The Food Industry Is Largely Responsible for the Obesity Epidemic in North America

The Food Industry is Largely Responsible for the

Obesity Epidemic in North America

Monique Flores

Communications 335 Section 8

Introductory Persuasive Essay

Dr. Dave Edwards

September 11, 2013

The food industry is largely responsible for the obesity issues in North America today because of deceitful advertising strategies, clever marketing tactics and having no repercussions for harm they impact on society. Throughout time, American government’s focus on protecting its people has declined to an all time low. As an American food consumer myself, I believe we are easily manipulated and influenced to make decisions that are not in our own best interests because of how food choices are presented to us.

The food industry should have nutritional cap off limits to where they cannot increase shelf life of food products by adding more sugar, fat and/or sodium. Government should put restrictions on the amount of calories that fast food establishments are able to advertise and sell. There should be penalties and fines that food establishments must pay if they fail to adhere to policies. It should be a crime to lure children into early obesity by promoting toys with kids’ meals or inside cereal boxes. That tactic is comparable to soliciting drugs to teens as a way to be considered cool. Both scenarios will create health problems.

Fast food restaurants have gone to the extent of creating slogans and catch phrase songs in order to gain profits. Burger King tells us that we can have it our way, but they do not mention all the illnesses that people can get by eating food that has been grilled and can possibly contain carcinogens. Subway is another pseudo-healthy restaurant where the nutritional value in most of their sandwiches is high. Their marketing department developed a rather catchy song that drills in your head Subway sells five dollar foot long sandwiches, which is not suitable for most people to consume in one sitting....