Essay on Fast Food: Pros and Cons

It is evident that fast food essays generally deal with the question of whether it is reasonable or not to eat junk food. The following fast food essay will therefore explore the issue of junk food consumption revealing both sides of the question. The paper represents an argumentative essay on fast food as it contains arguments both in favor and against junk food. It also briefly discusses the health problems of American nation explained by the consumption of fast food in great amounts. Therefore, the paper presented below can be regarded as a fast food nation essay. Just like any essay on fast food, the current paper will give details as for the development of fast food industry and the consequences of regular eating of junk food for the world population. The current fast food argumentative essay will focus on the American nation as a target population. Although fast food industry provides products and services to almost every country of the world, the current essay about fast food will provide data on the prevalence of junk food only in the United States.

First of all, let us discuss the arguments against fast food in an attempt to answer the question of why junk food should be avoided at all costs.

• The first counter-argument against junk food is the fact that such food greatly contributes to the problem of obesity and overweight across the American nation. It is associated with other health problems as well. Cardiovascular disease is among the threats associated with regular consumption of fast food. Although it is quite understandable that in today’s fast-moving world people do not have much time for having a proper snack, it is much better to find some healthier alternatives rather than consume junk food. Due to all the health hazards associated with junk food, it would be even better to skip the meal and go hungry than drop at some fast food restaurant.
• Another issue of concern is the horrible conditions in which animals are kept before slaughter. You’ve probably seen the terrifying movies about how badly animals are treated before they are slaughtered, while the heart-breaking photos of poor animals are broadly promoted by mass media. Many of these animals are kept in extremely tight places, so that in order to prevent them from getting sick in such horrible conditions, the animals are fed with antibiotics that consequently end up in the food we consume. Isn’t it a reason to stop eating junk food? Maybe with such knowledge some people would even become vegetarians, although it is at least possible to simply choose some healthier options. Nowadays, the choice of food is really diverse and you can always find something that would meet your preferences and tastes.
• Another issue is the ingredients of junk food. It is evident that fast food contains various chemicals in the form of preservatives that are needed to keep the food fresh. Some chicken foods are produced mechanically, and this means that the scraps from chickens actually end up in hamburgers and other kinds of meat-containing fast food. Furthermore, if you ever happen to learn the ingredients of your favorite junk meals, you would probably be greatly surprised to see that apart from preservatives junk food is filled with artificial coloring substances, sodium glutamate and many other harmful components.
• One more issue is the quality of junk food. You do not need to be an expert to see that most of the fast-food restaurants do not use ingredients of the highest quality. This includes the wilted lettuce used for the production of hamburgers and excessively chewy chicken that does not look like a high-quality meat at all. Fast-food restaurants use the cheapest ingredients in the process of production, and most people do not even realize that sometimes it is better and much healthier to make a hamburger yourself than buy one from a fast-food chain. 
• Besides, fast food safety and preparation leave much to be desired. The employees hired for cooking the fast food meals do not undergo any adequate training on food safety. Therefore, you might expect that someone who was preparing your hamburger did not even wash their hands. No one wants to suffer from food poisoning, but most people do not realize that fast food poses a great threat of poisoning, and should therefore be avoided. As for the food preparation, most of the meals available in fast-food restaurants are not even cooked properly. The frozen food is simply unwrapped and dropped into a greasy microwave to be processed into something more or less edible.

Despite the obvious danger of fast food consumption, many people still enjoy dropping at fast-food restaurants to have a snack during the break or simply because they like the taste of such meals. Here are some counter arguments why people choose fast food over healthier options.

• Fast food is quick to cook. In today’s busy and dynamic world, most people simply do not have much time to eat properly. Therefore, they choose a quick way to get nourished by dropping at fast-food restaurants.
• Many people also claim that they enjoy the taste of junk food. It is true that junk food is tasty, and most people cannot resist the temptation of eating their favorite hamburger or French fries.
• Another reason why people choose junk food is its price. Fast food is rather inexpensive so that you don’t have to spend much money to have a quick snack.
• Most people also claim that they are too busy to cook, while some people admit that they simply want to treat themselves with something tasty every so often and at the same time avoid the necessity to cook.
• Another argument in favor of junk food is that it helps in socializing with family and friends. It is obvious that it is much better to sit in the comfort of a fast-food restaurant and chat with friends than eat a snack alone.  

It is up to you whether to choose fast food or some other kinds of snacks, but the truth is that the drawbacks of fast food seem to overweight the positive sides. That is why if you are a fan of junk food, you’d rather reconsider your preferences for the sake of health and safety.

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