Charlie Plummer College english Summary Response February 03, 2017 Dangers of Fast Food Restaurants When Americans put fast-food into their mouths, do individuals understand what exactly it is? With America's multiple food sources throughout the day like the following: gas stations, fast food, restaurants, and grocery stores Americans see food constantly. With seeing food constantly it brings eating to their attention more, cause individuals to eat multiple times a day increasing the carbohydrates and calories. According to David Zinczenko, in the article, “Don’t Blame the Eater” fast food restaurants aren’t accurately providing calorie labels; all the sides added to the main meal are not provided clearly. By doing this individuals think they are having a certain amount but really are having much more. When discussing the argument of proper eating styles of young adults I agree that the calories are not accurately displayed as well as obesity rates since 1994 have increased, however, I disagree that there are no calorie charts on packagings. Zinczenko discusses the downfalls of such a quick and easy option that fast foods brings. He talks about his own personal experience with always choosing the easy and fast option. Zinczenko states, “Lunch and dinner, for me, was a daily choice between Mcdonald’s, Taco Bell, Kentucky Fried Chicken or Pizza Hut” (239). This article is about the downfalls fast foods provide young and easily enticed youths. Zinczenko talks about how it youths are becoming more obese over time and it is only increasing. He thinks that the calories are not being accurately shown on the bottle, packaging, commercials, or menu’s. Zinczenko also talks about how it eating junk food is easier and faster these days. For young adults who are always on the go and attractive and doing something, getting a Big Mac from Mcdonald's is cheaper and easier to grab, therefore the calories add up. Zinczenko is explaining how not properly labeling the calorie count, and making junk food easier to get it is going to be a downfall for child obesity levels. Fast food companies are not accurately labeling their products. I believe the companies that are producing these easy to grab or “on the go” meals or snacks aren’t really telling the buyers what they are eating. Zinczenko’s theory of inaccurate calorie display is extremely useful because it sheds light on the difficult problem of child obesity. These companies don’t take into account the add on’s they sell with it for the total calories and if they do it’s in the very small print that’s hard to read. For example, when selling one of your healthier options like a salad they say in big writing “Only 300 Calories” when they also sell the croutons and dressing and crackers with the salad. The companies lead the buyers to believe they are only consuming 300 that many calories but when adding all the carbs of croutons and dressing and crackers it’s much more. This happens all too often. However, it’s not just the grocery store companies, restaurants and fast foods do it as well. Take Outback for instance, they claim there 120 calories, but they don’t take into account the ranch or tabasco or both people add to the fry’s. I think what Zinczenko is trying to say is it is okay to claim the cheesey fries are 120 calories but also including extra calories with add on’s. He states, “Fast-food companies are marketing to children a product with proven health hazards and no warning labels” (393). I think adding this small of a difference might change the way people eat or at least get them thinking the amount of carbs being put into their body a day, and could potentially change the outcome. Today’s world is not like it was in 1994, Americans have increased in diabetes and child obesity. I completely agree that as generations continue so does the average weight of children. We have become a well rounded or in other words heavier society. A lot of our holidays and parties are centered around food. Today’s world our food portions have increased as well. Americans eat all day long; think about it, no matter what time of the day or where it is there are always people eating. Those unfamiliar with this school of thought may be interested to know that it basically boils down to keep eating the same amount of calories and all of america will be obese in other words fat. Americans need to make a conscious decision to eat less and healthier options and really count all the calories they are putting in their mouth. Zinczenko brings this following statement to our attention,“Before 1994 diabetes in children was generally caused by a genetic disorder-- only about 5 percent of childhood cases were obesity-related, or Type 2, diabetes” (392). This information brings to our thought process how much the decrease in heath americans have went to in the past 20 years even. Individuals need to get a handle on this or we aren't going to like the outcome in the end. With that all being said I do however disagree that there are no calorie information. I do think there could be a better system of showing the Americans what exactly their eating. Although I am not willing to say there aren't any source of information out there to find out exactly how much an individuals are eating. Young adults as well as older adults are more than capable to take time and look at everything their eating but that takes time. I think it could be useful to have it right there on the package, because sometimes individuals just won’t have the time to look it up for example, being in a grocery store. There are changes that can be made but the labels are not, not telling Americans. Zinczenko states, “there are no calorie information charts on fast-food packaging” (392). I disagree with Zinczenko’s view that there are no labels on fast-food packaging because, as recent research shows shown, there are labels but the labels are on the menu next to the food while being ordered, for example, Mcdonalds has the calories right next to it. There for Americans are able to find out or look to see what the calories they are taking in are. There are things I agree with things I disagree with like; agreeing that calories are not being accurately displayed as well as obesity increasing but I disagree with there being no calorie labeling on products. These are all based on the opinion of David Zinczenko, in the article, “Don’t Blame the Eater”. It is a interesting read and very enlightening in the information on child obesity and the causes and effects. This is a great article to get a different perspective on child obesity and the causes. This can shed a new light on some Americans thought process and could potentially impact lives in a good way, causing people to eat better and know what they are putting in their bodies.
Zinczenko, David. "Don’t Blame the Eater" They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 198-210. Print