“Because our fast-paced lives lead little time for food preparation at home, fast food consumption in the U.S. is increasing. Some studies have found that approximately one-third of children eat fast food on any given day. Parents are buying more kids meals that have healthy choices, such as fruit. But fast food still contains much more salt, bad fats, and sugars than than food prepared at home. Eating too much fast food increases the risk of metabolic disorders such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity” (Here’s how much fast food Americans are eating, CNN 2017).

Additionally, potentially hazardous chemicals have been found in fast food packaging and fast food items. In one study, “researchers at the George Washington University and their colleagues bought fast foods from popular outlets and found 10 of 11 potentially harmful chemicals in the samples, including phthalates, a group of chemicals that are used to make plastics soft and are known to disrupt the endocrine system. The research team also found other plasticizers, chemicals that are emerging as replacements to phthalates. “We found phthalates and other plasticizers are widespread in prepared foods available at U.S. fast food chains, a finding that means many consumers are getting a side of potentially unhealthy chemicals along with their meal,” Lariah Edwards, lead author of the study and a postdoctoral scientist at GW, said. “Stronger regulations are needed to help keep these harmful chemicals out of the food supply.”” (George Washington University).