflected in the escalation of outside food consumption
which leads to addiction of fast food. Another factor that contributes to addiction of fast food
among Americans is the availability of fast food restaurant all over America. This makes them
spend more money on fast food than other expenses. The number of fast food places has
skyrocketed and more people eat fast food today. There are also thousands of McDonalds
restaurants worldwide nowadays compared to 1968 and a quarter of adult U.S. community visits
a fast food restaurant every day (Schlosser, 2011). These are the reasons Americans are easily
becoming fast food addicts.
Fast food industry in America had developed in fast-pace since its founding father first
established it. The original fast food restaurant designed had inspired entrepreneurs all over the
country. It all started when Richard and Maurice McDonald opened a burger bar drive-in in San
Bernardino a few years after they established their former drive-in restaurant selling hot dogs in
1937 (Schlosser, 2011). Despite getting richer, they wanted to boost the speed and reducing the
price. This was due to attract more customers so that the sales would escalate. Hence, they
introduced a new system by using paper wares and dividing the food preparation into several
tasks performed by different workers. Besides, all hamburgers are sold in the same condiments.
The popularity of McDonalds restaurant had moved entrepreneurs in America to copy the
restaurant in their hometowns. For instance, William Rosenberg opened a doughnut shop called
Dunkin Donuts in 1948, the first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant opened in 1952 near Salt
Lake City, Utah by Harland Sander, and Thomas S. Monaghan established a pizzeria in Ypsilanti,
Michigan called Dominos with his brother (Schlosser, 2011).
Numerous tribulations due to fast food industry have been disturbing America.
Underdeveloped growth of children happens everywhere as kids nowadays are exposed to soda.
It leads to calcium deficiencies and a greater likelihood of bone fractures. According to Schlosser
(2011), soda depletion among teenagers reaches an average of 12 ounces a day in United States
in 1978. Besides, fast food workers face injustice on the job as many of the workers are
teenagers with youthful inexperience. They are easily used and controlled by the employers to
work overtime with no extra payment. They also confront low wages, untrained jobs and
unguaranteed permanent employment. These injustices have led to crime as more restaurant
workers were killed on the job than police officers in 1998 (Schlosser, 2011). Furthermore,
workers in meatpacking industry also face troubles when the company always neglects their
workers safety. This causes them to have lacerations that often stab themselves or others
working nearby, tendinitis and cumulative trauma disorders, back problems, shoulder problems,
carpal tunnel syndrome, and trigger finger which is a syndrome of a finger becomes frozen in a
curled position. The fast food industry correspondingly has facilitated the introduction of deadly
pathogens such as E. coli 0157:H7 into Americas hamburger meat which is a food aggressively
marketed to children, for they illegally market contaminated meats. About half a million
Americans, mostly children, have been made ill by E. coli 0157:H7 in 2001 whereas thousands
have been hospitalized, and hundreds have died (Schlosser, 2011).
One way or another, all of Americans should play a part on reducing the problems caused
by the fast food industry. For instance, the government should prohibit the advertisements of
unhealthy foods to children. This would encourage the fast food chains to alter the recipes for
their childrens meals to pick up the diet of the nations kids that has been deteriorating.
According to Schlosser (2011), more than 90% of them eat at McDonalds monthly. In addition,
the fast food industry should serve the workers their rights. This can be fulfilled if a strict
enforcement of labor laws and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
regulations are taken on workplace violence at the restaurants. The federal government must
also insist that fast food companies have job training schemes that ensure one year minimum
employment. Moreover, strict regulations must cover every aspect of meat production by
prohibiting the inclusion of animal wastes in feed, banning the use of hormones as growth
stimulants, and confiscating the tainted meats before contributing them all over the country.
Concisely, fast food that has completely turned into must-have meal all over America
already causes problems to its netizen. America who is the founder and the leading country in
consuming fast food has been overwhelmed by these harms whether in the aspects of health,
safety or career. Thus, all of Americans should exercise the solutions regarding the crises to lead
a better life.

REFERENCES
Bowman, S.A. & Vinyard, B.T. (2004). Fast food consumption of U.S. adults: Impact on energy
and nutrient intakes and overweight status. Journal of the American College of Nutrition,
23(2), 163168.
Lisa, M. (2013, June 13) Fast food nation: Insights into Americas relationship with fast,
casual dining, International Business Times. Retrieved July 1, 2013, from
http://www.ibtimes.com/fast-food-nation-insights-americas-relationship-fast-casual-
dining-1305745
Schlosser, E. (2011). Fast food nation: The dark side of the all-American meal. London: Penguin
Books.