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Fast Food>Fast Food Essay:A type of mass-produced food, designed for commercial resale is known as fast food. In this type of food items, strong priority is given to ‘speed of service’ over any other relevant factors involved in culinary science.Fast food is a type of food that is designed to deliver the order in the quickest way possible available at any eating joints. Fast foods were developed to make the process of food serving as smooth as possible, and it indeed has beenable to meet its demands in the best ways possible.Long and Short Essays on Fast Food for Students and Kids in EnglishWe are providing the students with essay samples on a long essay of 500 words and a short essay of 150 words on the topic Fast Food for reference.Long Essay on Fast Food 500 Words in EnglishLong Essay on Fast Food is usually given to classes 7, 8, 9, and 10.As the name suggests, fast foods are food items that are quickly made, quickly served and quickly eaten. Life today has become fast, and the changes in the lifestyle of people have gotten them addicted to food items that can be readily made. Fast food is the name coined for food items that are either available pre-cooked or can be cooked in a lesser time than regular food.People find it desirable and convenient to eat such food items as they please their taste buds more than regular food. Fast foods can be easily prepared without much hustle and are served inmany places like take-outs, sit-down restaurants, counter services, drive-thru and delivery.Fast food has gained its popularity as it is convenient, tastes good and inexpensive. Fast food was created as a commercial strategy to accommodate the larger number of by travellers, wage workers and commuters who often did not have the time to sit down at a table and wait for their meal.When the speed of service was made the priority, the inconvenience of the customers who had limitations on their time and could not wait for their food was tackled with. Even thoughseveral items can be cooked fast, the commercial term for food items in restaurants or stores with precooked, frozen or preheated ingredients is ‘fast food’. These stored food items are served to customers in a packed form for takeaway.Processed food items like pizzas, noodles, white bread, diet soda etc. are various fast foods. Fast food is often prepared with ingredients that are cheap such as high-fat meat, added sugar and fats and refined grains instead of nutrient ingredients such as whole grains, lean proteins, vegetables and fresh fruits.Fast food is high on sodium as it is used as a preservative, making the food more flavourful and satisfying. There is no such thing as ‘bad’ food, but there are some food items that should not be consumed regularly. Fast food items are high in saturated fats, trans fats, sodium and cholesterol.Fast foods have several side effects. Eating fast food has been associated with cardiovascular diseases, obesity, high cholesterol, colorectal cancer, insulin resistance condition and depression. Excessive consumption of fast foods results in affecting the brain, which in turnresults in affecting the mental health of the person.People tend to binge on fast foods that have a high level of fats and sugar which affects their brain making it hard to say no. studies performed by scientist have shown that large doses of fast foods stimulate the brains natural opioids which produces a high similar to –though less intense –than that produced by heroin and cocaine.Consumption of fast food in an excessive amount has adverse effects on the body –affecting the respiratory system, nervous system,reproductive system integumentary system and also the skeletal system. In today’s world, two out of three adults are considered obese or overweight in the US.The fast-food industry is a million-dollar industry serving people each day all over the globe. The consumption of fast takeaway food is rapidly replacing a traditional family dinner.Short Essay on Fast Food 150 Words in EnglishShort Essay on Fast Food is usually given to classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.Food items that are easily prepared and available yet are low on their nutritional values are fast food items. Fast foods have gained their popularity for their convenience and inexpensiveness; these foods also serve as a treat for one’s taste buds.Fast foods have no or very less nutritional value and can be extremely unhealthy. Fast foods have several side effects, and the most immediate effect is on the energy levels that reach their peak on the consumption of fast food items. As one eats a quick snack, the temptation to have more is a result due to this spike inenergy levels. Sometimes even the energy levels remain high, causing sleep disorders.Consumption of fast foods causes drowsiness, and the ability to concentrate reduces. This is because the food items are excess in oils calories and are not easy to digest. Other side effects are not immediate but harm one’s health and body.10 Lines on Fast Food Essay in English1. The fast-food industry is a multibillion-dollar industry.2. In the year 2018, the fast-food industry was estimated to have a worth of $570billion daily. 3. Fast food restaurants traditionally have drive-thrus for serving food to their customers. 4. Fast foods came into existence with the first fish and chips shops in Britain during the 1860s. 5. In the 1950s drive-thru restaurants first became popular in the United States. 6. Merriam-Webster first recognized the term ‘fast food’ in the year 1951. 7. In the year 2013, an average couple in the US 47 minutes and 19 seconds per day on food preparation. 8. On average, a fast-food meal is worth one’s daily calorie intake. 9. Studies have shown that fast foods have detrimental effects on thehuman mind. 10. Consumption of fast food daily disrupts the flow of flood to the brain.FAQ’s on Fast Food EssayQuestion 1.Is fast food and junk food the same?Answer:The term junk food is not as same as fast food. Junk foods are mainly foods which are relatively low in nutrients compared to their energy content.Question 2.Why is fast food so unhealthy?Answer:Fast foods are not necessarily bad, but in many cases, it is highly processed containing large amounts of carbohydrates, added sugar, salt (sodium) and unhealthy fats.Question 3.Do fast food items have any nutritional value?Answer:Fast foods often are high on calories, yet offering little or no nutritional value.Question 4.What makes fast food so addictive?Answer:Consumption of fast food that is high on sugar and fat daily causes changes in the human brain, making the food hard to resist.。
Fast food has become an integral part of modern society,offering convenience and quick sustenance to busy individuals.The rise of fast food chains around the world has revolutionized the way people eat,particularly in urban areas where time is of the essence.The Origin and Growth of Fast Food:Fast food originated in the United States in the early20th century,with the advent of drivein restaurants and the first McDonalds franchise in1940.The concept quickly spread,and by the latter half of the century,fast food chains had become a global phenomenon.The growth of fast food is attributed to its affordability,speed of service, and standardized taste.Types of Fast Food:Fast food encompasses a wide variety of cuisines,from Americanstyle burgers and fries to Asianinspired dishes like sushi and noodles.Popular items include hamburgers,hot dogs,fried chicken,pizza,tacos,and subs.These foods are typically characterized by their high calorie content,use of processed ingredients,and minimal preparation time.Health Implications:One of the most significant concerns associated with fast food is its impact on health. Many fast food items are high in saturated fats,sugars,and sodium,which can contribute to obesity,heart disease,and diabetes.Despite these concerns,the industry has made efforts to introduce healthier options,such as salads,grilled items,and lowercalorie beverages.Cultural Impact:Fast food has had a profound cultural impact,influencing not only eating habits but also social behaviors.It has become synonymous with convenience and efficiency,often associated with the fastpaced lifestyle of urban living.Additionally,fast food chains have become cultural icons,with their logos and mascots recognized worldwide.Economic Influence:The fast food industry is a major economic force,providing employment opportunities and contributing to local economies.However,it has also been criticized for its labor practices,including low wages and limited benefits for employees. Environmental Considerations:The environmental impact of fast food is another area of concern.The industry is often linked to deforestation,pollution from packaging,and the excessive use of water and energy resources.Efforts to make fast food more sustainable include sourcing ingredients from local producers and reducing packaging waste.Future of Fast Food:The future of fast food is likely to involve a continued focus on convenience,but with a growing emphasis on health,sustainability,and ethical practices.There is a trend towards more diverse menus that cater to various dietary needs and preferences,including vegetarian,vegan,and glutenfree options.In conclusion,fast food is a complex and multifaceted aspect of contemporary society. While it offers undeniable benefits in terms of convenience and affordability,it also presents challenges related to health,culture,and the environment.As consumers become more aware and discerning,the industry will need to adapt to meet these evolving expectations.。
Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American MealFast food nation 这部电影是根据Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of theAll-American Meal这本书改编的。
该书早在2001年就已经问世。
但显然，还是影像的影响力要大，是电影让书更深入人心。
Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of theAll-American Meal is a book by investigativejournalist Eric Schlosser that examines the localand global influence of the United States fast foodindustry.Schlosser examines the history and growth of fastfood restaurants in American culture. Schlosserargues that the fast food industry wields powerfuleconomic - and therefore political - influence onAmerican culture, and exploits that influence toincrease profits at the expense of public health andthe social conditions of its workers. In the process ofmaking that argument, however, he provides aninteresting portrait of the way fast food culture is aunique product of American history, related to theemergence of the automobile, the homogenization of corporate culture, changes in labour conditions, and of course, globalization. He also provides surprisingly respectful biographies of some of the "founding fathers" of fast food, including Carl Karcher, Ray Kroc, and others. The fast food industry, writes Schlosser, "has helped to transform not only the American diet, but also our landscape, economy, workforce, and popular culture".Schlosser opens the book with the ironic delivery of a Domino's pizza to the "top secret" military base, Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado. He describes varioushigh-tech capabilities of the base and its extensive defensive system, speculating that if the worst were to happen and the entire base were entombed in the mountain, anthropologists of the future would discover random fast food wrappers scattered amongst military hardware. Both, suggests Schlosser, give important clues about the nature of American society.The book continues with an account of the evolution of fast food and how it coincided with the advent of the automobile. He explains the transformation from countless independent restaurants into a few uniform franchises. This shift led to a production-line kitchen prototype, standardization, self-service, and a change in marketing demographics: from teenager to family-oriented. Regarding the topic of child-targeted marketing, Schlosser explains how the McDonald's Corporation modeled the marketing tactics of The Walt Disney Company, which inspired thecreation of advertising icons such as Ronald McDonald and his supporting characters. He also mentions the implementation of toys in McDonald's renowned'Happy Meals' as an example of the issues presented in his proposed argument. The theory behind this shift to child-targeted marketing was that it would not only attractchildren but also their parents and grandparents aswell. More importantly, it would instill brand loyaltyin them, which would persist throughout adulthoodthrough nostalgic associations to McDonald's. Its illsare discussed: the exploitation of children's naivety,trusting nature and that the average child watches21 hours of television per week. This also includes100,000 tv advertisements a year.Schlosser states that corporate tax cuts that havecompromised school funding have presented manycorporations with the opportunity for sponsorshipwithin those same schools. According to sources,80% of the sponsored textbooks contain materialthat is biased in favor of the sponsors, and 30% ofhigh schools offer fast foods in their cafeterias.Furthermore, high school student Mike Cameron was suspended from school for an incident on "Coke day"; during a promotional event, the student exhibited a Pepsi t-shirt while he and other students clad in red and white formed the word 'Coke' in the football field that was to be photographed aerially.In his examination of the meat packing industry Schlosser finds that it is now dominated by casual, easily exploited immigrant labor and that levels of injury are among the highest of any occupation in the United States. Schlosser discusses his findings on meat packing companies IBP, Inc. and Kenny Monfort. Also, Schlosser retells the steps of meat processing, and notes several hazardous practices unknown to most consumers; for example, the practice of rendering dead pigs & horses and chicken manure into cattle feed. Schlosser notes that practices like these were responsible for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, aka Mad Cow Disease 疯牛病), as well as introducing dangerous bacteria, such as E. coliO157:H7 (大肠杆菌中的一种), into the food supply.Schlosser notes that there are more robberies at fast-food restaurants than at banks, gas stations or convenience stores.In the later section of the book, the fast food industry's role in globalization is discussed, linking increased obesity in China and Japan with the arrival of fast food.A summary of the McLibel case is included.In later editions, Schlosser has added a final section, including reviews of his book, counters to some critics that emerged since first publication, and then discusses theeffect that the threat of BSE had on the US Government’s policy towards cattle farming. He concludes that, given the swift, decisive and effective action that took place as a result of this interest and intervention, many of the problems documented in the book are solvable, given enough political will.。
雅思高分作文Fast food句子解析1.Many people today frequent fast-food restaurants, because of the fast pace of life and irregular working hours. 译文：许多人如今经常光顾快餐店，因为快节奏的生活和不规律的工作时间。
主语：Many people谓语：frequent宾语：fast-food restaurants原因状语：because of the fast pace of life and irregular working hours2.Fast food can affect families adversely and also cause some problems at the societal level.译文：快餐对家庭产生了不利影响，同时也造成了社会问题。
主语：Fast food谓语：can affect, cause宾语：families，some problems状语：at the societal level3.The reliance on fast food rather than traditional diets has become a health issue in some societies, where the number of overweight people has increased dramatically.译文：对快餐的依赖，而不是传统饮食，给社会带来了健康问题，超重的人数急剧增长。
主语：The reliance状语：on fast food rather than traditional diets谓语：has become宾语：a health issue状语：in some societies,定语从句：where the number of overweight people has increased dramatically.4.It is not only because fast food is high in fat, sugar, salt and calories but also because fast food is served in large portions.译文：因为快餐不仅脂肪、糖、盐和卡路里的含量很高，而且分量很大。
英语作文fast food英文回答：Fast food, the epitome of convenience and affordability, has become an integral part of our modern society. Itoffers a quick and easy way to satisfy hunger without breaking the bank. However, the allure of fast food comesat a cost to our health and well-being.One of the most significant health concerns associated with fast food is its high content of unhealthy fats. Saturated and trans fats, found in abundance in processed meats, fried foods, and dairy products, increase the riskof cardiovascular disease, stroke, and obesity. Moreover, fast food is often laden with added sugars, whichcontribute to weight gain, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.Another concern is the excessive salt content in fast food. Consuming too much sodium can lead to high bloodpressure, heart disease, and other health problems. Fast food is also notoriously low in essential nutrients such as fiber, vitamins, and minerals. These nutrients are vitalfor overall health, and their deficiency can lead to various health problems, including digestive issues, impaired immune function, and cognitive decline.Furthermore, fast food is often prepared using low-quality ingredients and processed meats, which can be harmful to health. Processed meats, in particular, have been linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer and other health issues. The use of artificial sweeteners, preservatives, and other additives in fast food products can also contribute to health problems.In addition to the physical health risks, fast food can also have a negative impact on mental well-being. Studies have shown that frequent consumption of fast food is associated with increased symptoms of depression, anxiety, and mood disorders. This is likely due to the high content of unhealthy fats and processed sugars in fast food, which can affect the balance of neurochemicals in the brain.It is important to note that not all fast food is created equal. Some options may be healthier than others, and it is possible to make healthier choices within thefast food realm. When choosing fast food, opt for grilledor baked options over fried ones, and choose lean proteins over processed meats. Pay attention to the serving sizesand limit sugary drinks and processed snacks.However, it is crucial to emphasize that fast food should not be a staple in our diets. While it can be a convenient option from time to time, it is essential to prioritize a balanced diet rich in whole foods, fruits, vegetables, and lean protein. Cooking meals at homeprovides greater control over the ingredients and allowsfor healthier choices.中文回答：快餐因其便捷和实惠的特点，已成为现代社会不可或缺的一部分。
FAST FOOD INDUSTRY OVERVIEW快餐行业概览McDonald has spread across the globe, and emerging markets are one of the fastest growing areas in the industry. But the fast food industry is facing its challenges, especially in the United States. From rising food costs, economic recession and changing perceptions about health, many fast food franchises have been under great pressure. Despite of the challenge, the rise in disposable income of middle class consumers and the demand for quick bites in emerging economies are expected to drive the demand for fast food.麦当劳遍布全球，新兴市场是该行业增长最快的领域之一。
但是快餐业正面临挑战，特别是在美国。
由于食品成本上涨，经济衰退以及人们对健康的看法不断变化，许多快餐连锁店承受了巨大的压力。
尽管面临挑战，但中产阶级消费者可支配收入的增加以及新兴经济体对快餐的需求预计将推动对快餐的需求。
In addition, increasing number of workingwomen and their changing lifestyles is another factor contributing to the growth of this market. The fast food industry has been adopting new practices and offering new products. There is plenty of demand for a quick bite at all times of the day in modern society. However, fast food contains high amounts of trans-fats and saturated fats, which consequently hamper human health as they lack nutritional value. This factor is expected to have an adverse effect on the growth of the market.此外，越来越多的职业女性及其生活方式的改变是促进该市场增长的另一个因素。
fast food英语作文优秀范文快餐基本上在全世界都很受欢迎，人们尤其是小孩青少年喜欢快餐。
今天为大家带来fast food英语作文，欢迎大家学习!Fast food is becoimg more and more popular in China,especially among children and teenagers.Today,it's cretainly difficult to think of any other single thing that representthe fast pace of modern society as powerfully as fast food.There are several reasons for its popularity.Firstly,it is very convenient and saves a lot of time.The trends of modern society seem to all point to one ultimate goal-saving time,and fast food well serves this purpose.You just go into a fast food restaurant,order you food,and your food is ready in no time.You can either eat it there or take it away.Secondly,its popularity is also attributed to the clean and comfortable environment of fast food restaurants,the excellent service,and the guaranteed quality of food.As far as I am concerned,on the one hand,in terms of nutrition,fast food is far from satisfactory.It usually destroy a balanced diet and is low in nutrional value.On the otherhand,although cooking at home is time-consuming and the following washing-up tiresome,it offer healthy and delicious meals your body like and needs.Fast food is only a good choice when you are in hurry and it once in a while.fast food英语作文篇二Fast food has flooded in our lives nowadays. Concerning fast food, different people have different attitudes.Some hold that fast food is necessary in our society while others argue that fast food is harmful to our health. As far as I am concerned, fast food is necessary but not a must in our lives.On the one hand, fast food is necessary in our today’s society. Although fast food is not as nutritious as home-made food, it is a good replacement when we are in hurry and have no enough time to prepare food by ourselves. It can help us to save much time. In addition, fast food is cheaper but various and we can taste different kinds of food by using less money.On the other hand, however, fast food is not a must. Fast food can be used to replace our home-made food sometimes, but we should not eat it very often. Compared with home-made food, the nutrition provided by fast food is far less. Therefore, eating fast food only can not provide enoughnutrition for our growth. Besides, the problem of food security is another factor we should consider when eating fast food.In a word, fast food is necessary sometimes in our lives, but we can not eat it very often. At the same time, to fit for the need of people, fast food restaurants should develop and provide more and more nutritious food and strengthen the supervision of food making.fast food英语作文篇三Life pace moves very fast these days. People don't like to waste time on their breakfast and lunch except their business luncheon and family occasions. They always have their meals out of or in their offices. With this kind of new custom, fast food is getting more and more popular. You may rind McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, hainburger shops everywhere. In recent years, fast food rushes into China, and Chinese young people begin to be fond of it. But is anything popular a good one? The answer is No.It's reported that fast food is unfit particularly for children who need more nutrition for their growth, for there is little nutrition in it. If you always have it, your health will be badly affected. Unfortunately, there are still many people spending much money on fast food, with anidea that they areenjoying themselves in a new life style.fast food英语作文篇四Fast food is quite popular in China these years.Many people, mainly children and teenagers, like to have fast food for their meals. Why is fast food so welcomed by people? I think there are three reasons.First of all, fast food is very convenience. With busy lifestyles, people tend to rely on fast food to save their time. Besides, we can either have our meals in the restaurant or take it home, which means we have more choices than waiting in the crowded common restaurant only. What's more, the environment of the fast food resaurant such as the small coffee shops is clean and comfortable, which often creates a romantic and elegant atmosphere.However, just like every coin has two sides, fast food also has its own drawbacks. For example, compared with vegetables and fresh fruits, fast food contain little nutrients that are good for our health. Instead, fast food like hamburgers and French fries are rich in fat, and we will easily put on weight if we eat woo much of them. That's why we have more overweight children than before.In conclusion, although fast food is delicious and convenience, we should eat them neither too often nor toomuch in order to keep ourselves in good health.。
fast food英语作文带翻译快餐在我们的生活中经常出现，你对于快餐有怎样的看法呢?大家不妨写一篇关于fast food的英语描述一下吧。
下面是小编推荐给大家的fast food英语作文，供大家参考。
fast food英语作文篇一Fast food is quite popular in China these years.Many peoplemainly children and teenagerslike to have fast food for their meals.Why is fast food so welcomed by people?I think there are three reasons.First of allfast food is very convenience.With busy lifestylespeople tend to rely on fast food to save their time.Besideswe can either have our meals in the restaurant or take it homewhich means we have more choices than waiting in the crowded common restaurant only.What's morethe environment of the fast food restaurant such as the small coffee shops is clean and comfortablewhich often creates a romantic and elegant atmosphere.Howeverjust like every coin has two sidesfast food also has its own drawbacks.For examplecompared with vegetables and fresh fruitsfast food contain little nutrients that are good for our health.Insteadfast food like hamburgers and French fries are rich in fatand we will easily put on weight if we eat woo much of them.That's why we have more overweight children than before.In conclusionalthough fast food is delicious and conveniencewe should eat them neither too often nor too much in order to keep ourselves in good health.翻译：快餐在中国很受欢迎。
Abstract美国，如同其他国家一样，拥有自己的文化特色。
这其中，在我看来，最能代表美国文化特色的应该是其快餐文化。
吃快餐吃出来的快餐文化，不仅在典型的美国生活方式构架中具有明显的象征意义，同时也冲破了地域、国度、民族的文化差异及其饮食传统习惯的阻隔，堂而皇之的作为一种生活时尚、一种文化样式风靡全球，畅销于世界各国。
本文浅略地描述了美国的快餐文化，其主体主要由三部分构成：第一部分阐明了快餐的意义及其主要构成，描述了美国的快餐就餐环境特点；第二部分阐述了美国快餐文化的发展现状及其流行程度；第三部分则紧接第二部分说明此现状的产生原因，主要归结为美国大量的移民及美国人强烈的时间观念和时间利用率，而后者则是其主要原因。
然而，美国的快餐文化如此流行，又是否可能产生一些负面影响呢?在本文的结论部分，我对此作了简单的剖析。
Fast Food in American CultureⅠ.IntroductionWhat has the fast food industry done to American? Fast food has been around for a long time but in the past few years' people have been eating out at these fast food franchises quite. The average American probably eats out at a fast food restaurant four to five times a week. People now are getting lazy and are not cooking nutritious meals for their families. Instead those families are going out eating fatty and greasy foods. There are many factors that have caused Americans to eat out such as advertisement. It is obvious that in today's society more heath problems are now arising due to this fast food craze. But how fast food became such a popular way of eating and living in American? Is there any problems of it?Ⅱ.2.1 The meaning of Fast foodWhen it comes to fast food, I can call some famous fast food instantly, such as McDonald、KFC and so on. All of them are American fast food. So we can see how important and popular the fast food are in American culture.2.1.1 Food contentWhat American fast food consist of mainly?Most of these places that provide fast food work on a similar principle. There is a long counter , above which is displayed a list（often with pictures）of the items available, and behind which several people are serving．Individual queues form in front of each assistant .You receive what you order more or less immediately and take it on a tray to a table, picking up thing like straws, pepper, salt, ketchup, pickles and napkins（usually paper napkins）on the way. If you can’t see any knives and forks ,this means you are supposed to eat with your hands. If you can’t see any straws, that’s because they are hiding in the straw dispenser that you have to fiddle with the bottom of it to get a straw（one at a time）to emerge. When you’ve finished, you yourself throw away everything except the tray. And the food, almost consist of hamburger、sandwich、Pizzas、Ice-Cream、and Soft Drinks.2.2.2 Eating conditionsThe main idea of designing a fast food restaurant is to pursue the normal human feelings. The designers pay more attention to the emotion feelings of customs, especially give them a good impression on tidy, roomy and comfortable. In the fast-food restaurants, behind the counters, amid the plastic seats, in the changing landscape outside their windows, you can see all the virtues and destructiveness of the whole city.2.2 Current situation of fast food in AmericaNow we know about some details and eating conditions of fast food in America, and what is the current situation of it? Ler’s see it.Americans now spend more money on fast food than they do on higher education, personal computers, software or new cars. They spend more on fast food than on movies, books, magazines, newspapers, videos and recorded music.The rapid growth of the fast-food industry has been driven by fundamental changes in the U.S. economy. Fast-food employees are the largest group of low-paid workers in the United States today. The nation has about a million farm workers, who earn an average of $5.58 an hour - and 2.5 million fast-food workers, who earn an average of $5.74 an hour. Although picking strawberries is far more difficult than cooking french fries, both jobs are filled by people who are generally young and unskilled. Moreover, the turnover rates for both jobs are among the highest in the American economy. The annual turnover rates in the fast-food industry now range from 200 percent to 400 percent, meaning that the typical fast-food worker quits or is fired in three to six months. Teenagers have long provided the fast-food industry with most of its work force. The industry's rapid growth coincided with the baby-boom expansion of that age group. Teenagers were in many ways the ideal candidates for such jobs. Since most teenagers still lived at home, they could afford to work for wages too low to support an adult, and until recently their limited skills attracted few other employers. A job at a fast-food restaurant became an American rite of passage, a first job soon left behind for better things. The flexible terms of employment in the fast-food industry also attracted many housewives who needed extra income. As the number of baby boomers declined, the fast-food companies began to recruit other marginalized workers: recent immigrants, the elderly and the handicapped. The fast-food industry hascreated millions of new jobs at a time when other businesses have been firing workers. It now employs some of the poorest, most disadvantaged members of American society. It often teaches basic job skills to people who can barely read, whose lives have been chaotic or shut off from the mainstream. But the fast-food industry's attitude toward unions, overtime pay and the minimum wage suggests that its motives in employing the poor and the handicapped are not entirely altruistic.In much the same way that the fast-food industry changed our retail economy, eliminating small businesses and encouraging the spread of uniformity, fast food has transformed American agriculture.2.3 The reason that why fast food is so popular in AmericaHave you ever thought that why fast food is so popular in America? In my eyes, there are many reasons to it.2.3.1 Immigrants"You are what you eat." Nutrition experts often use this saying to pro mote better eating habits.What we put in our mouths does become a part of us. But we can look at thi s statement another way. What we eat reflects who we are--as people and a s a culture.The United States is a land of immigrants. So Americans eat food from many different countries. When people move to America, they bring their c ooking styles with them. That’s why you canfind almost every kind of ethnic food in America. But in some cases, Americans have adopted foods from other countries as favorites. So I consider , maybe the fast food have its specific taste for any people in the world.2.3.2 TimeThe second reason is the main reason. The American way of life is built around speed and efficiency. Every new advance in technology is built around being just a little faster and a little more connected. No wonder, time is scarce and worth saving in the United State. So they need for speed has changed not only what they eat and how they eat it, but also the way in which they view food. Instead of being something to be enjoyed and savored, it has become a means to an end. It is the means to temporarily removing hunger before they move on to the next task on our to-do list.Quality has become less important than it used to be. Perhaps this is why McDonald's satisfies now, when many years ago a mother would have viewed it as a diversion for her children or a cheap substitution instead of a real meal. Of course our taste buds have not become completely extinct which is perhaps another reason why McDonald's is so appealing: it's tasty.Americans living at a fast pace often just "grab a quick bite." Fast food restaurants offer people on the run everything from fried chicken to fried ri ce. Microwave dinners and instant foods make cooking at home a snap. Of course, one of the most common quick American meals is a sandwich. If it can fit between two slices of bread, Americans probably make a sandwic h out of it.Peanutbutterand jelly is an all-time American favorite. Americans on the go also te nd to eat a lot of "junk food." Potato chips, candy bars, soft drinks and othe r goodies are popular treats. Many people eat too many of these unhealthy s nacks.Ⅲ.ConclusionThroughout the world, American fast-food chains have become symbols of Western economic development, opening everywhere from Bulgaria to Western Samoa. They are often the first multinational corporations to enter a new market. As the fast-food industry has grown much more competitive in the United States, the major chains have looked to overseas markets as the source of their future growth. Unlike movies, bluejeans and pop music, fast food is the only form of American mass culture that people literally consume. By embracing an American diet, other countries are bound to experience many of the health problems that go with it. Perhaps a third of the American people are now overweight, a proportion that has greatly increased over the last quarter-century along with the consumption of fast food.All in all, because of their fast-paced society they have lost not only the time to cook a good meal, but also the ability to really appreciate a quality meal. While they may have a better understanding of nutrition, they rarely make use of that knowledge. Will America be the nation that is remembered for its need for speed and its dependence on fast food or is their hope that maybe they can change the way they live and eat. While they may never return to the glory days of the fifties when every meal waslovingly prepared by the quintessential house wife, perhaps they can reshape their current culture to be more health conscious, not only in terms of what they eat but also in terms of how they live their day to day lives.BibliographyAmerican Culture by Rachel L. 2002Eating and Fast Food by Brian Peter P. 2002 Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser 2001 Monitor Staff by Bridget Murray 2001The Fast Food Industry by Sara J. 2002《家具与室内装饰》史雯桦2004。
Fast Food NationOver decades, fast food chain had changed Americans' diet structures and food safety standards. Public were influenced and frauded by inescapable fast food advertisements which from TV, Newspapers, Internet, mails, telemarketing, LED lights, coupons, etc. Since the fast food chain gave out the lowest wages and had the largest consumer/employee group, it developed rapidly and already become one of the most influential industry in the U.S. However, the pursuit of profits drives fast food industry to a morbid model, which encouraged people use chemical feedlots and growth hormones to increase productivities.In general thinking, herds and flocks are raised in poultry houses/ranches for a period of time, and then send to the meatpacking and slaughterhouse firms before supply to us. That period of time were called growing season. But, during the past thirty years, the growing season of herds and flocks was reduced to minimum to increase productivities. Growers supplies one-day-old chicks, feedlots(that may contain growth hormones) to their "flock supervisors", and collect full-grown chickens seven weeks later. The grower then sell them out and get money to continue his/her business. Without thinking about what did they sell, if that safe enough to eat; the grower just care about its price.The main reason for this phenomenon is, the meagre profit from each product. The large meatpackers controlled the price therefore forced growers and ranchers have to raise more poultry/cattle to make sure their profits. Even this can cause oversupply and drop the price even lower.Nevertheless, oversupply still isn't the biggest trouble. The short time full-grownproducts, which were raised by chemical feedlots, highly threaten the food safety in the U.S. Those chemical additives and flavor aromas were eaten by people, who were not supposed to eat that. This obviously unhealthy and expanded the risks of illness. Furthermore, the final products from fast food chain are also unhealthy at all. The McNuggets, which was mentioned in the book fast food nation, is a typical example of unhealthy food. It tasted good, looks healthier than other items on the menu. However, it contain twice as much fat per ounce as a hamburger. Moreover, McNuggets composed mainly of white meat, were held together by stabilizers. And it has been breaded, fried, frozen, then reheated before final supply.The threat of food safety did not end. Since the meatpacking industry never stop the chase of higher profits, they may use more dangerous methods to pursuit profits. Bellow is a chart clearly inscribed how the meatpacking and slaughterhouse industries pursuit their profits and threaten food safety in the same time.Everyday in the U.S. roughly 200,000 people are sickened by a foodborne disease, 900 are hospitalized, and 14 die. Although the rise in foodborne illnesses has beencaused by many complex factors, much of the increase can be attributed to recent changes in how American food is produced. Hamburgers used be labeled as "poor food", which served surround factories, circuses, carnivals, etc. The meats within hamburger were not as fresh as we thought. Moreover, since some herds of American cattle may have been infected with E. coli O157:H7 decades ago, plus recent herds are raised not as healthy as the past, it's hard to say how horrible today's fast foods are.Not only the food safety had been threatened. Ranchers, who worked at the first step of meat market, also have been adversely impacted by the industry. Ranchers currently face a host of economic problems: rising land prices, stagnant beef prices, oversupplies of cattle, increased shipments of live cattle from Canada and Mexico, development pressures, inheritance taxes, health scares about beef. On top of all that, the growth of the fast food chains has encouraged consolidation in the meatpacking industry.(P.136) the meatpacking industry has been transformed by mergers and acquisitions over the last twenty years. Many ranchers now argue that a few large corporations have gained a stranglehold on the market, using unfair tactics to drive down the price of cattle. Different with the "Beef Trust" a century ago, nowadays when the cattle price start to rise, the large meatpackers can flood the market with their own captive supplies to drive prices down. They can also obtain cattle through confidential agreements with wealthy ranchers, never revealing the true price being paid. Twenty-five years ago, when the United States had dozens of poultry firms, a grower stood a much better chance of finding a new processor and of striking a better deal. Today growers who are labeled "difficult" often have no choice but to find a newline of work. Ranchers have to suffer this since they don't want change their jobs. It seems like if one spoke out against the big firms, he is no willing to sell his cattle at any price.Here is a specific example cited from the Fast Food Nation, the rancher, Hank, took his own life the week before Christmas in 1998. He used be a optimistic, humor guy who owned a ranch, a house, a wife, two daughters, and buffalo herds. His ranch was divided into 35 parts so that his cattle spent 10 or 11 day in each of them. He was obedient to the nature rules and marketing guidance, however, he was under enormous pressure at the time of his death. The cattle prise was at the lowest point in more than a decade and their county was planning to build a new highway right through the heart of his ranch. Both the economic forces and the Colorado's future blueprint push him to death. The suicide rate among ranchers and farmers in the United States is now about three times higher than the national average. In ranching, a failure is much more likely to be final. The land that has been loss is not just a commodity. It has meaning that cannot be measured in dollars and cents.For government, in the same time, also was impacted by the meatpacking industry. The Sherman Antitrust Act had been passed in 1890 after a congressional investigation of price fixing in the meatpacking industry, and for the next two decades the federal government tried to break up the Beef Trust. After continue efforts to prevent price fixing and monopolistic behavior, at 1970, the five largest firms controlled only 21 percent of the nation's cattle. The government keeps its effort on break the trust, however, the main firms changed their market control methods tomore snugly way. And it makes the wish of split even harder.There is another dark side of the industry. Employees, who perform on the assembly line, are the victims of this unsafe industry. As mentioned in the Fast Food Nation, workers in the fab room are pressed close together, constantly moving, slicing. The knives they were using are sharp and long, that can make workers easily hurt themselves or people nearby. Employees who working in the industry have to work around 8 and half hours per day. It means they use knives and hooks routinely cut meat for that amount of time everyday. Meats were send from conveyer belt pass each worker, and usually approximately 100 pounds per piece. This type of high strength work makes workers easy to hurt themselves or others. Despite the use of conveyer belts, forklifts, dehiding machines, and a variety of power tools, most of workers still perform by hands. Poultry plants can ran on large machines because the birds' size are small. However, the lack of a standardized steer has hindered the mechanization of beef plants. Over a century the most important tool in modern slaughterhouse is still sharp knives. Moreover, since the technology of conveyer belt machine and other machines are continue developing, all the machines ran faster and bring out more injuries.Instead of provide a safer workplace, the meatpacking plants prefer to understate injuries, to falsify records, and to cover up accidents. They try to encourage company royalty that ask worker to unreport the injury so that supervisors can get more bonuses. If a worker agrees not to report his injury, he may shift to a easier work for a while, or get some time to heal. Depends on the level of injury. The plants also do not mentionabout workers' comp benefits when they were making contracts. By the limit of language, the limit of speak or read, some of workers don't realize that such insurance even exists.Someone may say workers can ask for help when they belong to a union. However, as statistics shown, there are only one third workers belong to a union nowadays. And unions' power are so limited that not really work. Hence once someone got injured, and he wants to speak out, usually he lost everything in the end. Workers in this industry are most poor, have families to support, earn more wage in this industry than they could earn back home, first generation immigrants. They may came to the US illegal, want get some better wages than their home. However, their conditions limited their rights as a human being.The most dangerous job in meatpacking are performed by the late-night cleaning crews. A large proportion of these workers are illegal immigrants. During their working hours they were surrounded by hot foggy air and chemical-laden water. The extremely dangerous environment caused the highest death rate which can 10 times higher than any other industries. However, in one case the National Beef just got $480 per death fine. The extremely low fine and the extremely high profits encouraged those plants a lot. And the wages for workers, even regular employees are low. Since today workers usually take years to get their comp benefits, they have to find another income resource to pay their medical bills. Indeed, under the law protection, the payment for losing an arm is $36,000. As the comp benefits have become more difficult to obtain, the threat to workplace safety has grown more serious. Some ofplants such as IBP, avoid prompt insurance through self-insured. They are under no pressure and have a strong incentive to keep workers' comp payments to a bare minimum.It's not the end. Female workers in this industry suffered another type of pressure from their supervisors who threat them for dates or sex. Some of them regard the sexual relationship as a way to gain a secure workplace, some of them just keep salience or limited by language so can not tell. Little of them chose to speak out because they are fear to lose jobs. This really a tragedy in modern society and most of people did not even think about it.Based on the cost-income statistics, some executives of big meatpacking company began to think about move. They were encouraged by the huge immigrant wave at the beginning of 1980s. The lower wage payments, less transportation costs, and maybe less competitions. All of these drive them to the final decision of move. After the meatpacking plants decided move their slaughterhouse away from their born place Chicago to rural area, they hold a public forum to give local citizens opportunity to ask about their proposal to build slaughterhouse. However, they obviously lied a lot. They promised the smell of their slaughterhouse will no different with regular kitchen, the workforce will stable, local people will get hired, and so on.However, they were using and relying on the immigrants, have a high rate of turnover, gave out the lowest hourly wages, people who work in the plant have little chance to get work insurance and vacation pay. Moreover, since many of their employees are illegal immigrants and they flood in the rural area without any control,there were lots of problem occurred after the plants began to operate. Poor workers without health insurance drive up local medical costs, and live in rural ghettos. Drugs, poverty, rootlessness, and all other kinds of crime occurred.There are two theories properly described how the meat industry treats its employees: routine activity theory and radical theory.First, routine activity theory, which identifies three elements as critical contribution to crime: (1) a motivated offender, (2) a suitable target and (3) lack of a capable guardian. This theory is an extension of the human ecology analysis, posits that changes in everyday routine activities can influence crime through any one of these factors. As such, it also suggests that victims make themselves targets by placing themselves in positions that include motivated offenders and lack of guardians. Within meatpacking industry, the corporation obviously is the offender, and their target is maximum profits. In the contrary, their employees are victims. They hided the injuries therefore motivated offenders keep routinely doing the unlawful things. In another side, the labor union, which should take the role of protect employees, was failed. Hence there actually nobody took the guardian's position. The government, in the same time, set up policies which just encouraged the plants' deviances. None of the policies actually prohibit illegal hire, nor protect workers' rights. This may because the government rely on the taxes, or the politicians were supported by the plants.Second, the radical theory. This theory has its roots in the writing of Karl Marx and the conflict between those in power and the powerless. Marx described crime as aproduct of the political economy that, in capitalist societies, encourages an individualistic competition among wealthy people and among poor people and between rich and poor people and the practice of taking advantage of other people. He believes all economic orders have been characterized by the class struggle, and the ruling class owns everything and forces workers into exploitation. Moreover, capitalism overthrew feudalism, provided goods to more people, and instituted constitutional government. All his hypotheses are easy to find support evidences in the meatpacking industry case. The corporation is the powerful side, and the employees took the powerless position. The plants use their economic power to force government do not protect workers. And they use financial pressure to force workers listen to them, otherwise they will lose jobs. Since the power is always controlled in the plants' hands, workers are not willing to change any of their environments, nor to get higher wages. The wealthy group becoming more wealthy, and the poor even poor. The whole constitutional government are now performing under the great financial pressure, how can they break down the trust and protect workers?。
