Hello friends Summarized! This time we will discuss articles about fast food, the influence of globalization in the culinary field. Do you like to eat fast food? Maybe some of you answered yes, because fast food is practical, cheap, and delicious. However, did you know that fast food is one of the influences of globalization in the culinary field? How could that be? Come on, let’s look at the explanation in this article.
Fast Food, The Influence of Globalization in the Culinary Field
Impact
One of the positive impacts of globalization in the culinary field is the cultural exchange between different countries. We can enjoy various types of food from various parts of the world without having to go there. For example, we can eat sushi from Japan, pizza from Italy, or tacos from Mexico in restaurants in Indonesia.
However, one of the negative impacts of globalization in the culinary field is the uniformity of tastes which threatens the diversity of local foods. Fast food is a clear example of this phenomenon. Fast food is food that is prepared and served quickly, usually using pre-processed ingredients. Fast food generally comes from Western countries, such as the United States, England or France.
The Influence of Globalization in the Culinary Field
Globalization is a process of interaction and integration between people, companies and governments of different countries that occurs due to advances in technology, transportation and communication. Globalization has had both positive and negative impacts on various aspects of human life, including the culinary field.
Why fast food can be the influence of globalization in the culinary field? Because fast food has several characteristics that make it easily accepted by people in various countries, namely:
- Practical . Fast food does not take long to prepare and serve. We can order and get food in minutes. It fits into the fast-paced and busy modern lifestyle.
- Cheap . Fast food is usually sold at prices that many people can afford. We can get a sizable portion at a relatively cheap price. This fits with the uncertain economic conditions.
- Delicious . Fast food generally has a savory, sweet, salty or spicy taste that is liked by many people. Fast food also uses spices and flavorings that make it more delicious and appetizing.
- Variable . Fast food has various types and menu variations that can be chosen according to our tastes and desires. We can choose burgers, fried chicken, french fries, nuggets, hot dogs, sandwiches, salads, or fresh drinks available in fast food restaurants.
With these characteristics, it’s no wonder fast food has become popular in various countries, including Indonesia. The following table shows several examples of fast food restaurants from Western countries in Indonesia along with their mainstay menus.
| Restaurant Name | Country of origin | Main Menu |
|---|---|---|
| McDonald’s | America | Big Macs |
| KFC | America | Fried chicken |
| Pizza Hut | America | Pizza |
| Burger King | America | Whoppers |
| subway | America | Sandwich |
| Starbucks | America | Coffee |
| Dunkin’ Donuts | America | Donuts |
| Domino’s Pizza | America | Pizza |
| Wendy’s | America | Burgers |
| A&W | America | Root Beer |
| Taco Bells | America | tacos |
| Carl’s Jr. | America | Burgers |
| Popeyes | America | Fried chicken |
| Krispy Kreme | America | Donuts |
| J. CO | Indonesia | Donuts |
| Texas Chicken | America | Fried chicken |
| Cinnabon | America | Sweet bread |
| Dairy Queen | America | Ice cream |
| Hoka Hoka Bento | Japan | Rice box |
| Yoshinoya | Japan | Chicken rice |
From the table above, we can see that most of the fast food restaurants in Indonesia come from the United States. This shows that the influence of American culture is very strong in the culinary field in Indonesia. Fast food from America is part of the lifestyle of Indonesian people who follow global trends.
However, is fast food good for our health? The answer is no. Fast food has several negative impacts on our health, namely:
- Contains saturated fat and high cholesterol . Fast food is generally fried in oil that has been used many times, so it contains saturated fat and high cholesterol which can cause heart disease, stroke or obesity.
- Contains excess sugar and salt . Fast food generally uses sugar and salt as seasonings and flavourings, so it contains excess sugar and salt which can cause diabetes, hypertension or kidney disease.
- Contains preservatives and coloring agents . Fast food generally uses preservatives and dyes to make it durable and attractive, so it contains chemicals that can cause cancer, allergies or organ damage.
- Contains empty calories . Fast food generally does not have high nutritional value, so it contains empty calories that do not benefit our bodies. Empty calories only make us feel temporarily full, but do not provide the energy or nutrients our bodies need.
From the explanation above, we can conclude that fast food is the influence of globalization in the culinary field which has both positive and negative impacts. The positive impact is the existence of cultural exchanges between different countries, while the negative impact is the uniformity of tastes that threatens the diversity of local foods and has a negative impact on our health.
Therefore, we must be wise in consuming fast food. We don’t need to avoid fast food altogether, but we have to adjust the frequency and portion of fast food we consume. We also have to balance fast food with healthy, nutritious foods, such as vegetables, fruit or fish. Apart from that, we also have to maintain the diversity of local food which is our cultural heritage.
Thus the article about fast food as the influence of globalization in the culinary field. Hopefully this article is useful and adds to your insight. If you have questions or feedback regarding this article, please write them in the comments column below. Thank you for reading this article to the end. See you in the next article!
