Introduction
Fast food is convenient, cheap, tasty, and hard to resist! But these foods also contain harmful preservatives and chemicals, and excess saturated fats and calories that could lead to many long term health problems like obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Most of these foods are also poor in nutrition.
Therefore, there should be a warning label mentioning how unhealthy the food is. Consumers have the right to know exactly what their food contains and how it might affect their bodies. It will help people choose their foods wisely, and improve their overall health and wellness.
Adverse Effects of Fast Food
Fast food is undoubtedly one of the most popular foods in the world. The Centre for Science in Public Interest has collected samples of various fast food items with their respective warning labels.
For instance, Big Mac carries no nutritional benefit, which you can see on the McDonald’s website. Furthermore, it contains chemical additives such as ammonia-treated beef flavours. People who have two meals a day from restaurants or order take out consume excess calories.
Did you know that 2.8 million people die every year due to obesity and excess weight? Fast foods are the major contributors to these as they contain high-fat meats, sugar, sodium etc.
The saturated fats can raise LDL cholesterol in the body, increasing risk of cardiovascular disease.
Obese women could have trouble conceiving, complications during pregnancy and chances of miscarriage. In today’s times, children also suffer from obesity because of the huge calorie intake as they eat a lot of junk food such as pizzas and burgers.
A public health problem around the globe, fast food can trigger physical and mental health problems such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, bone weakness, depression, and insomnia.
Therefore, fast foods should carry warning labels just like cigarettes and alcohol.
Why Unhealthy Fast Foods Should Have a Warning Label
This is a question that has been in debate for years and remains one. While one group is for it, the other group is against it. People who said ‘yes’ to the warning believe that it is necessary to make the consumers aware of the risks they are taking when they consume such types of foods.
The ‘no’ side claims that it would be an overreach of the regulatory bodies to impose such labels, as they fear false advertising complaints from big fast-food giants who will say that their food is safe as there are no warning labels.
A study published in the British Medical Journal found that people who have high amounts of fried potatoes such as burgers and chips are vulnerable to high obesity risk and its related conditions. This is because such fast foods cause weight gain, increasing insulin resistance. This means your body is unable to process glucose correctly which causes type 2 diabetes or heart problems such as coronary artery disease and even stroke.
Warning Labels on Packaged Foods
Warning labels on packaged foods are a good way to raise awareness among people about the foods they are consuming and the potential health risks they cause. Some people also say that warning labels on food packaging will also prevent children as there will be an age restriction on who can buy them. This way parents can read the label to ensure their kids are getting good food.
Conclusion
Fast foods are unhealthy. Most fast foods can be high in saturated fats, chemicals, sodium, sugar etc. which are harmful to the human body. It can lead to long term physical and mental health problems. A warning label will make the consumers aware of the risks they are taking when they consume such types of foods.
FAQs
1. Why is fast food popular even though unhealthy?
Smell, taste, convenience, and affordable price are four of the main reasons why fast foods are popular nowadays. Fast foods can be prepared within 10 minutes (at times longer) unlike a restaurant where you have to sit for 20-30 minutes or even more.
2. Why are fast foods cheap?
The main reason why fast food is cheap is due to its low production cost as compared to other food establishments. Also, many hire young or inexperienced workers and pay low hourly wages.
3. Why is fast food called “fast food”?
The name comes from the food’s quick preparation and serving time to customers. Many fast food places can prepare a whole order within 10 minutes. This is because many of the foods are available frozen (preheated) that are again reheated and served to you.
4. Are fast food and junk food the same?
Though they are used interchangeably, they are not the same. Using such words only causes more confusion. Not all junk food can be made quickly. Moreover, junk food doesn’t carry any nutritional calories and hence is also called empty calories.
5. Why are fast foods so tasty?
One of the main reasons is because of the way it smells. The flavour of your food lies in the combination of smell and taste. The smell of fast food stimulates your taste buds which makes you hungry and as you eat, you will enjoy it more.
