American food habits are known to be particular: quickness and convenience are the key-words to describe this food culture that started up the fast food phenomenon, which rapidly spread around the world. Similarly, with ingenious marketing strategies, the Coca-Cola Company managed to reach the top of the most famous and most drunk beverages of the world. However, people have become more and more aware of the obesity problems linked to this “way of meal”, and to this fat, sweet and salted food and beverage mix. Thus, the US Department of Human Health and Services started to publish alarming statistics. In the last twenty years (from the early eighties to 2003), the obesity rate in the United-States has largely doubled, from 15 to 33% of the 20-74 aged American adults. At the same time, concerns were growing about the high level of risk linked to obesity, which provokes serious diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart diseases, strokes, respiratory problems, cancer… That is why the governments of many countries, where what has come to be called “junk food” is very popular, decided to take measures in order to tackle this issue which threatens public health.
[...] You can find it online at this address: http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/document/pdf/brochure.pdf Some legislative measures have also been taken in order to prevent obesity, and the first thing governments aim at limiting, through these laws and decisions, is junk food. The first thing to do was to prevent the young from obesity as long as they are in schools: that is why junk food selling, like snacks or sodas that can be found in vending machines, has been forbidden in many countries during the past years (in France in 2005, in some US states like in California the same year Instead, some initiatives have been encouraged, like selling apples or milk in cafeterias. [...]
[...] Obviously, that has not completely changed the Occidental way of life, and we can even not be sure that it has reduced junk food selling. However, the concerned brands became aware that their image could turn very bad, and that their products may be neglected. That is why they decided to renew this image, in order to appear more health-friendly. It is what we are going to see with Coca-Cola and MacDonald's. A renewed image thanks to huge means Mac Donald's: when the emblematic fast food tries to clear its image As we have seen, MacDonald's is the first target aimed at by those who want to prevent people from eating junk food. [...]
[...] Indeed, the Coca-Cola Company owes its reputation thanks to inimitable marketing strategies that had managed to put its brand at the top for a long time. This is a well-known case of studies for marketing students, and the fierce competition with Pepsi has always encouraged Coca to do better. Thus, feeling the growing disapproval for drinking sodas full of sugar, Coca-Cola was a forerunner in 1982, when launching the Diet Coke, a sugar- free version of the Coca-Cola Company's flagship beverage. [...]
[...] A rising awareness of the health hazards caused by junk food A lot of health problems are linked to an inappropriate diet Of course, in developed countries, lifetime is longer and longer, thanks to all the medical progress. However, new health problems have appeared as people are living older. This kind of diseases is the consequence of what people did during their lifetime: smoking, drinking but also a much more frequent activity: eating. Indeed, medical studies have raised awareness on the hazards that can result of an unbalanced diet. [...]
[...] As long as individuals balance their food choices, any food (including soft drinks) can be part of a healthy, enjoyable diet. Some people like to think of foods as either "good" or but there's no such thing as a "bad food" only "bad diets." According to most nutrition experts, the best way to ensure that you eat a good diet is to eat a variety of foods in moderation. Q. Should I be concerned about the amount of sugar or calories in soft drinks? [...]
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