English 1100: Argumentative Essay on Fast Food and Health

This argumentative essay examines the impact of the fast food industry on health, particularly in the context of rising obesity rates in America. The essay analyzes two opposing viewpoints presented by David Zinczenko and Radley Balko. Zinczenko's argument focuses on the fast food industry's responsibility, highlighting issues such as lack of nutritional information and inadequate government regulation. Conversely, Balko emphasizes personal responsibility, suggesting that individuals should be accountable for their dietary choices and health outcomes. The essay evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of each argument, considering factors such as bias, assumptions, and the overall fairness of the presented perspectives. Ultimately, the essay concludes that informed consumers are better equipped to make healthy choices. The essay also incorporates ideas from the 'They Say, I Say' textbook and is intended to provide practice in articulating a critical argument in response to the works read.

Running head: ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY ON FAST FOOD INDUSTRY
ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY ON FAST FOOD INDUSTRY
Name of the Student:
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Author Note:

1ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY ON FAST FOOD INDUSTRY
Consuming Fast food has been a continual epidemic for decades in United States of
America. Fast food industry is recognized as one of the leading contributors to the health
issue called obesity. This should be a prime reason for Americans to focus on as the rate of
obesity is potentially increasing. Regulation in consuming fast food would lead to an efficient
decline thereby, American citizens are required to put more concerns and awareness towards
the threat of the fast food industry and initiate certain steps in order to regulate and reduce the
frequent consumption of non-nutritious food. The essay focusses on the argumentative
structure regarding the consumption of fast food and the issues of increased obesity in
America through the referred essays of Radley Balko’s “What You Eat is Your Business” and
David Zinczenko’s “Don’t Blame the Eater”.
In the essay “Don’t Blame the Eater”, David Zinczenko’s explanation on fast food has
influenced people to view various ways of solving the issue of obesity. David in his essay
explains the issues that has raised at an alarming rate in America and following it, certain
ideas and facts are displayed forward among the citizens of America (Zinczenko). He
explains the lack of adequate information about the food which people are consuming that
further results into unhealthiness of the human body (Zinczenko). David Zinckenko focused
in one of his points that government is not paying attention towards solving the food industry
related problems and healthcare issues. The factors that has been raised throughout the entire
essay of “Don’t Blame the Eater” is agreeable. Following it, Zinckenko explains in his essay
that “Prepared food aren’t covered under Food and Drug Administration labeling laws” ,
which reveals that fast food made in the restaurants are dealt with less responsibility due to
which the matter has become the fact to be worried about consumer’s health (Zinczenko).
Provided with such evidence, the point is therefore settled that with the facilitation of
sufficient knowledge regarding food what people eat would lead to better orchestration of

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY ON FAST FOOD INDUSTRY 2
obtaining a healthier diet. With such awareness people would eventually eat less when they
settle to dine out at fast food restaurants.
Following to the discussion, there are certain factors that describes that childhood
obesity is also growing significantly, immediate actions are supposed to be taken by the
governments as well as the American citizens. The initial step one must take is to provide
core information regarding nutritional facts at fast food centres. Zinckenko’s idea of making
the food industry and fast food restaurants responsible is acceptable as it is necessary to show
or reveal the information of food products and it’s possibilities of causing a health hazard. In
his essay, it is evident that certain actions from the company survey like informing clients are
already taken forward. Therefore Zinckenko affirms that there some fast food surveyors
through which information is provided on request.
Following to the issues mentioned, Radley Balko’s explanations are comparatively
disagreeable. Radley Balko in his essay, “What You Eat is Your Business”, explains what
obesity is. He explains that people are supposed to be responsible regarding staying healthy.
In addition, the government is not supposed to be manipulative and intervened in the course
of variant options of food that are available to the citizens of America (Balko). In the course
of his explanation, certain notions and ideas are opposed, as it is evident enough to be certain
that people are in general addicted to fast food. In addition, it has been a record that people
even though being conscious regarding health by maintaining a strict diet, yet a gradual
increase in obesity rate is witnessed (Balko). Balko in his essay, “What You Eat is Your
Business,” instead of blaming the food industry, he finds a solution. He explains that the
better way to lead people towards becoming more conscious is to free the insurance
companies in order to reward good and a healthy lifestyle, and penalize unhealthy ones

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY ON FAST FOOD INDUSTRY 3
(Balko). To support his ideas, he further arguments by saying that as heart attacks are
common among the citizens of America, thereby most of the health insurance companies
would charge for their services even when the customers are free of diseases or heart attacks
(Balko). As a result, it is better for people to become self conscious regarding health in order
to remain free from office visits of insurance companies and health issues including heart
attacks and obesity (Balko). Although Balko provides good reasoning in his work, yet his
ideas are not much sustainable in controlling the issue of obesity.
In conclusion, both the authors have their independent and different opinions when it
comes to one’s responsibility. Zinckenko expects the food industry and fast food restaurants
more responsible regarding health issues. Whereas Balko believes and strongly facilitates
with his opinions and ideas that people are responsible for health issues. Through an in-depth
analysis and argumentative approaches provided with evidence, it is certainly understandable
that as long as the consumers are well informed regarding the food products, it is possible to
avoid health problems. Therefore, as discussed in the essay, it concludes health is a personal
matter.

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY ON FAST FOOD INDUSTRY 4
Works cited:
Balko, Radley. "What You Eat Is Your Business." They Say/I Say”: The Moves That Matter
in Academic Writing: With Readings 2 (2006): 395-399.
Zinczenko, David. "Don’t Blame the Eater." New York Times 23 (2002).