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Fast Food
Fast Food Essay

Julia Mendoza

English 114
Section 13
Karen Coopman
December 12, 2012

Julia Mendoza
Eng. 114.13
12-12-12

Fast Food Essay

Obesity is becoming an increasingly large problem, most especially in the United States where, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of adults are obese. The large fast food industry of the America creates food that has contributed to this obesity problem, and many believe that the industry is the main cause of obesity and other major health problems. Heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and certain types of cancer are some health complications that may be caused by consuming the unhealthy food at fast food establishments. But, with the rise of health concerns it comes into question; who is really responsible for causing these diseases? Are we the consumers responsible because we choose to eat the food, or is the fast food industry to blame? Though consumers do have their faults in this issue, fast food companies have most of the responsibility because they knowingly provide an unhealthy product to the public, target young children and poor communities, and strive to keep consumers ignorant of the food’s dangerous ingredients just to make a profit.

It seems to be common knowledge that fast food is not the healthiest food option, but what really makes the food unhealthy? Fast foods contain high amounts of fat, sodium, and cholesterol which lead to very high calorie intake. A McDonald’s Big Mac®, as listed on the McDonald’s website, contains 29 g of fat (including saturated and trans fats), 970 mg of sodium, and 95 mg of cholesterol. This adds up to 550 calories, with 260 of those calories from fat. The amount of sodium and fat in a single Big Mac® make up about 45% of one’s total recommended daily sodium and fat intake. This is an even bigger problem because of the supersized portions leading to even more consumption of fats. According to their nutrition


Cited: Freeman, Andrea. "Fast Food: Oppression Through Poor Nutrition." California Law Review 95.6 (2007): 2221-2259.Academic Search Complete. Web. 10 Dec. 2012. H. Aksoy, et al. "The Evaluation Of The Genotoxicity Of Two Food Preservatives: Sodium Benzoate And Potassium Benzoate." Food & Chemical Toxicology 49.4 (2011): 763-769. Academic Search Complete. Web. 10 Dec. 2012. Mayer, Caroline E. “Report Critical of Junk-Food ads; TV Fuels Obesity in Children | Panel Says Congress, Companies Should Promote Nutrition; [Fourth Edition]” Seattle Times. Seattle, Wash.: Dec, 7, 2005, pg. A.9 "Nutrition." :: McDonalds.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012. "Taco Bell® | Taco Bell Calories and Nutrition Information." Taco Bell®. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2012. University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Cholesterol and Triglycerides. N.p.: University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, n.d. Web. 8 Dec. 2012. <http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/medicalschool/departments/medicine/EndocrinologyMetabolismDiabetes/clinical/Documents/Lipid_Brochure.pdf>.
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