FAST FOOD REGULATION
Task
Should the government regulate the location of fast food restaurants, determine portion size and set limits to contents such as sodium, sugar and fats?
Introduction
The effect of fast food has been a pertinent issue within the health sector. There have been major awareness programs, concerning the adverse effects that these foods cause to the human health. The industry players within the fast food industry have complained about prescriptive government restrictions against the industry. There has been little agreement between operators and the government on a compromising position concerning regulation of this industry. Considering that, the industry players are profit oriented therefore there is need for the government to check on the following issues within the industry.
Location of fast food restaurants
Location of fast food is a very important issue in relation to fast food regulation. As recommended by doctors, people should consume fast food less than twice in a week (Bowman et.al., 2004). Most fast foods are very delicious and create a craving among most of its consumers. It requires someone who has a strong conviction to control his craving for the fast food. It is very significant that the government regulates where these restaurants are located. For example, children are not aware of the effects of fast food to their health (Bowman et.al., 2004). Therefore the government should enact regulations that will ensure that there is some distance in the proximity between these restaurants and children amenities such as schools (Bowman et.al., 2004). Fast food restaurants should not be located in residential areas, streets and highways. The focus of this initiative is to control the access that would lead to frequent purchasing of fast food. These restaurants should be confined to major shopping centers.
Portion size
Too much fast food served in a meal means that an individual is eating beyond the recommended levels of junk food. The government should develop regulations that will regulate portions served to customers in these restaurants. The operators within this industry are more satisfied through high sales. This therefore implies that the country is being subjected to too much junk food. The government should enact legislations that will create the minimum amount of junk food that an individual is served in these restaurants. Most people in the country treat junk food as their main meal hence ending up to consume volumes that are considerably unhealthy (Dumanovsky et.al., 2004).
Limits on the level of certain contents
Fast foods are prepared with certain contents which such as sodium, fat and sugar. Medical reports indicate that too much of these contents can lead to diseases related to cardiovascular, high blood pressure and diabetes complications (Dumanovsky et.al., 2004). The operators of these restaurants provide nutrient information of these foods on some of their websites (Dumanovsky et.al., 2004). However, this seems to be a public relation exercise since they do not reveal such information on their real menus in the restaurants (Dumanovsky et.al., 2004). Some of the operators of these restaurants are aware that too much fat or sugar is attractive to a certain population including children (Dumanovsky et.al., 2004). Therefore, it will be significantly healthier for the government to give the recommended levels of such contents in junk food.
Conclusion
However much the fast food industry is vital to the economy through taxation it is also detrimental considering its adverse impacts on the health sector. The operators of these businesses are driven by the desire to earn more profit for business growth. Therefore it will be secure for the government to act as the regular since it not an active player within the industry. The government will achieve this by creating specific zones where operators can set up their fast food businesses. In addition, it will be a major breakthrough for the health sector if the government regulates the contents in these fast foods.
References
Bowman, S. A., Gortmaker, S. L., Ebbeling, C. B., Pereira, M. A., and Ludwig, D. S. (2004).
Effects of fast-food consumption on energy intake and diet quality among children in a national household survey. Pediatrics, 113(1), 112-118.
Dumanovsky, T., Huang, C. Y., Bassett, M. T., and Silver, L. D. (2010). Consumer awareness of
fast-food calorie information in New York City after implementation of a menu labeling regulation. American Journal of Public Health, 100(12), 2520-2525.
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