Caitlyn TranWith my head leaned against the window, I looked out into the vast expanse of desert. The static scenery made the four hour drive from Las Vegas to Los Angeles a drag, but I perked up as two golden arches, marking a fast food oasis, emerged in the distance. With the onset of globalization, fast food restaurants can be found around the world. This is no surprise since according to the history of McDonald’s on their corporate website, the company has implemented more than 36,000 restaurants in over 100 nations. Blogger Stephen Von Worley set out to find the “McFarthest Spot,” or the location farthest from any McDonald’s in the United States, and discovered that the longest distance is approximately 120 miles. These statistics are mind-boggling already, but they merely account for one fast food chain. This puts into perspective how widespread fast food has become. There is no question that fast food restaurants currently dominate the food scene, especially in Westernized places, but what factors made these quick service menus so popular? According to a research study conducted among mainly Hispanic/Latino or Asian/Pacific Islander first-year college students by Jaapna Dhillon and her colleagues, the popularity of fast food relates to “the perceived food environment,” which incorporates factors like “adequacy (i.e., variety and quality), acceptability (i.e., familiarity and preferences), affordability, and accessibility (i.e., convenience and accommodation).” The accessibility of fast food chains is clear from how widespread they are. It does not take long to reach any of these restaurants nor does it take long to receive a requested meal. Fast food is also reputable for its dollar menus, such as the $1 deal for 10 chicken nuggets at Burger King or the occasional $1 deal for sandwiches at McDonald’s. However, another attractive factor for fast food involves its ability to provide both familiarity and variety not only through the diversity of fast food chains, but also the diversity in menus focused on local preferences that some fast food chains have implemented. McDonald’s is one food chain famous for the different menus they implement in various countries. For instance, Journalist Gillian Osswald looked into some menu items found around the world, such as the Ebi Filet-O Shrimp Burger in Japan, McCurry Pan in India, Prosperity Burger in Malaysia, and Taro Pie in China. By introducing diversity into their menu, McDonald’s encourages consumers to visit even when they are traveling to other countries to try items they cannot find in their own countries while also introducing familiarity to nearby customers by using foods that are enjoyed locally. People still have a choice in determining what they eat, so the topic may seem irrelevant to some. However, the significance of this topic lies in the general population shift toward fast food consumption and what it means for public health. A study conducted with data from 43,000 Chinese adults in Singapore for 5 years by researcher An Pan and her colleagues reveals that the consumption of Western-style fast foods over twice a week led to a 27% and 56% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and dying from coronary heart disease, respectively. This clearly illustrates the deadly effect of fast food consumption, especially in the Asian Pacific Islander (API) community. Knowing how fast food consumption impacts health, especially that of API’s, we can look for alternatives to fast food. According to journalist Zee Krstic, the affordability aspect of fast food is becoming less relevant as time progresses since data from Datassential, a food industry marketing firm, indicates that there is less than an 8% difference between the costs of meals at casual dining restaurants like Shake Shack compared to traditional fast food restaurants. Although health effects vary depending on the restaurant, casual restaurants are usually a healthier alternative since food is cooked rather than stored and reheated for speed like at traditional fast food restaurants. However, an even healthier and cheaper alternative would be cooking at home. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the cost of eating out has increased more than the cost of cooking at home. This once again removes the affordability factor that makes fast food attractive, and the potential for health benefits is higher since cooking at home allows people to include fresher and healthier ingredients in their meals. As the red sands and sparse vegetation blur past the car window, I clearly glimpse golden arches in the distance once again. However, with my new knowledge of fast food consumption health consequences, I remind myself that the food oasis is merely an illusion. Although I may not completely avoid Big Macs and fries, further moderation of my diet by turning to alternatives can save me and many other API’s from the dark path the golden arches lead to.
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