Mass production of food products was initially considered a phenomenon in general with rather positive characteristics. Initially, this type of production and subsequent marketing was associated with the entry into the era of large-scale industrialized production of goods. It was assumed that mass production would represent an integral response to the increasing needs of consumers in the presence of restrictive economic laws. Mass production was planned as a phenomenon to ensure the supply of food in sufficient quantities to cover the loss of production in the sale and, at the same time, meet the economic needs of the consumer. The laws of the economic market were supposed to bring prices gradually to a logical and most natural denominator so that each buyer could be satisfied with individual requests and opportunities. Mass production of food products presents new opportunities, such as job vacations, but leads to a number of problems that are difficult to solve, e.g. lowering the quality of food and threats to healthy lifestyle.
It was in this way that the fast food industry manifested itself in the space of post-war America, which turned the idea of nutrition upside down. The preparation of complex meals that not only satisfy the needs of customers but are also attractive from a taste and price point of view creates a new type of marketing space, where the quality of food inevitably corresponds to the new rules of economic mass character. The restaurants and fast food trucks that filled the country during the second half of the 20th century, serving dishes in disposable containers, accelerated the process of both creating and consuming food (Schlosser, 2001). It can be said that this type of food production and distribution has created a new consumer society, requiring the provision of services as quickly as possible, even at the sacrifice of quality.
Indeed, the very fact that the everyday life of a city dweller can depend on the fast food industry requires additional reflection. As Schlosser (2001) points out, “fast food has infiltrated every nook and cranny of our society”. Fast food is an industry not only of consumption but also of employment, and there is a really impressive number of new vacancies created by this particular segment of consumption. The ever-increasing amount of consumption and production has given rise to the service industry, which is the overwhelming source of jobs in the country. Approximately 90% of jobs in the United States are somehow related to this work industry (Schlosser, 2001). Mass food production has indeed formed a new American society, in which a significant share of almost half of the total food consumption is fast food (Schlosser, 2001). The McDonald’s brand symbol is indeed an important sign of the current era, where the speed of consumption and service is the new indicator of functionality.
In conclusion, problems such as the declining quality of food and the large scale of its production lead to significant environmental damage, pollution, and excessive consumption of water and land. Moreover, it changes the eating habits of people for the worse, leading to neglect of diets, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. The shift in priorities to the speed of preparation and service of fast food has changed the economic perception of the food industry but has negatively affected people’s health.
Reference
Schlosser, E. (2001). Fast food nation: The dark side of the all-american meal. Houghton Mills Company.