Is Fast Food The New Tobacco?

 

    In a way, fast food has become the new tobacco in the sense that it has become an addiction for some. Although personal responsibility is an important factor within this issue, the real source of the problem is large corporation. Fast food companies, like McDonald's, have gained so much wealth, influence and other resources that they use to target certain types of people to become their permanent customers. Specifically, people and families of low income, some but not all, tend to eat fast food often because of the affordable prices; not everyone can buy healthy food long-term at grocery stores due to high prices. Big companies know this, so they are able to make their products obtainable and, to keep customers clueless, do not put detailed nutrition labels on any of their foods, they may label calories at most but that is about it. Obviously, people know that fast food isn't the healthiest, however not many realize just HOW bad it is, more than they are guessing. That is why people, like the kids suing McDonald's in David Zinczenko's article 'Don't Blame The Eater', are outraged "Kids taking on McDonald's this week, suing the company for making them fat". These fast food companies may not have flat out lied but they certainly are not being 100% transparent with their products, and they do it because they know it with ensure people will buy the food.

    I do believe our government needs to be more involved with this issue and having large fast food corporations be held more responsible, but not in some of the radical ways explained by Radley Balko in his article 'What You Eat Is Your Business'. Balko's article briefly mentions how certain nutrition activists and policy makers want the government to take control of America's food problem. For example, by restricting certain foods in schools or simply removing certain items off fast food menus to solve the obesity crisis. Balko writes "[...] including prohibiting junk food in school vending machines [...] In other words, bringing government between you and your waistline". The solution isn't going to come in the most extreme form of purging; you cannot simply tell people to just be smarter about how they eat when these companies are constantly only telling you half the truth, and you cannot eradicate certain foods/ restrict certain products. These are all solutions being tossed around to simply hide from the true answer that no one in higher authority wants people to realize, and that is enforcing transparent branding, more options to healthy food that is affordable and, most importantly, better healthcare. Simply put, the answer is just to have more knowledge and true freedom of choice, rather than this illusion of freedom being controlled by wealthy people.

    Tell people what is in their food, ALL of the facts, make more healthy grocery option choices that people can actually afford and sustain long-term, and when people are sick, in this case, with diabetes or obesity, provide them with affordable healthcare. Essentially, the core issue is manipulation and redirecting the public's attention away at extremist solutions that will not fix our nation's health problem in the long run. In a way, this all stems back to medical issues in some way, and the real solution to fast food and obesity will take a toll on people in higher power, which is what they do not want. This also seems to be the opinion of Balko's article, as he writes "This is the wrong way to fight obesity. Instead of manipulating or intervening in the array of food options available to American consumers, our government ought to be working to foster a sense of responsibility in and ownership of our own health and well-being". Once people are not shrouded in ignorance by the people who profit off of it and can actually make choices freely based on accurate knowledge of the food they put in their mouth, people will lead healthier lives. Companies need to be held responsible for their advertising and information to be more honest, people should have access to better food and healthcare. In this case, ignorance is not bliss.