The US Fast Food Spreading Obesity in Europe?

Craig T · 09-29-2014, 10:04 AM

I guess Jeremy Clarkson and the guys at Top Gear will need to lay off the "Fat American" jokes. New study shows the UK and Western Europe rapidly gaining on US obesity levels (no pun intended). No finger pointing at the US companies yet, but here is a picture I just took of a small street in Amsterdam that used to be mostly small cafes of different international persuasion. I buried my head in shame.

ckelly78z · 09-29-2014, 10:08 AM

Wherever a market exists, they will be there.

gshase · 09-29-2014, 10:14 AM

Like there are not enough RICH foods in Europe.......I could post pics of large people from all over Europe.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

American fast food places are much more expenisve in Europe than in the US and also much more than much tastier street food in Europe. I went to McDs in Germany recently only because it was a drive-thru and I still had hours to drive to my destination and was in a rush. I went to a McDs in France long ago that charged more for to-go than dine-in. Ketchup is extra, no free refills and they fill the drinks right up to the line on the cup, but not to the rim. I always got the feeling it was a real treat for the kids if their folks took them there in other countries. Not so in the US.

john70t · 09-29-2014, 11:02 AM

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Mr Clarkson is a bit of a fat bastage, maybe ought to lay off the spotted dick

911SauCy · 911SauCy's Garage

SubWay...always provides a crappy sandwich but with immense amounts of wonder.

Wonder what this meat really is?
Wonder why the bread is made of yoga mat foam?
Wonder how the "sliced daily" fresh veggies get into those sealed plastic bags?
Wonder why people even consider eating it?

Fast food of all types is gross and really not inexpensive as mythological books once recorded.

slodave · slodave's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

American fast food places are much more expenisve in Europe than in the US and also much more than much tastier street food in Europe. I went to McDs in Germany recently only because it was a drive-thru and I still had hours to drive to my destination and was in a rush. I went to a McDs in France long ago that charged more for to-go than dine-in. Ketchup is extra, no free refills and they fill the drinks right up to the line on the cup, but not to the rim. I always got the feeling it was a real treat for the kids if their folks took them there in other countries. Not so in the US.

But... But.... You can buy a beer with that Big Mac!!!!

Gets me every time, and I partially grew up in Germany.

onewhippedpuppy · 09-30-2014, 04:08 AM

Obviously the corporations are to blame for a lack of self control and personal responsibility.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Way too much added sugar and processing in general of food in this country. Added sugar (corn syrup = added sugar, high fructose corn syrup = added sugar, "natural flavors" often means added sugar, etc.). I'm starting to buy more and more of my stuff from a local farm stand. Really getting sick of paying $100+ a week on a grocery bill that buys packaging and advertising / marketing materials (this represents an awful lot of what goes into the cart and just ends up in a landfill), junk that has too much added sugar and high embodied energy costs (why the heck are we buying stuff trucked from hundreds of miles away or worse still, produce that's brought in from thousands of miles away?)

The state of food production and distribution in this country is frightening when one starts really looking at it. Thank the gods I'm a vegetarian, which helps filter out a lot of the crap, hormones, poisons, etc. but I can still do better - as we all can. The garbage people call "food" today is becoming less and less so and more and more laboratory byproduct. I see predictions regularly that in 20 years, one out of every three Americans will be diabetic. I believe it. Look around. It's shameful and frankly I think government is complicit in it by sucking up to big agribusiness - the same way they turn a blind eye to the sins of big oil; big pharma, big banks, and big data / telecom (and in the not-too-distant-past, big tobacco). The govt wants that tax revenue and they don't care what happens so long as they get it. The government won't protect you from this stuff - only YOU can. Caveat emptor! Stop buying and eating this schit!

widgeon13 · 09-30-2014, 05:18 AM

No one is holding a gun to their heads.

I'd still prefer a good schnitzel to a quarter pounder.

911SauCy · 911SauCy's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by widgeon13

No one is holding a gun to their heads.

I'd still prefer a good schnitzel to a quarter pounder.

So does Mrs Saucy

71scgc · 09-30-2014, 06:18 AM

The Beck Bier at McD's in Germany was always a hit.

Carter

Craig T · 09-30-2014, 07:25 AM

Hey, I'm all for capitalism and corporate profits. I even hold stock in McDonald's. I like gambling on the fact that most people are lazy and have no food-health discipline. Keep eating Big Macs...helps my retirement. I was just disappointed to see the ethnic cultures and healthy choices replaced by our fast food and neon lights.

This particular street once had a fantastic Persian cafe where I used to get healthy Lamb kabobs and tabouli. Now a Subway. Next door was a Japanese noodle bar where young college students hung out...GONE.