Though fast food may differ, depending on the culture and nationality, fast food problems are usually the same in all countries. One and perhaps the most important fast food problem is that fast food is unhealthy. Fast food is loaded with saturated fat and calories and is low in nutrients and fiber. When consumed often it can damage the health to a great extent.

Fast food consumption results in various diseases, which were not observed until fast food industry emerged. Children suffer most, the damage starts before they even enter kindergarten. High blood pressure and diabetes have become common among children. Almost all American children visit McDonald's at least once a month. Commercial advertisements have a tremendous impact on children and can be one more reason why fast food restaurants are so popular among them. About 96% of all American schoolchildren recognize Ronald McDonald. Very often children are involved in fast food commercials and more often they are employed by fast food enterprises. Despite the fact that part-time employment can teach them responsibility, statistics shows that teenagers, who work much tend to abuse drugs and alcohol.

Fast food is also accused of contributing to obesity. Today half of America's adults and one quarter of children are overweight.

 Among the fast food problems is also low quality of the food. Fast food is so popular because it is inexpensive, you can get a satisfying meal under $5. Low price is just one more reason why we should think twice before eating fast food. It is usually made with cheap ingredients, including high fat meat, and foods that contain saturated fat, cholesterol. It lacks vitamins and minerals, which can be found in fruit and vegetables mostly.

Now most meatpacking plants moved out of big cities to small towns. They aim at keeping meat prices low. Instead of highly qualified workers immigrants are hired in order to save money. It should be mentioned that meatpacking has become a dangerous business, since at least one-third of all meatpackers are injured on the workplace each year. The typical hamburger contains meat from hundreds of cattle, which increases the risk of food poisoning. The US Food and Drug Administration warned that children and pregnant women shouldn't consume hamburgers, hot dogs and sandwiches due to the risk of infection.

The Congress has imposed fast food tax on fast food enterprises, claiming they must bear responsibility for the quality of their food.

Fast food problems can be solved under condition that everyone would care what he eats. Very often people think they choose healthier alternatives but they are misled. For example, chicken nuggets, which are so popular and are considered to be healthy food, contain twice as much fat as a hamburger. It is vitally important to know the amount of fat and calories in our favourite food, otherwise we can damage our health not even knowing about it. Those who visit fast food restaurants more than once a week should learn to choose the healthier options on the menu in order not to be affected by fast food problems. There are many healthy fast food choices, which are tasty, available and don't cost much.