Fast food become the new normal these days and young kids are obsessed with it. It started with the purpose of quick food to save time but now it become a whole industry. Most fast food items contain high sugar, fat, and oils. Although these items are quite tasty they have some real health concerns. India is adopting this culture at a rapid pace because of that we are witnessing an increase in heart problems in India. Almost on every street in the metro area, we can find a stall of fast food. This convenience helps this fast food culture spread quickly. In this article, we will find out the positive and dark side of fast food.
Facts of Fast Food
- As per the reports of Mordor Intelligence the QSR(Quick Service Market) size will reach 25.46 billion USD in 2024. It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.74% from 2024-29 and touch the 38.71 billion USD market size.
- In total, there are 227000+ registered fast food restaurants in India and more than 5 lakh fast food stalls.
- Samosa, Chole Bhature, Bada Pav, Pizza, Burger, and Kachori are the most selling fast food of India.
- As per statica, almost 35% of Indians eat fast food at least once a week.
- On average, an Indian spends 1430 rupees per month on fast food consumption.
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Cons or Dark Side of Fast Food
- The major problem with fast food is the health concern. It contains high fat and sugar which increase blood pressure and obesity.
- Fast food releases dopamine which encourages our cravings for more unhealthy food.
- Hygiene is one of the key issues with fast food and most stalls serve unhygienic food.
- It can only satisfy our hunger but can not provide us with the required nutrition.
- People are nowadays not interested in having a meal with nutritions as it is costly and takes time. They find the cheaper solution in fast food but it is backfiring their health.
- Eating regular fast food can increase the chances of heart attacks by 30%. As per reports of HMRI and HNE Health on every new fast food outlet the number of heart attacks increased by 4 per 1,00,000 people. For example, if there are 10 outlets for 1,00,000 people 40 people have a high chance of getting a heart attack. If the number of outlets becomes 11 then 44 people have a chance of getting a heart attack.
- As per the medical experts eating fast food daily can increase the chances of getting depression. In total, it develops 13 major health-related problems – headache, depression. Acne, dental distress, heart disease or stroke, shortness of breath, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, weight gain, sugar spike, insulin resistance, bloating and puffiness, and extra calories.
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Pros of Fast Food
- Opening a fast food cart is feasible for a person with a lower income than opening a restaurant. It costs 10k to 50k in investment on the other hand restaurant will cost 10 Lakh to 50 Lakh.
- Since it is available quickly people find it useful to save their time.
- If cooked properly with the right ingredients, hygienic, and eaten in limited quantity, fast food is not a bad thing to eat.
- QSR Industry employs more than 3.5 million people in India and planning to create 5,00,000 more jobs in upcoming years.
- Costing is one of the major reasons for the popularity of fast food culture as the pricing starts from 10/- Rupees. With 100 rupees two people can easily satisfy their hunger with fast food.
- Slowly the fast food industry is now heading towards healthy food options. QSR chains are more interested in making food items which less on oils, and sugar and don’t have any preservatives.
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Conclusion – Fast Food Culture Needs a Rethink!
Fast food is a food option, not a food obligation and we need to consume it within limits. This industry is boosting the economy, employing more and more people which is good for our society. The main problems lie in the food preparation and ingredients used in that. Consumer need to think about their health before eating junk food. Eating these food items more than once a week can cause some serious health issues. So consumer needs to eat these food items with responsibility. On the other hand, the seller needs to practice hygiene and try to use healthier substitutes for harmful ingredients. QSR and vendors need to stop misleading advertising. Also, we need to understand that fast food is just for once in month or week, and need to eat nutritious food daily.
References
- https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/india-quick-service-restaurant-market/market-size
- https://www.statista.com/statistics/675387/market-value-of-quick-service-chain-restaurants-in-india/
- https://www.healthline.com/health/fast-food-effects-on-body
- https://www.newcastle.edu.au/newsroom/featured/research-shows-possible-link-between-number-of-fast-food-outlets-and-heart-attacks
