Evaluate the book Fast Food Nation, arguing its value (or lack of Essay

Evaluate the book Fast Food Nation, arguing its value (or lack of value) for a specific group of citizens of the United States - Essay Example This paper aims to evaluate this book and determine whether it contains or lacks value to a specific group of citizens in the US. The US fast food industry started after the Second World War when the country came out of the Great Economic Depression. These times saw the country experience an economic boom that led to massive gains on all fronts of the economy. More jobs were created by the many industries, factories and corporations that were founded on the basis of this economic boom. This led to urbanization, which was characterized by people moving from rural areas to urban centers where there were job opportunities. The lifestyle in the city necessitated for there to be a system that could offer fast food services to the busy metropolitan population. This was because lifestyle, in cities, did not allow a lot of time to be spent on meals at the expense of working hours. Thus, the fast food industry was borne, out of this necessity, to offer fast and convenient food services and de livery to consumers on the go due to time constraints (Talwar 58). The book offers valuable lessons, insights and information, to parents, which enable them to make informed choices about the source of food they allow their children to consume. The information contained in the book can help parents realize the detriments of fast food in the diet of their children. U.S. parents are given insights on how to recognize marketing gimmicks and ploys that are aimed at ensnaring their children onto fast foods. They can use this newly gained information to protect their children form advertising campaigns directed at their children. Apart from the negative impact that fast foods have on health, which the book does not keenly elaborate on, there other crucial features in the book that are important. The use of marketing campaigns directed at children poses a significant risk to children. According to Schlosser, this is in the sense that it serves as a form of indoctrination because it leads t hese children to becoming lifetime loyal customers. This is despite the fact that habitual consumption of fast food meals is a key causative agent for a myriad of health problems. This advertising predisposes children to becoming loyal customers who are blind to the detrimental benefits of fast food meals (Nestle 208). Fast Food Nation provides vital information, to parents, which is utilized to shield the innocent minds, of children, from advertising that might have an impact on the rest of their lives. The chapter about the chemical compounds used, by fast food companies, to flavor their food stuffs offers crucial information that can be used by health professionals. The book gives an account of some chemical food additives with known harmful implications that are used to give these food stuffs that unique taste. These substances are used to give fast foods their unique aroma, taste and appearance so that they are appealing and attractive to their customers. Some of these chemical substances have recognized abilities to promote the development of diseases and conditions like diabetes and cancer. The impact of these chemical substances is especially magnified if consumed for a long time from a tender age. This is because these chemicals build up in the body, raising their concentrations to levels that can cause toxicity. The effects of these chemicals can have far-reaching effects that can last through generations where damage