Fast food is often highly processed and prepared in an industrial fashion, i.e., with standard ingredients and methodical cooking and production methods. It is served usually in cartons or bags without cutlery, in a rapid manner in order to minimize costs. Fast food outlets often provide take-away or take-out food in addition to a sit-down service.
McDonalds is a noted company which supplies fast food. It is a phenomenally successful enterprise, in terms of financial dominance and world-wide expansion. Fast food restaurants are most popular in the United States, which is credited with developing the style. Many major international chains are based there. As a result, fast food has often been the target for opponents of globalization, the target of anti-Americanism and subject to attacks on the grounds of cultural imperialism. This charge does have a certain plausibility if a chain offers a menu standardised in America, to customers in countries with very different cuisines.
Because of its convenience, fast food is popular and commercially successful in most modern societies, but it is often criticized for having the follwing alleged shortcomings, among others:
- It has poor nutritional value,
- It contributes to obesity,
- Exploitative advertising and marketing is used (especially directed at children),
- It causes environmental damage through clearing virgin forests for animal rearing.
- It reduces the diversity of local cuisines
Some of the large fast food chains are beginning to incorporate healthier alternatives in their menu, e.g. salads and fresh fruit. However, some people are cynical about this, seeing it as a tokenistic and commercial measure, rather than an appropriate reaction to genuine worries about the world ecology and people's health.
