When someone eats fast food from a restaurant like McDonald’s or Burger King, who is responsible for the deterioration in the consumer’s health caused by eating that food? Is it the consumer or is it the company that runs the restaurant?
The answer to that question is tricky because I don’t believe that it’s necessarily just McDonalds or Burger Kings fault for people gaining weight and becoming unhealthy. However, I do believe that they do bare some reasonability. All fast food restaurants should have to provide some sort of healthy option. I personally do not think that a salad should cost more than a hamburger meal, it’s ridiculous that salads cost an average of ten dollars and a hamburger meal cost seven dollars: “The standard Cobb salad, on the other hand, costs only $3.45 to make and has a 248% markup” (Plate IQ). The convenience of fast food often makes it an attractive choice for consumers. Healthy food, on the other hand, is often less convenient and takes more time and effort to prepare. In addition, healthy foods are sometimes more expensive than fast foods. A study conducted by a university said that low income families here in the United States are more likely to be unhealthy due to being unable to afford healthy food. Sometimes Fast food is the cheapest kind of food you can buy and yet the environmental/health cost of that food is probably the highest. Of Course that doesn’t mean people aren’t to blamer not being health conscious.
Is it the consumer’s fault? Not quite, but sort of. Consumers aren’t forced to buy these products, but are heavily encouraged, especially in the United States Of America. Advertisements are heavily pushed out by big franchises such as McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco bell, etc. These advertisements are usually marketed to children; Examples include the happy meal at McDonald’s. Many children want to purchase these meals just for the included toy; The more people that buy the product the more advertisements are pushed out causing more and more people to consume fast food. It is partially the consumer and company that runs the restaurant’s fault, because of their influence on people, despite people not being forced to eat it.
Major fast food chains are the main reason “Obesity effects 37.9% of American adults” (CNN). These fast food chains know what their product is and what the effect of eating it over long periods of time have on the body, so does the consumer. Obesity causes major medical complications and puts lives at risk, so why do these fast food companies sell there products if they know they are harming people? I believe the main reason they are selling there products is to grow their company and get more money, but it is also a given right in the U.S, people are allowed to eat what they choose.
All major fast food chains should have a wide range of healthy options that are also affordable, I do understand it would cost more to produce since it’s certainly not as popular as burgers. There is a certain line where these companies have to realize they are putting not just adults at risk, but also children. Causing children to learn poor lifestyles at an early age should be a moral factor that should influence how these companies work and operate. Happy meals should include more vegetables, less sodium, and less fat. Due to the convince of fast food I understand it’s more complicated and more expensive to be able to produce a cheap and healthy meal, but this should be considered. It’s ridiculous how whole foods can be almost 125% more expensive than a regular hamburger meal that includes more food for the price. This is something the country should notice and attempt to resolve.
Works cited
Priceonomics. “How Much Do the Ingredients Cost in Your Favorite Foods?” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 7 Apr. 2017, www.forbes.com/sites/priceonomics/2017/04/07/how-much-do-the-ingredients-cost-in-your-favorite-foods/#5259c45c11ed.
“Obesity in the US Fast Facts.” CNN, Cable News Network, 11 July 2017, www.cnn.com/2013/09/02/health/obesity-in-u-s-fast-facts/index.html.