Cost of Living Crsis: Fast Food

[Bestbank Tiger]

1260 calories total for $4.77 plus tax.

That's juuuuust a bit high in calories for one meal. And cheeseburgers and fries don't reheat well.

 

[Kaitzilla]

Maybe a bit offtopic:
Most processed foods contain ridiculous amounts of sugar (IIRC Subway is not allowed to call their loafs as bread in some nations and it has to be classified as cake due to the high sugar content) which the food industry counters with increased amount of salt - both are cheap and in the end and both will intensify the flavor.
Today we had pupils (around 13-14 years of age) in our company for an excursion - one of the experiments we do with them is to dissolve sugar in water and use the solution/sludge as a glue - it amazes me every time how much sugar can be dissolved in water (200g sugar in 100g water is quite possible if you use warm water) -
Sugar content in food it's totally bonkers if you consider that sweetening with sugar (cane or beet based) was not part of the human diet until about 200 years ago.

Even BBQ sauce is ridiculous.

Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce has 8 grams of added sugar per tablespoon.

I got the 'No Sugar Added' version of the same sauce, and it tastes the same to me!

The regular version is fattening just for the hell of it.

 

[PPQ_Purple]

I make my own at home. It has like 1 table spoon of sugar and only because the secret recipe would be inedible without it on account of the heat.

And just for the record. If your BBQ sauce does not make my nose run, my eyes water and my rear bleed than it is not hot enough and I will hear no more of it.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

Home economics has been degraded twice - once by gendering it (as a girl's option) and the second time as a "soft" or "social" science that people seem to treat as less important than other subjects.

It was such a Scandal in my Grade 7 year of junior high. One of the girls wanted to take shop as one of her options. The male teachers threw a fit about it, saying no - it's a course for boys and if a girl took it, the boys would be distracted.

Yes, sexism was alive and well in 1974.

So a couple of the boys piped up and said they wanted to take Home Ec. The teacher there put on her usual sour-faced expression and said that as long as they behaved and understood that they would have to learn sewing and do the same assignments as the girls had to, it would be okay with her.

At that point the shop teacher had run out of excuses. The girl took shop, and outperformed many of the boys. The boys in the home ec. class turned in an adequate effort at cooking and sewing and putting up with the teasing they got from the other boys. Somehow the school remained intact.

As for me, I was forced to take home ec. and hated it. I hated the teacher, hated my classmates, and did my best to fail so they wouldn't make me take it the following year (it didn't work).

But I did manage such a subpar effort in Grade 8 that they finally let me take what I'd really wanted: typing. And while it's nice that I came out of the home ec. class with a few minimal sewing skills (how to thread a machine and do hand sewing) and learned out to make applesauce, typing was a more practical skill for me, that I turned into a home-based business several years later. Nobody has ever paid me for my ability to make applesauce or thread a sewing machine.*

*Honestly, I have a phobia about sewing machines, and the possibility of injury. And don't say it never happens. One of my classmates got between the needle and the fabric and the needle went right through her finger. That's not to say I've never accidentally stuck myself with a needle when sewing by hand - I have, but it was never more than a temporary inconvenience and make sure not to bleed on whatever you're working on. As needle-related injuries go, I've had worse ones from my insulin pen and testing my sugar.

 

[Synobun]

It was such a Scandal in my Grade 7 year of junior high. One of the girls wanted to take shop as one of her options. The male teachers threw a fit about it, saying no - it's a course for boys and if a girl took it, the boys would be distracted.

Yes, sexism was alive and well in 1974.

Alive and well in 2009 also when I was in high school. No girls in shop, no boys in home ec (now titled family studies). I was the only boy both years I took home ec.

 

[Broken_Erika]

Alive and well in 2009 also when I was in high school. No girls in shop, no boys in home ec (now titled family studies). I was the only boy both years I took home ec.

My grade 7 in 2000-2001 had the class randomly divided, one half got family studies while the other haslf got shop class, then halfway through the year they switched.

 

[Zardnaar]

Ours was full integrated. Everyone did metal work, home ec, art, sewing, woodwork.

Sewing was fun. Bit of teasing at first with cooking but tgen things like chocolate cake were being made.

 

[Narz]

Maybe a bit offtopic:
Most processed foods contain ridiculous amounts of sugar (IIRC Subway is not allowed to call their loafs as bread in some nations and it has to be classified as cake due to the high sugar content) which the food industry counters with increased amount of salt - both are cheap and in the end and both will intensify the flavor.
Today we had pupils (around 13-14 years of age) in our company for an excursion - one of the experiments we do with them is to dissolve sugar in water and use the solution/sludge as a glue - it amazes me every time how much sugar can be dissolved in water (200g sugar in 100g water is quite possible if you use warm water) -
Sugar content in food it's totally bonkers if you consider that sweetening with sugar (cane or beet based) was not part of the human diet until about 200 years ago.

It's possible to reaclimate to a lower sugar diet. I used to find 85% chocolate inedible and now I find it sweet (and milk chocolate cloying and disgusting)

As I said earlier the most angering part is not the easy availability of hyper-palatable food products but how they're pushed as normal everyday staples onto kids (who are least likely to be able to resist them or understand why they should).

 

[Narz]

Alive and well in 2009 also when I was in high school. No girls in shop, no boys in home ec (now titled family studies). I was the only boy both years I took home ec.

They only really imply sexism if kids were pressured or discouraged. It could imply personal choice (perhaps influenced by peers and teachers expectations).

 

[Valka D'Ur]

It's possible to reaclimate to a lower sugar diet. I used to find 85% chocolate inedible and now I find it sweet (and milk chocolate cloying and disgusting)

As I said earlier the most angering part is not the easy availability of hyper-palatable food products but how they're pushed as normal everyday staples onto kids (who are least likely to be able to resist them or understand why they should).

Back when I was in the hospital, freshly diagnosed with diabetes, I got all sorts of conflicting information. Then there was a doctor who informed me that I could never have milk again. Ever.

I told her that milk had been a choice on my daily meal menu, so if I could have it in the hospital, why not at home?

She promptly snapped at me that what I'd have at home wouldn't be single serving, like she expected me to 1. Have the wrong kind of milk; and 2. Drink the whole damn carton at once.

I asked her what she thought I should drink instead. She said: "Coffee."

I said, "You're a doctor and you're pushing COFFEE on me?" Coffee is disgusting. I can't tolerate even a teaspoon of it.

When I told my regular doctor about this, she was flabbergasted and told me of course I could have milk. So I asked her to please redo the paperwork for my prescriptions, as I didn't want that other doctor's name on my paperwork - I didn't trust her. As I put it to my doctor, "She's an idiot."

(I've become rather blunt in recent years)

My doctor was happy to change it, and at my last appointment we talked about diet a bit. She was pleased that I use pepper to flavor things now instead of salt. She wasn't as happy about the artificial sweeteners, but there's no way I can tolerate some things without some sort of flavor to them. Porridge, for instance, requires some kind of sweetener, whether it's fake sugar or a teaspoon of honey.

 

[Gorbles]

It could imply personal choice (perhaps influenced by peers and teachers expectations).

This (especially any teachers' expectations) very much make it not personal choice.

 

[Narz]

Back when I was in the hospital, freshly diagnosed with diabetes, I got all sorts of conflicting information. Then there was a doctor who informed me that I could never have milk again. Ever.

I told her that milk had been a choice on my daily meal menu, so if I could have it in the hospital, why not at home?

She promptly snapped at me that what I'd have at home wouldn't be single serving, like she expected me to 1. Have the wrong kind of milk; and 2. Drink the whole damn carton at once.

I asked her what she thought I should drink instead. She said: "Coffee."

I said, "You're a doctor and you're pushing COFFEE on me?" Coffee is disgusting. I can't tolerate even a teaspoon of it.

When I told my regular doctor about this, she was flabbergasted and told me of course I could have milk. So I asked her to please redo the paperwork for my prescriptions, as I didn't want that other doctor's name on my paperwork - I didn't trust her. As I put it to my doctor, "She's an idiot."

(I've become rather blunt in recent years)

My doctor was happy to change it, and at my last appointment we talked about diet a bit. She was pleased that I use pepper to flavor things now instead of salt. She wasn't as happy about the artificial sweeteners, but there's no way I can tolerate some things without some sort of flavor to them. Porridge, for instance, requires some kind of sweetener, whether it's fake sugar or a teaspoon of honey.

It's important to remember doctors have almost no training in nutrition (to become a doctor you need 15 hours training in nutrition TOTAL, in contrast to become a personal trainer I needed 100 hours). Even then we're still not supposed to give specific dietary recommendations, instead we're meant to refer them to a nutritionist (we can tell them basic guidelines but not recommend this food or that or a particular diet).

And often their knowledge is half remembered from school 30 years ago.

 

[Zardnaar]

It's important to remember doctors have almost no training in nutrition (to become a doctor you need 15 hours training in nutrition TOTAL, in contrast to become a personal trainer I needed 100 hours). Even then we're still not supposed to give specific dietary recommendations, instead we're meant to refer them to a nutritionist (we can tell them basic guidelines but not recommend this food or that or a particular diet).

And often their knowledge is half remembered from school 30 years ago.

My doctor just told me to lise weight and lower salt.

Eliminating mistakes suger wasn't to hard as I barely used it anyway. 13 grams of suger for breakfast more or less zip after that. 1 xan of soda a month.

I've kept the weight off now I have to figure out the next 5kg.

 

[Narz]

My doctor just told me to lise weight and lower salt.

They have low-sodium salts, I'm sure they're available in NZ. I have one that's half sodium chloride & the rest potassium & magnesium chloride and I don't notice much taste difference plus you get some additional minerals that people are often low in.

 

[Zardnaar]

They have low-sodium salts, I'm sure they're available in NZ. I have one that's half sodium chloride & the rest potassium & magnesium chloride and I don't notice much taste difference plus you get some additional minerals that people are often low in.

I got blood pressure under control just over a month.

Stop eating pizza roundc1.

Haven't even had a restaurant pizza this year.

 

[Ordnael]

Not sure if this share makes sense here or in a separate thread, I'll let the mods decide

A Bucks teen who was diagnosed with fatty liver disease and diabetes sues food giants over ultra-processed products​

A Bucks teen who was diagnosed with fatty liver disease and diabetes sues food giants over ultra-processed products

Bryce Martinez was diagnosed at age 16 with illnesses that "did not exist in children” before ultra-processed foods became common in American diets, the lawsuit says.

www.inquirer.com

An 18-year-old from Bucks County is suing 11 major food manufacturers, alleging that his Type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease were caused by ultra-processed foods, which he contends the companies intentionally engineered to be as addictive as cigarettes.

The lawsuit alleges that Bryce Martinez, of Warrington, is the victim of a “predatory profiteering” scheme by food giants to develop and market to children food that is harmful to health, without warning of the dangers of repeatedly eating the products.

According to the lawsuit, which was filed Tuesday in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, Martinez was diagnosed at 16 with fatty liver disease and Type 2 diabetes after regularly consuming Bagel Bites, Sour Patch Kids, Honey Bunches of Oats, Hot Pockets, Pepsi, Minute Maid, Slim Jims, Chex Mix, CheezIt, and Starburst, and other ultra-processed products throughout his childhood.

These foods are full of additives such as salt, sugars, and fats, and are made primarily from substances extracted from natural foods. Studies have found that people consume more calories eating ultra-processed foods. And eating them been connected to a long list of harms that include Type 2 diabetes, obesity, cancer, and cognitive decline.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and Type 2 diabetes — the diseases Martinez has — “did not exist in children” before the advent and proliferation of ultra-processed foods, the complaint alleges.

But since the 1980s, these foods have become common in American diets, the lawsuit says. One study cited in the lawsuit estimates that by 2018, the majority of the calories that U.S. youth consumed was ultra-processed.

The lawsuits lists 11 defendants: Kraft Heinz Company, Post Holdings, Mondelez International, The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, General Mills, Nestle USA, Kellanova, WK Kellogg Co., Mars Incorporated, Conagra Brands.

The companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The tobacco playbook​

In a news conference Tuesday, attorneys with Morgan & Morgan compared the lawsuit to the litigation against tobacco manufacturers in the 1990s over the addictiveness and harms of cigarettes, which resulted in a global settlement of over $200 billion and sparked policy changes.

Rene Rocha, an attorney with the firm who represents Martinez, said that food companies used the same scientists as tobacco companies to formulate food products and increase their addictiveness.

And they also used their lessons from cigarettes sales to get the food in the hands of children.

“They used the same kind of marketing tactics that they had used to sell cigarettes to children and converted that to sell these types of foods to children as well,” Rocha said. “And unfortunately, decades later, despite warning after warning, our food environment continues to deteriorate and our children continue to get sicker and sicker.”

Ultra-processed foods have been a main focus for Robert Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The lawsuit has been two years in the making and the timing was unrelated to the upcoming changes in Washington, D.C., attorneys said Tuesday.

Last week, the current Food and Drug Administration commissioner, Robert Califf, testified to the addictiveness of ultra-processed foods, Rocha noted.

“The food industry has figured out there is a combination of sweet, carbohydrates, and salt that goes to our brains and I think it’s addictive,” Califf said during the U.S. Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing. “That’s my opinion. I think it’s the same neural circuits that are involved in opioid addiction.”

 

[Bestbank Tiger]

Mondelez is low key one of the most evil companies in the world.

 

[Bamspeedy]

Some customers on the Subway reddit gripe that Subway doesnt do $5 footlongs anymore. They need to be reminded that the $5 footlong ad campaign ended like....10 years ago! A footlong now is anywhere from $9-$15 depending what you get and where you go. Add $3.50 if you get chips/cookies and small drink.

Fast food workers getting paid $15/hour instead of $8/hour is going to drive up prices, and anyone thinking it wouldnt is delusional (Higher pay was well overdue, btw). And not just labor costs, the wholesale costs that the restaurants are paying for products has increased (some things doubled since covid).

All increased costs get passed along to the consumer, no company is absorbing the extra expense (taking less profit margin), except indirectly due to fewer sales from the high prices. And that just means the store tries to operate with fewer workers.

Subway owners (franchisees) hate corporate because corporate runs all these deals through their app (and coupons in the mail) that are not profitable for the store. Three footlongs for $18, gets you close to that $5 footlong, but stores are losing money on that. Some (poorly run stores) do tricks like saying 'out of product' or set prices to $100 or just cancel the order so people cant use the app at that store so the store doesnt have to accept those deals.

Delivery....LOL! Third party delivery services are going to get their cut obviously. Your paying 50% to double the price to get it delivered instead of getting it yourself. They add on a bunch of fees (there is even a small order fee so you are paying extra for a small order otherwise the delivery isnt profitable for doordash/ubereats, etc). Not to mention there can be hidden fees (price on the doordash app is higher than on the subway app even before the fees are added).

People complaining they paid over $20 for a footlong is usually because they added a bunch of add ons.... or got it delivered.

 

[Zardnaar]

Some customers on the Subway reddit gripe that Subway doesnt do $5 footlongs anymore. They need to be reminded that the $5 footlong ad campaign ended like....10 years ago! A footlong now is anywhere from $9-$15 depending what you get and where you go. Add $3.50 if you get chips/cookies and small drink.

Fast food workers getting paid $15/hour instead of $8/hour is going to drive up prices, and anyone thinking it wouldnt is delusional (Higher pay was well overdue, btw). And not just labor costs, the wholesale costs that the restaurants are paying for products has increased (some things doubled since covid).

All increased costs get passed along to the consumer, no company is absorbing the extra expense (taking less profit margin), except indirectly due to fewer sales from the high prices. And that just means the store tries to operate with fewer workers.

Subway owners (franchisees) hate corporate because corporate runs all these deals through their app (and coupons in the mail) that are not profitable for the store. Three footlongs for $18, gets you close to that $5 footlong, but stores are losing money on that. Some (poorly run stores) do tricks like saying 'out of product' or set prices to $100 or just cancel the order so people cant use the app at that store so the store doesnt have to accept those deals.

Delivery....LOL! Third party delivery services are going to get their cut obviously. Your paying 50% to double the price to get it delivered instead of getting it yourself. They add on a bunch of fees (there is even a small order fee so you are paying extra for a small order otherwise the delivery isnt profitable for doordash/ubereats, etc). Not to mention there can be hidden fees (price on the doordash app is higher than on the subway app even before the fees are added).

People complaining they paid over $20 for a footlong is usually because they added a bunch of add ons.... or got it delivered.

I had it last week first time in a long time.

Foit long meatball was $18. $12 usd think it was $7.95 in 1997 when I first had it.

The cookies are $1 each or 6 for $3.60 approx. New Orange and chocolate was really good. Soda no idea rarely drink it.

It wasn't great but enjoyed it.

 

[Samson]

General Fast Food typethread. Do you eat it, how often and the cost. Not to picky if it overlaps with restaurants for comparison.

First what is fast food? With reference to your menu below, you can flick between eat in and takeaway. Is one restaurant and one fast food? What about if you get a "gig worker" to deliver it?

As far as McD's and the like most of my use of them has been motorways services etc. when they are about the only option.

I rarely get takeaway. When it is the same price, as in your menu, I may as well leave them with the washing up.

UK Fish and Chips

I really like fish, but I do not like UK Fish and Chips. It is usually the most boring of fish, usually overcooked and the batter seems to hold the fat it is cooked in to the fish. Shallow fried fish is much nicer.

And actually after reading the thread, and too show my age, an app for fast food? Can I ask how that works? Is this for delivery, perhaps via some gig worker app as well, or is this installing some closed source code made by McDs on your device so you do not need to tell someone your order when you go there?