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English 101
Jason Smith
17 October 2013
The Fast Food Industry and Children
The success of a fast food business owner depends on how many
costumers come in and buy the products, and how well it progresses profit
wise. Just like in the book Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser, a business
wants to become a "Trusted Friend" to its customers, making them feel
safe and welcomed. The problem in the growth of most fast food
companies is that they target children. How do we know that? If you look at the
beginning of McDonalds, it started with burgers but next came toys in kids’
meals and playgrounds. Children had been targeted to grow up loving McDonald's
products, so that they would be customers for life. It is important for kids to
not grow up around fast food, so that they don't risk their health before they
get to adulthood.
McDonald's strategy aimed for a family crowd. Kroc's idea to promote McDonalds
to children was a clever decision. Kroc the owner of McDonalds explained “A
child who loves out television commercials, brings their grandparents to a
McDonald's, giving us two more customers,"(Fast Food Nation.) This was the
first successful fast food business that we know of. Now days, there is plenty
just like McDonalds just waiting to bring in as much customers and profit as
possible. Everyone is competing with each other, how much money can be
made, and who shall we target next? A child sounds perfect!
As a child grows up, it’s supposed to explore the world, learn new things and
be happy. But when a child explores fast food, becomes obsessed with the
product and is drawn to want it
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more due to constant advertisement, his/her mind is
overwhelmed. When children start to eat fast food at a young age, it becomes
they only type of food they are aware of. Personally, being a customer at
McDonalds from time to time, it’s obvious that I don't find anything high
on vegetable. Even if it comes to a salad, it’s just as much calories as a
burger due to the greasy chicken and dressing on top of the lettuce. Most fast
foods do not include fresh vegetables, or fresh salads on menus. The
problem gets worse, the stomach expands due to the over oil soaked meat and
fries and it continues to grow over the years. It is hard for adults to
resist grabbing a good looking burger with fries, so it must be even harder for
children. How do you explain to a child that it’s not good for them, if the
advertisements and toys in meals are showing them it’s great. Every business
practices these strategies but what about the future? How will the children
grow out of their bad habits?
When
we walk into a fast food restaurant we smell the flavors from the fryers.
Everyone is welcoming, encouraged by the boss to drawn customers in with a bit
of a fake smile. Above we see the menu, all lighted up bright, looking better
than in reality, and on the side before the counter in the toy stand. Once in a
while a new coffee is invented “extra caramel", drawing in the coffee
lovers. About everything you desire can be found in a local McDonalds, only
with about twice more sugar and fat added. It all affects our ways of
eating, worsening our health, as we can recognize the way we feel after a while
of eating fast food.
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