When was the last time you walked into McDonald’s and chose to order a Garden Salad instead of a Big Mac? If it has been a long time, do not worry; most people cannot even remember what their last healthy meal was. In fact, if you had a Big Mac someday just one month ago, that would make you only the 27 billionth person to bite into a juicy robust beef patty back at the moment. Ironically, this vast number of junk eaters is not aware of the health-wrecking decision they take when they stop by McDonald’s for lunch one day after another; or is that not the case? Are people really unaware of how a single mouthful of fast food contains a handful of chemicals that can literally deteriorate their health? Although the majority of people blame …show more content…
It is called personal responsibility, and right now, people are tailoring it into whatever fits them best. Take for instance, the people of America. Schlosser states in his best-selling book, “Americans now spend more money on fast food than on higher education, personal computers, computer software, or new cars. They spend more on fast food than on movies, books, magazines, newspapers, videos, and recorded music – combined” (n.d., para. 5). This reflects how commonplace fast food has become in the society that is has almost possessed an air of inevitability. It is true; the spread of fast food restaurants is accelerating, but it is not their spread over the globe but their spread among individuals that is alerting. After all, they only exist because people want them to. The fact is that fast food restaurants are constantly outweighing their costs with benefits, and it is saddening that fast food consumers are not doing the same for their own health.
In addition to the lack of personal responsibility, even the least sensible amount of determination among people is missing. Today, the majority of people believe all they owe their bodies is a full stomach even if what they are having is a bite into obesity. One of the reasons it is illogical to put the entire blame on fast food restaurants is that, each and every one of these food-selling businesses have a healthy section in their menu. The fact that the average person flips the menu over to make a pick
In a 2003 court case, “Caesar Barber v. McDonald’s Corporation, et al.,” Barber claimed he was unaware of the nutritional and fat content of the fast food he ate on a near-daily basis for decades, and which he claimed caused his multiple illnesses (Daily Caller). The people of the court ruled that Barber’s choice of food was the cause of his many health issues, not the restaurants which supplied the fast food. In this case, the court held the consumer responsible for his selections; however, the court’s expectation of personal responsibility in food selection will most likely become anachronous. The article “Is Fast Food the New Tobacco?” addresses the issue of rapidly growing fast-food chain restaurants, such as McDonalds, Burger King, and Taco Bell, and the health issues that perpetuate from an increased amount of these restaurants. Anywhere we travel today, out of town, to a big city or a small village, consumers are bound to see some sort of advertising for fast food. Many billboards display life-size pictures of steaming hot sandwiches, fresh-cut fries, or an ice cold beverage. The streets are lined with bright, golden arches, fluorescent bells, or a red-headed, smiling little girl. All of these modes of advertisement draw consumers in, whether they be hungry or simply in a rush with no time to cook dinner at home, and feed them food that just isn’t up to par with healthy-eating standards. Notice, these restaurants don’t use force to bring customers in by the masses;
In the article “Don’t Blame the Eater,” by David Zinczenko he argues that it is not always the consumer's fault that they consume food that is bad for them. Zinczenko tells a story of how when he was growing up he practically lived off of fast food. His parents were divorced. His father was always trying to get his life together and his mother worked very long hours. Due to this he didn't have many other options besides McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco Bell or Pizza Hut. Zinczenko shows how fast food restaurants are more available than healthier options. He writes “Drive down any thoroughfare in America, and I guarantee you'll see one of our country's more than 13,000 McDonald's restaurants. Now, drive back up the block and try to find someplace to buy a grapefruit.” Today Type 2 diabetes makes up at least 30 percent of all new childhood cases of diabetes in the United States. This is a shocking increase
In "Don't Blame the Eater," David Zinczenko responds to arguments that overweight people are to blame for their health problems. However, Zinczenko forgets to mention that fast food joints fail to uphold their responsibilities of providing healthy and nutritious foods to the public. In other words, they merely only care about making money and by doing so they make cheap, unhealthy products and sell them at reasonably low prices. Furthermore, this leads to more and more people purchasing their foods and an increase in health problems. While fast food places do a splendid job in advertising their foods using the words "juicy" and "delicious", they fail to show their consumers just how unhealthy their products actually are. Many people, such
America has the most Obesity health issue in the world 100 million American are either over weight or obese, but blaming fast food is completely wrong because every individual is responsible for his or her own actions taken. Fast food doesn’t beg people to come in and become over weight instead we choose to eat fast food when we have a desire. Although fast food do advertising, have a playground and giveaways like toys attracting kids to come buy a meal
In today’s society a huge issue is that we constantly hear about the food industry in America. We often hear in the news that obesity rates have increased, or that Americans have many diseases that contribute to being obese. “What You Eat is Your Business” by Radley Balko expresses that people are at fault for making such unhealthy food choices. Others argue that the food industry is to blame for being so unhealthy. According to David Zinczenko in “Don’t Blame the Eater” he blames the fast food industry as well as the consumer. Zinczenko asks “shouldn’t we know better than to eat two meals a day in fast food restaurant’s?” (392). So, who is to blame for American’s eating so much unhealthy food? Should it be the consumers’ burden or the fast food companies? On one hand, as consumers we continue to purchase foods that we know are making us overweight. On the other hand, fast food companies continue to offer high in calories foods.
In the article, “Goodbye Big Soda: New York Becomes First City to Ban Large-Sized Soft Drinks,” “...two-thirds of American adults now considered obese… and nearly 40% of the city’s [New York] public elementary and middle school students…” (Park). The harsh reality of today is that America is fat, and it is embarrassing. This is partly due to the fact that some people have no self control when it comes to food and it has gotten out of hand. Society is so quick to blame the fast food restaurants for obesity, but it really is not their fault. People choose where and what they do and do not eat; they do not have to eat fast food but they do anyway. Even if as the government takes action and takes away some of the more tasty, unhealthy foods and replace them with less tasty, healthier foods, people will eventually get used to it, They will adapt and it will just become normal, like a habit or everyday
In the article “don’t blame the eater”, David Zinczenko focuses on the reason behind the obesity problem that the modern young generations are facing. According to him, the large chains of fast-food restaurants given their availability around the country and low prices are the ones causing this problem. He brings in his own life experience and tells the story of becoming a 212 pound teenager highlighting that he had to rely on these fast food chains for everyday meal. With a single mother, who worked long hours he had no other alternatives to this like many other American teens. The lack of information about the calorie content of the dishes on these restaurants was one other main concern. Most of these restaurants do not provide enough data about the calorie content of their dishes, and even if they do so its mostly vague and deceiving. To show the gravity of the problem he pulls out a statistics of an increase of 30% in type 2 diabetes resulting in an expense of hundreds of billions of dollars in healthcare. Zinczenko implies that this impact is as serious as smoking. Hence, fast food should have a warning label to raise awareness among the consumers. He addresses these food chains as vulnerable and warns these restaurants that they will find themselves in trouble unless they look out for their consumers. He also adds the further effects these food habits can have in our society.
David Zinczenko introduced the concept in his article, "Don't Blame the Eater." He states that many frequent eaters of fast food are beginning to sue the franchise because they are now considered obese due to the fast food restaurant. Fast food industries are serving food high in calorie, cholesterol, and trans fat. They do giving the customer an option of eating healthy. David Zinczenko is correct in stating that fast food industries try to cover up the dangers of their food. It is hard to comprehend or even find a calorie chart in the restaurant. In their advertisements they shy away from the dangers of their food. However, placing a lawsuit on the company may be a little
Others say it's our own fault due to the fact no one is forcing us to eat fast food. But in a way they kind of are. The food industry has put up ads everywhere and locates fast food places in every corner manipulating us to eat at these places. According to Voiland and Haupt junk food makers spend billions advertising unhealthy foods to kids. Kids are being raised to eat these bad foods it's all they’re knowing. They see it, they want it, and will do anything to get it. The worst part
We are all guilty of spending five dollars a meal from McDonalds or Burger King instead of taking a little time the day before and making our self our own meal, but let’s keep in mind that just because is made home doesn’t mean is healthy. According to the article “The state of obesity” by better policies of America more than one third of adults (34.9) are obese in the United States. But why is there so much obesity in the United States and who is there to blame? We can go ahead and blame the fast food restaurants or we can blame the people itself. Individuals are the ones to blame for the obesity in the United States because they have this idea of eating fast and easy, but just cause is fast does not mean healthy. Fast food are part of our daily life but is does not forces us to eat it.
David Zinckenko argues in his article “don’t blame the eater”, that it is a matter of personal responsibility but can sympathize with the obese individuals as there is a lack of alternatives and information regarding fast food consumption. Society in the United States has raised concern about healthy diets, providing alternatives sources of food but unfortunately at a cost. The increased cost for a healthy diet dissuades teenagers from eating healthier food thus without a change of environment it can result in a lifetime of obesity.
Now days, you can find a fast food restaurant every time you turn a corner. According to, Sarah Muntel, the Author of “Fast Food- Is It the Enemy,” you can choose from a variety of things to eat. You can get a greasy burger, crunchy tacos, or a drink that is filled with sugar. Why should we take the time go buy and prepare a meal when there are a variety of foods all around you? That is the problem that we are facing. Fast food is extremely cheap. You can order dollar cheeseburgers, dollar sodas, and you can even make those orders supersized just with pennies. People even claim that it is cheaper to eat at a restaurant than it is to prepare a meal in your own kitchen. Most Americans now days are having overscheduled and overcommitted jobs, which means that there is no free time in their daily lives to prepare their own meals. There is not anything easier than just going through the drive thru at your favorite fast food restaurant on your way home from work, or taking your child out for a milkshake if they do well in their baseball game. The problem is, people don’t look
It is indeed true that the quality of food that you take in will do a
The way we eat food has changed drastically in the past few decades. When I think of the process of how our food is made and produced, I typically think of a farm with animals laying around, eating grass, content with everything. Also, I picture ripe red tomatoes, apples, and sweet smelling fruit being pick right when it is ripened so it can get to our grocery stores. This is typically how most people picture our food coming from a farm. It is how they want us to picture it, because it is a happy image: but, it is far from the reality of how things are.
How does healthy eating affect your life? Many people really pay attention to the food they put in their bodies, until we get sick and need medical attention. I know that many of us love to eat fast food, but it catches up with us in the long run. While eating healthy would stop you from getting sick, and lower the cost of health care, healthy eating can enrich your body and prevent you from getting high doctor bills.