Fast Food Related Health

Concerns

Cholesterol levels elevated in frequent fast food

eaters.

Fast food restaurants use vegetable shortening

Extremely high in saturated fats

24 hour chains have become too convenient, available, quick and easy

Two most common sources are duck feathers and human hair

Used to increase pliability of dough About 80% now comes from duck feathers Used in McDonalds apple pie and cinnamon

rolls Found in many fast food baking products

Additives: L-Cysteine

More commonly known as sand Used as an anti-caking agent Found in processed beef and chicken to

prevent clumping Listed as ingredient on Wendy’s and Taco

Bell chilli

Additives: Silicon Dioxide

Processed wood pulp Used in a very wide variety of fast food Helps to thicken and stabilize foods Replaces fat and boosts fiber content Helps companies cut down on costly

ingredients such as cooking oils and flour Used by McDonalds, Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza

Hut, Wendy’s, Arby’s and many others

Additives: Cellulose

A form of silicone used in cosmetics and Silly Putty

Used in by fast food companies to keep fryer oil from foaming

Can be found in most fried fast food such as French fries

Additives: Dimethylpolysiloxane

Both of these come from beetles Carmine is used for red food colouring It comes from dried and crushed bodies of

the cochineal beetle Shellac is used as a glaze for things such as

candy, vitamins, chocolate and fruit It comes from a processed resin secreted by

the Lac Beetle

Additives: Carmine & Shellac

McDonald’s VS Subway

Hamburger

250 Calories 8 Grams of Fat

6” Club Sub

300 Calories 4.5 Grams of Fat

Childhood Obesity – Facts

Since the 1970’s Obesity rates in children aged 6-11 have more than doubled.

Obesity rates in children aged 12-19 have more than tripled.

Children consume more calories than they expend

Health Risks

In the United States obesity is the leading cause of death.

Obesity costs an estimated $93 billion in health care per year.

Obesity Related Health Risks include: Hypertension High blood pressure Sleep apnea Type 2 Diabetes Heart Disease Bone and Joint

Problems

Prevention - Advances

Removal of junk food and soda vending machines in schools.

Healthier choices in school cafeteria’s

Educating parents and children about the benefits of a healthier lifestyle.

Fast Food Marketing

American children spend close to 30 billion of their own money on junk food.

Australia, Sweden and the Netherlands have banned junk food ads which target children 14 and under.

North America needs to follow this example.

In addition, municipalities need to consider limiting and/or prohibiting the building of new fast food restaurants within walking distance of schools.

The long term effects of fast food include:

a) lots of energyb) diseases such as diabetes, cardio-

vascular disease and high cholesterol c) problems gaining weightd) there are no long term effects

Question 1

What ingredient is commonly processed from human hair or duck feathers?

a) L-cysteineb) Cellulosec) silicon dioxided) carminic acid

Question 2

How many calories are in a McDonalds hamburger?

a) 250b) 220c) 265d) 280

Question 3

How many calories are in a 6” Subway club sub?

a) 330b) 300c) 320d) 290

Question 4

_______________ is the leading cause of death in the United States.

a) Cardiovascular diseaseb) Type 2 Diabetesc) High Blood Pressured) Obesitye) None of the above

Question 5