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Thesis Statement: The popularity and increase in consumption of fast foods has led to negative impacts on public health, animal welfare, and the environment
As a result of globalization and urbanization, the popularity of fast foods has gradually increased over the years. Their appealing nature has been attributed to low prices, convenience and their ease in preparation which saves a lot of time. They have recently replaced the traditional food patterns wherein nowadays; the food consumption neither requires the structure nor the preparation of a formal meal. The popularity and increase in consumption of fast foods has led to negative impacts on public health, animal welfare and the environment.
The poor nutritional value of fast foods poses a threat to human health. Fast foods are identified as meals that contain high amounts of calories but lack micronutrients such as fiber, minerals, vitamins and amino acids. The lack of these nutrients impairs a person’s daily health and wellbeing hence reducing their ability to lead an enjoyable and active life. Fiber is important to the body because it regulates the bowel movements and helps in controlling blood sugar levels. People who consume a lot of fast foods are therefore likely to develop diabetes and constipation due to lack of fiber. Diabetes results from the high glycaemic index in fast foods which causes sugar levels in the blood to rise quickly. The lack of minerals in the body could also contribute to health risks such as weak bones, stress, low immunity and neurological disorders . Fast foods lack minerals such as magnesium, calcium, zinc and phosphorus which are vital in the prevention of such health risks. They also lack vitamins which are necessary to the body system since they prevent and treat various diseases such as eye problems and skin disorders. Additionally, the poor nutritional value of fast foods is not only attributed to lack of micronutrients but also to their production process. The process incorporates various products whose consumption in high levels causes harm to the body. Such products include food additives, colors, sodium, cholesterol, and sugar. These ingredients give the food a good taste hence making them addictive. Consequently, people eat a lot not only when it is a pre-set meal but also as a means of passing time. This results into overeating which is amongst the leading causes of obesity. Statistics suggest that in the year 2015, obesity was accountable for at least four million deaths in the world. High sodium levels and cholesterol are known to cause high blood pressure, heart diseases and stroke. Excessive sodium levels can also lead to kidney dysfunctions. High sugar content can cause type 2 diabetes and dental cavities. Deepthi (2012), suggests that the excessive fats and additives in the food could cause gastritis since they act as an irritant to the gastric mucosa hence leading to an excessive secretion of hydrochloric acid. In some instances, the food additives or colors can be carcinogenic hence causing different types of cancer.
Secondly, the popularity of fast foods has had a detrimental effect on both the environment and the animal welfare. The production and consumption processes contribute to land, air and water pollution. For consumption purposes, fast food places use variant packaging materials which include straws, wrappers, boxes and packaging bags. Research suggests that fast food areas account for 40% of all solid waste. The improper handling of such waste could result to land pollution and production of bad odors which pollute the air. In the production process, suppliers use chemical fertilizers and pesticides in growing the raw materials. The repetitive process of using these chemicals causes an accumulative effect on the soil.. In distribution, the vehicles used in transporting the fast foods for deliveries contribute to air pollution since they release carbon emissions which result to global warming and climatic changes. Water pollution results from the pathogens, fertilizers and hormones used in the production process. According to Geer (2014), they flow into water sources hence causing water-borne illnesses and deaths of the marine life. Moreover, fast foods have had a negative influence on animals. They have a great influence on how animals are raised since they buy large proportions of the meat, dairy products, and eggs produced by farmers. As a result, farmers are under constant pressure to supply the industry’s high demand for animal products at a low cost. To achieve this, they pump the animals with non-therapeutic antibiotics and artificial growth hormones. They further crowd the animals together in order to conserve space. As if that is not enough torture, they amputate the animal’s body parts and slaughter them at high-speeds on mechanized disassembly lines while the animals are still fully conscious.
As explained above, the effects of the fast food industry on health, animals and the environment are harmful. These foods result in health risks such as obesity, heart disorders, diabetes, cancer, stroke and kidney dysfunctions. Their product and consumption processes cause harm to both the environment and animals. Environmentally, the industry causes air, land and water pollution through packaging, distribution and production of raw materials. The industry causes animal torture in the farmhouses since they are congested, injected with artificial hormones and slaughtered while fully conscious. It is therefore advisable for the fast food industry to implement measures that prevent such extreme impacts. They should use ingredients that are friendly to the human body and adopt sustainable packaging methods.