Fast Food Nation - Annotated Bibliography Example

Our Fast Food Nation Literature Review In the current age of globalization, fast food diets have moved from the United s to most other countries of the world. While many analysts condemn fast food diets due to the proven negative impacts they have on health, there are others who look at fast food as a form of cultural imperialism, where local food diets diminish and replaced by exported fast food diets. Many academics and social analysts have explored this issue and published a number of researches and articles that attempt to analyze the impact of fast food on local cultures and social habits. Hence, in order to research the possible drawbacks on fast food diets on people, extensive literature in this field should be reviewed. The first group of reviewed literature deeply analyzes the phenomenon of fast food from a cultural and social point of view. Most of such literature delves deeply inside this issue, trying to analyze its impacts on health and society. For example, some articles and researches relate the issue of fast food to the issue of consumerism, which refers to the notion of the tendency to ‘consume’ large volumes of products by the citizens of a given society. The problem arises when the ‘consumed’ food is unhealthy for people. This is identified by Anup Shaha, in his article which is entitled "Effects of Consumerism," as he notes that "today’s commercial markets include a very wide variety of foods that are unhealthy, but attractively marketed to kids” (Shah). Thus, the popularity of fast food in a given society entails the prevalence of the habit of consumerism in that society. In this context, many of the reviewed articles about the issue of consumerism assert that advertising plays a big role in the popularity of a certain food diet in the society. Regarding the issue of fast food, children are the main audience to which fast food ads are directed in order to attract as many young people as possible to this kind of food. As noted by Sandra L. Calvert, in her article which is entitled "Children as Consumers: Advertising and Marketing," “because of age-based limits in childrens ability to understand advertiser intent, the Federal Communications Commission has placed safeguards into the television advertising marketplace to protect young child audiences" (Calvert). Similar arguments are made by Mary Story and Simone French, in their article which is entitled "Food Advertising and Marketing Directed at Children and Adolescents in the US," and Barbara Sweeny in her article which is entitled "Concerned about Marketing to Children?" Therefore, many of the reviewed articles raise the issue that consumerism is enhanced in a given society by the excessive use of ads that publicize about fast food On the other hand, there is another group of literature which tackles the issue of fast food from a different point of view; namely, the role of advertising in popularizing this kind of food diets. Everywhere in television and print media, we are surrounded by a great number of ads that aim at convincing us to use certain kinds of products and services or eat certain kind of food. In that sense, ads are tools that deepen the spirit of consumerism among Americans, since young age. TV ads, for example, use all modern approaches to push the audience to consume more and more products. In this context, the main role of the American government and Not-for-Profit organizations is to adequately inform people about the possible threat of junk food on health. As the ads that promote junk food are spread everywhere, so, the counter ads that warn people about the destructive effects of this kind of food should also be available for all audiences. Government authorities should design ad campaigns to inform its citizens about the real threat of junk food, its nutritional components, and threat on lives. Furthermore, some thinkers and analysts tend to deeply study the ill-effects of fast food on health and body weight. According to those analysts, fast food may lead to a change in the way young Americans and adolescents look. As a result, those over-weight Americans will probably be dissatisfied with the look of their bodies, as they become strong fast food eaters. This is reflected in a study that was conducted by Martia P. McCabe and Lina A. Ricciardelli on a number of adolescents. They discovered that females showed dissatisfaction towards their bodies due to obesity that is caused primarily by fast food diets (McCabe and Ricciardelli). Accordingly, diseases such as obesity are not the utmost health effect that can be caused by fast food. Rather, obesity in itself can be the root of some psychological problems, as fat guys and girls may develop a sense of dissatisfaction with their bodies. In that sense, the health problems that are caused by fast food diets may also turn to psychological dilemmas. Therefore, it can be said that fast food may cause serious health problems that are the root of many other social and psychological problems for people. In addition, the way fast food is processed is investigated in many books and articles. . Some authors argue that the employees in slaughterhouses work under very bad conditions, which may be hazardous both for them and for the meat eaters. Because those who work in slaughterhouses face very hard conditions, live a hazardous life, and earn minimum wages, many slaughterhouse owners prefer to hire illegal immigrants, who are mostly not covered by health insurances. Thus, illegal immigration is the real threat of the spread of deadly diseases in the United States. This is due primarily to the fact that most illegal immigrants do not have health insurance. Steven A. Camarota asserts that "one-third of immigrants do not have health insurance — two and one-half times the rate for natives" (Camarota). This detailed description of the processing of food and slaughtering of meat gives a great idea about the this popular food is prepared and served. In this context, some other analysts conducted some research about the factors that led to the spread of fast food among people. Some of these factors include the good taste that attracts a growing number of consumers. However, most of the elements that cause good taste are unhealthy, such as the amount of fat in fast food. For instance, most kinds of fast food contain high ratio of fat which causes obesity that is life-threatening. In their article that is entitled "Why Junk Food is so Tempting, And How to Beat Your Temptation," Dr. Joseph Mercola and Dr. Rachael Droege refer to the important fact that "an estimated 300,000 Americans die each year from fat-related causes." Among the serious health problems caused by obesity and other fat-related problems is the high blood pressure and heart attacks. Since junk food contains extremely high levels of fat, those who heavily eat this kind of food will be categorized as high risk in regard to fat-related diseases. Thats because the eaters of this kind of food will gain weight easily and the fat levels in their bodies will increase to a level that would threaten their lives. Therefore, it can be said that both the natural and artificial ingredients of most fast food have dangerous effects on peoples health. On the other hand, there are some other articles which attempt to look at the issue of fast food from a comprehensive point of view. Some academics look at the popularity of fast food in the world as a new form of imperialism, stressing the acculturation of some local communities. That is, there are some societies which are more able in absorbing foreign cultures and habits than other local societies. The African and Middle Eastern societies for example can be classified in the group of communities that are able to absorb foreign cultures, styles, and diets easily. This is what is referred to as acculturation, which refers to the process of adapting to another culture that is different from ones own culture. In that sense, acculturation is very important for the success of the fast food business in such countries. In this context, Fareed Zakaria argues that “this type of cultural control is often referred to as neocolonialism: a more subtle means of controlling the world." He adds, "today, expansion is no longer military, but rather is culturally-based” (Zakaria). However, there are some other thinkers who oppose this view, arguing that societies should not be closed; rather, local cultures should be flexible to absorb foreign habits and life-styles. This is argued by Mario Vargas Llosa in her article which is entitled “The Culture of Liberty." She puts it clear that “cultures that attempt to preserve a certain fixed identity may have to live in total isolation, cutting off al exchange with other nations, and practicing self-sufficiency" (Llosa). Therefore, while acculturation is condemned by some thinkers and social analysts, it is praised by others. In this context, it can be argued that the proper hygiene -- hand washing and the disinfecting of all surfaces that come in contact with the meat -- is essential. It is also recommended to avoid unnecessary contact with live meat and poultry in order for the bacteria not to be transferred to the humans who work close to it. Lastly, it can be said that close inspection of slaughterhouses and the techniques followed in meat processing and packing is an important approach that may protect people against the dangerous effects of the bacteria that is found in meat. Within studying and reviewing literature about fast food, one may come across another kind of food that is proven to be healthy and tasty. In this context, some literature refer to a new movement, referred to as ‘Slow Food’ too counter balance the spread and popularity of fast food around the world. This Slow Food movement emerges as a call for a turn towards healthy and natural food. This movement was founded in Italy in 1986 as a result of the desire of a growing number of people to abandon fast food with all its health problem and search for healthier kinds of food (“Fast Food Culture …”). Thus, instead of eating fries while driving one-handed through traffic, the slow food movement would advocate taking the time to enjoy good food raised in clean, safe conditions and sold at a fair profit for the farmer. In addition, slow food means taking the time to know the food that people eat is healthy for them and for the people who produce it. In that sense, Slow Food "envisions a future system that is based on the principles of high quality and taste, environmental sustainability, and social justice. The food must be good, clean and fair" ("Slow Food"). The members of the Slow Food movement demand their food to be safe, wholesome, attractive, and flavorful. They also want their food to be produced in ways that respect people including farmers and workers in the food system, and also food consumers. Therefore, the Slow Food movement emerged as an expression of the dissatisfaction with the popular fast food. Recognizing the various negative health effects of fast food that is extremely popular around the world, the Slow Food movement emerged as an environmentally-safe kind of food in order to protect peoples health, especially children who are most vulnerable to the negative effect of junk food. Consequently, reviewing literature about fast food helped me search for a new style of food that highly values social relations and family ties. Instead of having a quick lunch in a fast food restaurant or a car, I would advocate the traditional notion of having a natural meal with the family at home. This style of food will not only be beneficial for health but it will also help in reviving the old family ties that are about to be lost in recent years. In that sense, the advocates of the "Slow Food" movement believe that the values of this movement will help to improve the social lives (Llosa). These are the values of the family meal, which teaches one, among other things, that the pleasures of the table are a social as well as a private good. As mentioned in the movement web site, "at the table one learns moderation, conversation, tolerance, generosity and conviviality; these are civic virtues. The pleasures of the table also beget responsibilities to one another, to the animals one eats, to the land and to the people who work it" ("Fast Food Movement"). Therefore, I would decide to be a member in the Slow Food movement, as it has positive impacts on peoples social lives; particularly, this movement advocates family gatherings during meals instead of the individual eating that is the central notion behind fast food. Accordingly, I’ve started to realize that fast food is an equivalent to individuality and isolation, while slow food is an equivalent to socialization and family ties. In conclusion, after reviewing literature about fast food, one would decide to revolt against the popular American style of eating that values the culture of individuality and quick meals. Contrary to fast food, one would join the Slow Food movement, which was initiated in Europe as a way to protect their own life style, culture and food diet against the dominance of the American way of fast food. At the end, after reading many books and articles about fast food I will promote the notion of eating fresh, organic, and natural foods instead of the unhealthy and high-fat fast food. Finally, the issue of fast food is researched extensively on various levels. While some analysts focus on the positive impacts of fast food popularity on the economy of individual countries, there are many others who spot various negative impacts of this kind of food diet on the life-styles and culture of people. Finally, the issue needs more research to be done in order to fill any gaps in the field and to find an answer to the question whether fast food popularity is detrimental for local culture and tradition or not. Works Cited Beynon, John and David Dunkerley, eds. Globalization: The Reader. London: The Athlone Press, 2000. Camarota, Steven A. "Immigrants in the United States — 2000 A Snapshot of Americas Foreign-Born Population." Center for Immigration Studies. Jan. 2001. 30 Nov. 2011. “Fast Food Culture is Expanding Worldwide.”11 Jun. 2005. 19 Apr. 2012. Jacobson, Michael F., Brownell, Kelly D. "Small Taxes on Soft Drinks and Snack Foods to Promote Health." American Journal of Public Health. 01 Jun., 2000, Vol. 90, Issue 6. 18 Apr. 2012. EbscoHost. Llosa, Mario Vargas. "The Culture of Liberty." Foreign Policy Journal. Jan.-Feb. 2001. 19 Apr. 2012. Ebsco Host. Academic Search Premiere. McCabe, Martia P. and Ricciardelli, Lina A. "Parent, Peer, and Media Influences on Body Image and Strategies to both Increase and Decrease Body Size among Adolescent Boys and Girls." 19 Apr. 2012. Mercola, Joseph and Droege, Rachael. "Why Junk Food is so Tempting, And How to Beat Your Temptation." 14 Feb. 2005. 18 Apr. 2012. Shah, Anup. "Effects of Consumerism." 18 Apr. 2005. 19 Apr. 2012. Read More