User:Stevenarntson/group spaces/analytical writing/group 4

Fast Food Services


 * AlissaBOlson
 * AndreaLaCoste-Hines
 * JoseCandido
 * Lindra Chunadi
 * Chris Cammel

Summary
Our paper focuses on whether the convenience of fast food is worth the damage it has caused to America. Many modern services are beneficial to society and improve the quality of our lives. Today, people enjoy a wide variety of services from maintenance, health care, child care, retail, event planning, administrative, dating and networking services to name a few. However, as the American lifestyle becomes increasingly demanding due to occupational, personal, and social obligations, people turn to the service industry to assist them in managing their lives. Unfortunately, industries such as the fast food industry, provides a service that sacrifices nutrition and good health for self-gratification and accommodation. We intend to explore how fast food sets unhealthy eating habits from a young age, has increased health problems at an alarming rate, and has created long-lasting affects on society’s environment. Unless these issues are addressed responsibly in a timely manner, one of America’s long-standing industries will continue to cause problems to a public that is increasingly dependent on it.

Good
The overall idea of writing papers in a group is good in the sense you can bounce your ideas and opinions off of other people. You can also have them edit for grammar and spelling errors instead of having to find peers from other classes to do this. Also, writing as a group keeps the topic from veering off track and each person can bring a fresh perspective to the paper.

Bad
The overall idea of posting your paper online is not always user friendly. This creates issues if you do not have internet access at home, but also when the website doesn't save your work it is frusterating. Other issues, were members in the group not showing up for class to participate in discussion and plans with the paper, causing them to be out of the loop. I suggest doing the traditional way of writing a paper by writing it through Word and printing, editing, and making changes. This is the most common and more efficient way of writing papers. Also, doing group papers maybe should be minimized to 2-3 people per group not 4 to 5 people. Having too many people can be more challenging and having just 2 people would make the paper easier to create. Another problem with writing group papers online is miscommunication. We seemed to discuss our ideas better in person, rather than online. There was often a time gap between what was discussed in class and the time it took to research and post the info online. After information was posted, and if it wasn't within context of the overall paper, the paper had to either be readjusted, or the person had to start over.

What we would do differently next time
If we could do this again, we would create a schedule with deadlines and goals to make sure the paper is written in a timely manner. Also, we would communicate much more frequently, during and between class, to ensure everyone's ideas or concerns are addressed. We would gather information and create a pool of sources to make sure our research is consistent and in agreement with the overall paper. This information could be listed on the discussion page, and/or sent via email by one person in the group. Also, a group paper would benefit more if each person had clear roles, such as editors or researchers, in combination with writing for his/her topic. This would make everyone in the group more responsible for the overall paper, and not just an individual part of it.

History
Taking a quick look back into the 1800, a German Butcher named Charles Feltman introduced us to portable foods by opening up the first Coney Island hot dog stand in Brooklyn, New York City. After then, fast food became very popular such as hot dog, ice cream cone and iced tea and so the modern history of fast food restaurants in the United States began. On July 7, 1912 with the opening of an Automat-Cafeteria in New York City by Horn & Hardart, the pattern of prepared foods behind small glass windows and coin-operated slots flooded the country. This was patterned after a Horn & Hardart Automat that had opened in Philadelphia in 1902. Numerous Automat restaurants were quickly built around the country to deal with the demand. Automats remained extremely popular throughout the 1920s and 1930s. The company also popularized the notion of "take-out" food, with their slogan "Less work for Mother".

As automobiles became popular and affordable following the First World War, drive-in restaurants were introduced. The American company White Castle, founded in 1921 by Billy Ingram and Walter Anderson in Wichita, Kansas in 1921, is generally credited with opening the second fast food outlet and first hamburger chain, selling hamburgers for five cents apiece.[2] Walter Anderson had built the first White Castle restaurant in Wichita in 1916, introducing the limited menu, high volume, low cost, high speed hamburger restaurant.[1] Among its innovations, the company allowed customers to see the food being prepared. White Castle later added five holes to each beef patty to increase its surface area and speed cooking times. White Castle was successful from its inception and spawned numerous competitors.

Franchising was introduced in 1921 by A&W Root Beer, which franchised its distinctive syrup. Howard Johnson's first franchised the restaurant concept in the mid-1930s, formally standardizing menus, signage and advertising.[1]

Curb service was introduced in the late 1920s and was mobilized in the 1940s when carhops strapped on roller skates.[3]

Environmental Affects to our Community
Have you ever driven down the road and passed those big yellow arches maybe two or three times in a day? How about seeing the words "super size" around your community on a constant basis? As a child growing up we thought going to McDonalds was one of the more fun places to go with their big playgrounds, the free gift in your happy meal box, and the occasional cameo appearance by Ronald McDonalds himself. We enjoy our mini chicken McNuggets and french fries later going back for dessert with our child sized ice cream cone. Those were the days of fun childhood memories with no regrets, or so we thought.

The contributions the fast-food has on our families and community is incessantly an issue. They have spread their unhealthy fast-food chain throughout America and even continents all over the world. By building a McDonalds or a Burger King every 3 miles and creating fictional characters like Ronald McDonald, false advertising, and marketing tactics to lure youth into unhealthy diets. They provide low-paying jobs that barely support lower-class and immigrant families, causing them to work longer hours for survival, resulting in less family time. One might call this whole fast-food corruption a propaganda! "Americans now spend more money on fast food than they do on higher education, personal computers, software or new cards. They spend more on fast food than on movies, books, magazines, newspapers, videos and recorded music-combined" [1]  Even our schools and educational system is affected by the fast-food market because families are spending more money on buying happy meals than contributing into their children's education.

Targeting Our Children Not only does fast food take over every 5 block radius in our towns and communities, but it has reigned over our personal homes through television and multi-media. In 2006, the Federal Trade Commission came out with a report to Congress regarding the marketing impacts on our children through advertising by fast food corporations. It was discovered that fast food companies spend $1.6 billion dollars marketing their product to children and teenagers. Carbonated beverage companies spent the most money, then fast food restaurants, and lastly breakfast cereals through mainly television. This report done by the F.T.C. was provided through date on 44 food and drink companies they surveyed. Within their findings they found that $870 million dollars in marketing was advertising directed at children under 12 and about $1 billion was directed to teenagers. "Ninety-six percent of American school children can identify Ronald McDonald." [1].

Even if the fast food industries and CEO's decided to cut back on advertisements through television that doesn't mean they wouldn't see the ad's somewhere else. Fast food advertising knows how to target their youthful audience and they target this well through imaginary characters, catchy tunes, play grounds, and free prizes. Another study released was through the Kaiser Family Foundation a non-profit group that focuses on health care. They reported that 50% of advertising time on children shows is about food and 72% of those ads are for candy, snacks, sugary cereals, and fast food. "According to Kaiser, only 4 percent of the ads it viewed were for dairy products and 1 percent for fruit juices. There were one for fruits or vegetables." [3]

Kaiser, the F.T.C., American Academy of Pediatrics, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Institute of Medicine have voiced their concern that food marketing corporations need to cut back on junk food ads to children and teens. "Tweens, or children in the 8-to-12 age group, see more food ads than younger children or teenagers, the study found. Children age 8 to 12 view 21 television ads for food products every day, adding up to more than 7,600 ads a year.  Children in the 2-to-7 age range see 12 food ads a day, or about 4,400 a year.  Teenagers, 13 to 18 view 17 such commercials a day, or about 6,000 a year." [3]. This is a major concern to the future of our youth who see ad's through many types of media, such as, TV, radio, magazines, the internet, which they have access to twenty-four/seven. Not only does this affect their health, but also captivates them and lures them into a society that is based on false advertising.

Many of these food industries have suggested other means through public service announcements which promote fitness and nutrition, but would children even watch these ads enough to get the message? "But the Kaiser study found that children see few of these messages: one every few days for children under age 8, compared with 26 food ads in the same time period. For tweens, the ratio is one for every 48 food commercials, and for teenagers, one announcement for every 130 food ads." [3]. Since children are also interested in colorful, fun, advertising these public announcements probably would have little affect on intriguing them to be healthy. "Only 2 percent of the ads mentioned health or nutrition as a primary or secondary appealing factor, and 5 percent mentioned gaining strength or energy; other categories measured included convenience and enjoyment." [3].

The Little Guy vs. Fast Food Monster
One day while walking through Pike Place I looked at the organic and fresh fruits and vegetables, but hesitated to buy anything due to the high cost. Later on in the afternoon I felt hungry and went to pick up a cheeseburger and medium sized Coke at the McDonalds in Westlake Center. I didn't really think at the time that the small amount I was paying for that meal could of really been used to buy a cucumber, squash, and maybe some garlic which could of been sauteed in a frying pan at home with some leftover meat and been a great, organic lunch. My sympathy suddenly went out to those organic farmers who are just trying to make a living by selling their produce and in our economic crisis have a hard time luring customers in, due to costs. I pondered the thought, if I should really be supporting my local farmers instead of handing my money over to the food chains like Burger King, Starbucks, etc. Lately, I even felt a need to start going to small, private coffee shops to get my usual latte then to buy it from Starbucks or Tully's. This change of heart came from the realization that helping your fellow neighbor was much more rewarding than, knowing you money was just ending up at some multi million dollar corporation that in turn would go to some multi million dollar CEO.

Other environmental affects from the fast-food tycoon is they are affordable, accessible, and a #1 source of food to Americans. These three contributing factors have one thing in common they push out the little guy, meaning the local farmer. Farmers across America have always been affected by the fast-food bug because they loose customers and also the need for local farms to provide food is becoming less and less. "Almost twenty-five years ago, the farm activist Jim Hightower warned of the 'McDonaldisation of America'. He viewed the emerging fast-food industry as threat to independent businesses, as a sep toward a food economy dominated by giant corporations and as a homogenizing influence on American life. Much of what he's feared has come to pass." [2]

Local farmers have enough time competing against the big Kahuna itself, but they also get surpassed with low wages, and little opportunities, while really serving the fast food giant in the big picture. In Florida's tomato picking farms where migrant workers break there backs for little to nothing. "For 10 to 12 hours a day, they pick tomatoes by hand, earning a piece-rate of about 45 cents for every 32-pound bucket. During a typical day each migrant picks, carries, and uploads two tons of tomatoes. For their efforts, this holiday season many of them are about to get a 40 percent pay cut." [2]. These migrant workers are stuck in a slum of abuse and low pay barely able to support their own families. "Migrants have been driven into debt, forced to work for nothing and kept in chained trailers at night." [2]. Just so that the big fast food corporations can provide tomatoes to your hamburger every day.

Burger King has been a perfect example of the little compassion it has for the farms that slave away in order to supply their demand. "As for human rights abuses, Burger King has suggested that if the poor farm workers of southern Florida need more money, they should apply for jobs at its restaurants." [2]. Giving the migrant worker a little more money for their service to the a company like Burger King would be hardly an impact on the company itself. "Telling Burger King to pay an extra penny for tomatoes and provide a decent wage to migrant workers would hardly bankrupt the company." [2]. Goldman Sachs whom owns Burger King gave 12 of their executives $200 million dollars in bonuses which is twice the amount of money of all the 10,000 tomato pickers in Florida.

The farmers and the migrant workers all are impacted by the fast food companies, but so are the mom-and-pop entrepreneurs who face bankruptcy due to the competition. The big trend in 2005 was meal assembly shops run by families trying to make a living. These small businesses made uncooked meals in freezer ziploc bags and to-go tins with cooking instructions for the on-the-go worker or family. But the growth and profit has slowly decreased as fast food is more conveniently located and food is easier to access rather than having to go home and wait another 30 minutes for your meal to be cooked. "It turns out that lost of people are simply not motivated to plan many meals in advance. The desire for last-minute convenience remains powerful in America, often trumping the more ephemeral rewards of home cooking." [3]

A small company called Book It N Cook It in Tampa, FL. run by Mrs. Warner and her husband eventually had to close their business as they lost about $250,000 dollars. The Warners were never able to make the monthly revenue to match their average expenses. Their insurance adjuster spent 2 years studying this industry and felt the couple underestimated the public's need for meal planning. "People here have a grab-and-go mentality," Mrs. Warner said of Florida, where free time can be spent outdoors year-round. "The last thing anyone wants to do here is plan dinner." She said that the burger joint next door to her shop seemed to be doing great." [3]. Even though these small businesses suffer they continue to set themselves apart from the big fast food chains, but creating healthier meal options for the community.

Jobs and labor issues
As the number of fast food restaurants proliferated, so did job opportunities. Today, approximately 2 million workers are employed in the areas of food preparation and food servicing including fast food in the USA.[1] With the advent of such a large workforce, the franchisee now faced two issues that could sap profit from the fast food restaurant franchise and expose the owner-operator to significant liability and financial loss. The first is controlling labor costs as these costs are crucial to a fast food restaurant franchisee's profits. The second, employee lawsuits; an ever-growing phenomenon. Fortunately, the fast food operator is able to control costs and guard against employee lawsuits with the same tool.

First the issue of labor costs. Employees are the backbone of the fast food industry. Proper training is crucial to the orderly and quick service customers expect. Yet, employee turnover can be as high as 200% per year.[2] With such a turnover, owner-operators of franchise and non-franchise restaurants have the daunting task of constantly training an entirely new workforce. Policies and procedures need to be explained to each new employee. For example, sanitation, robbery emergency, break and clocking-in policies, etc.

Many of these fast food chains are eager to give you fast service, convenience, and food ready for purchase and corporations such as, Jack In The Box even made their stores open twenty-four/seven for the late night cravings. America has become so used to convenience that you don't even have to get out of your car to get your food anymore. Drive-thrus have become part of every day living, even coffee companies have become a fan of the drive-thru in order to give the American people what they want...convenience.

Convenience
When I worked long 40 hours a week for an internet company in Seattle I was always too tired to go home and cook up a meal that would take 20 minutes to prep and another 20 to 30 mintues to cook. Along the way home I would always stop into a Quiznos, Subway, and occasionally a fast food restaurant to pick up a quick meal. Financially, this was costing me less and I would be saving a couple dollars instead of paying a ton for groceries to make one meal. Many people such as myself have very little time after a long day of work to go home and cook a meal. Especially, since we all thrive on making a good income and supporting our families financially we try to pinch and save as much as possible. The CEO of my company quiet frequently ordered almost every lunch and dinner to go because he had very little extra free time due to a full work load. This crazy society of ours puts us in a position that almost forces us to have to eat out as much as possible, but is this a healthy habit?

To a mother that works two shifts to support her family a fast food restaurant is one of the best ways to get cheap food for her family. Also, by having a playground at most fast food restaurants this allows her to put her feet up for 2 minutes as her children run around in an enclosed area. Or how about the guy who works graveyard shifts at his janitorial job in a hospital and gets off at 2 AM. A fast food drive-thru that is open 24 hours a day would definitely be convenient and the food takes less than 5 minutes to serve. "McDonalds went 24/7 in Garner in April, 2005, after a push by corporate headquarters to boost profits by extending store hours. Franchisee Fred Huebner had doubts at first.  He doesn't anymore.  By catering to the area's night owls and early birds on U.S. Highway 70, Huebner, who puts on his first McDonalds uniform almost 35 years ago, figures he has increased his restaurant's revenue by 4.5%, or $90,000 a year," [3]. The issue here is that fast food is so convenient and cheap that most people don't think about the health hazards it causes to them and their families. How can we stop fast food from being a main food source to our communities and families? This is a question, for many lower income families that would not even be a second thought.

Fast food has become increasingly popular to the night owls and the families who can't afford to buy expensive, organic foods. But this feeds to the big fast food giants themselves in high profit revenue and causing the smaller restaurants to loose popularity or become increasingly competitive and creates a lack of family time that is needed especially for children at an early age. Many children loose the attention and necessary family relationships that are important to a child's growth as a person. '"People don't sit down and have an organized meal today," observes Marlene Schwartz, director of research and school programs at the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University. "Eating is something you check off,"' [3]. America's once effort to value family time has greatly decreased affecting our future of mothers and daughters, sisters and brothers.

Health Issue
Trans fats which are commonly found in fast food have been shown in many tests to have a negative health effect on the body and the director of the obesity program for the Children's Hospital Boston, David Ludwig, claims that "fast food consumption has been shown to increase calorie intake, promote weight gain, and elevate risk for diabetes".[1] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranked obesity as the number one health threat for Americans in 2004. About 60 million American adults are classified as being obese with another 127 million being overweight.[2] Health issues associated with obesity causes economic despair regarding health care. According to a 2003 study conducted by RTI International in North Carolina, the cost of health care in America is said to increase by $93 billion a year, mainly from Type 2 diabetes and heart disease, both associated with obesity.[3]

Excessive calories are another issue with fast food. A regular but not overly filling meal at McDonald's of a Big Mac, large fries, and a large Coca-Cola drink amounts to 1430 calories. A diet of approximately 2000 calories is considered a healthy amount of calories for an entire day (which is different depending on several factors such as weight, height, physical activity and gender).

Solutions
There is much debate about whether this is a self control issue or an addiction. People can "crave" pizza just like they crave a cigarette, but this comparison doesn't really tell us the nature of overeating. For Americans, rushing to get dinner on the table between work, school, baseball, ballet class and bedtime often caused time to be the missing ingredient, and it leads many people to rely on take-out, fast and easy-to-fix convenient foods From onion rings to double cheeseburgers, fast food is one of the world's fastest growing food types. It now accounts for roughly half of all restaurant revenues in the United States—triple its share in the early 1970s—and continues to expand there and in many other industrial countries. But some of the most rapid growth is occurring in the developing world, where it's radically changing the way people eat. [1]

People buy fast food because it's cheap, quick, and heavily promoted but the effects of its service are far-reaching as it presents alarming health issues, sends a mixed message to youth, and has long-lasting affects on society’s environment. Meals served to your car or at our desks are replacing home-cooked goods to be enjoyed with family and friends. Around the world, traditional diets and recipes are yielding to sodas, burgers, and other highly processed and standardized items that are high in fat, sugar, and salt—fueling a global epidemic of obesity, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses. Meanwhile, fast food producers require farmers to raise uniform fields of crops and herds of livestock for easy processing, eliminating agricultural diversity.

Some studies that has been mentioned above showed us that there could be addiction involved, but others blamed lifestyle. The bottom line is no matter you agree or not, knowing why fast food is bad is important.

Alternatives such as fresh organic foods are increasingly popular in Europe and Japan. And a “slow food” movement founded in Italy in 1986 to promote appreciation of food and the cultural experience of shared meals now claims 100,000 members in 80 countries worldwide. [2] So America, if they can do it, why can't we ?

One of the solutions that could improve the health regulations and encourage healthier foods in fast food restaurants is the support from our government. Our governments' newly elected President Obama is already taking action in this matter to help protect the Americans. "There are certain things only a government can do. And one of those things is ensuring that the foods we eat, and the medicines we take, are safe and don't cause us harm" (3). President Obama has cracked down on the FDA for establishing a better way of keeping Americans healthy. In a recent press release by the White House, President Obama appointed Dr. Margaret Hamburg and Dr. Joshua Sharfstein to lead a Food Safety Working Group, which would also include the Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture. There mission would be to enforce food safety laws even more and keep Americans safe. The Department of Agriculture, for instance, would be cracking down on prevention of diseased cows from being processed. While the FDA has been encouraged to add even more food inspectors and upgrade food safety labs.

Cracking down on the way our food is processed would prevent disease in food which end up going to our fast food restaurants, grocery stores, etc. An example of this is the outbreak of contaminated spinach, salmonella in peppers and tomatoes, and recently bad peanut butter products costing lives. President Obama seriousness in these food issues amongst America is hopeful for change. "Protecting the safety of our food and drugs in one of the most fundamental responsibilities government has, and, with the outstanding team I am announcing today, it is a responsibility that I intend to uphold in the months and years to come" (3).

Another way to improve the fast food addiction is by encouraging Americans to cook at home. Despite that Americans work longer hours and have little energy to slave away over a hot stove should still be encouraged to make cooking easier and educational. Even growing up my parents and my friend's parents were always taught to start learning cooking skills at an early age, whether pancakes or even making a nutritional salad these were parts of every day childhood. Therefore, how do we encourage our American families to make more efforts in cooking? Possibly by starting with our future, our children. Middle school aged children are encourage around the 7th grade to take cooking class and learn some basic skills, but maybe this should be incorporated even in high school as part of their education. Life skills in cooking, balancing check books, credit cards, etc., are all things are youth seem to be neglected in learning. If this was enforced in our education system this would be a huge improvement to the health and awareness of our country.

In the UK the education of cooking classes with youth has already been enforced by the government. Teenagers have been given "compulsory" cooking lessons at school under the government's encouragement. These teenagers ages 11 to 14 year olds are taught to make healthy recipes using fresh ingredients by the Department for Children. The public is also involved in this new educational change to actually come up with the dishes and recipes that the kids should cook. "The new secondary curriculum emphasizes practical cooking skills, and will also include diet and nutrition, hygiene and safety, and wise food shopping" (4). If the UK can emphasize the importance of healthy eating amongst its youth we would hope that this could also happen in the US as well. By 2011 all children in secondary schools in the UK will learn to cook up to 8 different dishes.

We mentioned the main reason fast food is so popular is the convenience in location and hours they operate, but what if instead of so many fast food restaurants popping up here and there more organic grocery stores were built around cities and suburbs. In Fremont, Washington the PCC organic food grocery store is very popular amongst its community and has many organic and healthy foods-to-go in the deli, another option for Americans who don't have time to cook up dinner every night. One of the many reasons Americans don't use organic grocery stores as often is the high cost in price to buy organic food, but if organic grocery stores were more popular these prices could most likely be at a reasonable amount. This would improve the profit for local small farmers, the health of the American people and their diets. '"Organic food is not just for personal health but for the health of the environment. Organic (food) supports a cleaner environment, and people with cleaner farming practices"' (5). Even online organic grocery stores could become a new wave in America making access more compatible with work hours and of course, convenience.

In conclusion, there are many solutions in improving the ways the country and the government could improve fast food from being a main source of food. Educate our youth in cooking classes that are required from middle school to high school. Improve and enforce the FDA to have more strict regulations with processed and contaminated food, sanitation, and disease control with food in America. Encourage Americans to eat out less and show them advantages in cooking at home and spending more time with their families. These are all positive ways we can invest in the future of our country, our youth, and our health.