Fast Food

Abstract

Fast food is the highly consumed food item in the world especially in the U.S. Most of its consumers are kids and youngsters below the age group of 16. Fast food is also popular among the working men and women due to its ready-made form and its availability 24/7. It is also convenient to get and order and inexpensive than ordinary food items. However, there are specific health issues associated with the fast food items as well such as high fats, calories, sugar, sodium. It also causes the several forms of the worst food poison. Fast food items are also criticized for its packaging in both precooking and after-cooking form. Several studies found that kids are highly influenced by the food items especially by watching their TV ads.

Table of Contents

Abstract2

Fast Food3

Introduction3

Overview4

Discussion5

Common concerns on consumption of fast food5

Trans fats/Obesity/Overweight6

Depression7

Excessive Sodium Intake7

Food Poisoning8

Packaging of Fast Food9

Advertising of the fast food9

Conclusions10

References12

Fast Food

Introduction

Fast food can be defined as the prepared meal that can be served quickly. Although any meal can be termed as the fast food that has low preparation time and can be served quickly, the term specifically used for the food served by restaurants that the preheated or precooked facilities to serve customers the food in the packaged form for the dine-in or take-away. Fast food can be used for the food items as well as for the fast food drinks. The fast food restaurants, widely acknowledged for the quality of their foods are hamburger, McDonald's, KFC, Mr. Burger, Burger King, Subway, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and the like. People like fast food because it is low in prices, and people do not have to consume their time sitting on any restaurant or hotel, they can simply order the food from the street and have it during walk, driving and working in the office. Many fast food restaurants are also providing the in-house excellent atmosphere to the customers, where they can spend their quality time with the family and friends. In fast food restaurants, a customer can enjoy the variety of meals in both vegetables and meat. The common vegetable found in the fast food is potato in the form of French fries. Chicken is commonly found in the meat items in the fast food. According to the statistics by Palo Alto Medical Foundation (2012, http://www.pamf.org) that fast food is the most favorite food item of people in America and almost 25% of peoplthe fast food consume "fast food" every day. It is found that youngsters and children are consuming more fast food not only in U.S. but all over the world.

Fast food restaurants are also subject to several criticisms due to the health and nutrition concerns among the number of doctors and nutritionists around the world. It is found in number of studies that fast food, though not necessarily to be unhealthy, but most of the time fast food contains extra calories, fat, sugar, and less vitamin and nutrition in the food (Bowman et al., 2004; Bowman & Vinyard, 2004; Duffey ...