Nowadays, packaged food and ready meals have become a significant issue in numerous countries around the world. This trend is rooted in various causes, such as globalization and affordability, and its consequences have negative impact on people’s health and lifestyle.
An array of causes may lead to why processed food is accepted by the public increasingly. To begin with, with globalization, people have more opportunities to consume different convenience food from distinct countries. Taiwan serves as an example. There is a wide range of packaged food provided in convenience stores, people tend to change what they eat every day, which can make people feel refreshed and excited. Another contributing factor is the affordability and accessibility of processed food. Due to affordable prices, people are prone to purchase convenience food instead of cooking food by themselves. For instance, compared to previous five decades, fast food meals cost less than preparing home-cooked dishes, especially for couple families. Therefore, more people like to buy ready meals every day to save money and time.
The impact of popularity of processed and convenience food is posing threat not only to the public’s health but also their lifestyles. To begin with, packaged food loses its nutritional value during processed stages and contains many additives and preserves. Once people overconsume packaged food, it may negatively affect their health because of absence of essential nutrients, especially immune system. According to study conducted by National Taiwan University, people who consume convenience food more than twice a week are 5% more likely to suffer from heart disease. In addition, the convenience of fast food discourages cooking and healthy eating habits. People are more likely to eat processed food on their busy schedules and develop sedentary lifestyle. For example, a full-time office worker may find it easier to grab a burger for lunch rather than preparing a nutritious meal. Consequently, convenience food fosters people to have unhealthy lifestyles and not staying active.
In conclusion, processed and convenience food has become more popular than before driven by a combination of globalization accelerating and affordable price. Thus, individuals should take more concerns to personal consequences. Addressing this issue requires the change of lifestyle and the rise of awareness from the public.