GALWAY–There is no denying that the fast food industry has been a tremendous force in American culture over the past two decades.  Although there are many people who are able to avoid eating food from McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC, and hundreds of other fast food restaurants, the majority of Americans cannot or will not stop themselves from consuming this food.  The tendency to eat greasy, ready-to-go meals has become increasingly dangerous over the past few years.  Our country is in the midst of a deadly obesity crisis, and fast food is at the center of the issue.

In Mrs. Gerber’s tenth grade health class, there has been a large focus on nutrition, fast food, and the food industry.  Students have created healthy meal plans to implement in our own school, researched how unhealthy fast food really is, and learned what happens behind closed doors in the food industry.  In class, students were able to watch the documentary Food Inc., which reveals the dark reality that is the food industry in our country.  Here are a few eye-opening facts from the movie:

• At the supermarket, candy, chips, and soda are all cheaper than produce
• Type 2 diabetes only used to affect adults, but now it is affecting children in epidemic proportions
• There are only 13 slaughterhouses for the majority of beef in all of the US
• Ground beef from the grocery store has thousands of different cows mixed up in it so the chance of one of those cows in your meat having a disease is increased
• Animals at factory farms stand ankle deep in their manure all day long so if one cow has E. Coli others can get it too

• In 1970 – the top 5 beef packers controlled 25% of the market
• Today – the top 4 beef packers control 80% of market

Upon watching Food Inc., I was very disturbed by the information I learned, especially about the amount of disease and illness that is easily spread in slaughterhouses and other food industry companies.  It is obvious that our nation is facing one of the most challenging and even life-threatening issues it has ever seen. It is very easy to become discouraged and believe that you cannot make a difference, however this is untrue. I conducted some research and found this website:  http://www.stopfoodborneillness.org/. This website gives you lots of information on the food industry, disease, and most importantly what you can do to fix it.  If you wish to help fix our food industry, visit this website, or simply contact your legislature. Let your voice be heard! You can make a difference and help stop illness and save lives.