Western fast food coming to Africa.

[Riesstiu IV]

Link

When Beatrice Ayacko left Kenya for a three-week stay in Italy, she was not about to be impressed by the food of a country that is commonly considered to have one of the world's finest cuisines.

She packed her case with maize flour so that she could cook her beloved ugali, and pined for sukuma wiki - Kenyan greens prepared with onion and garlic.

But there are signs that the loyalty to African food exemplified by Beatrice is being eroded.

Western food, and, in particular fast food like burgers, is gaining popularity in Africa. In many African cities it is considered sophisticated to eat at one of the increasing number of fast food joints.

In Accra's main commercial street, Osu, Nandos, Steers and the local fried chicken restaurant, Papaye, are full of mostly young people every night of the week.

Arriving in Blantyre, Malawi, a British visitor recently wanted to sample the local food.

She says she was taken from one fried chicken shop to the next.

"It was as though my Malawian host thought that only this fatty fast food was good enough to offer his guest".

What do you guys think of this? Will this help Africa by providing a fairly cheap source of food, or will it do more harm than good?

 

[cgannon64]

This food isn't going to reach those who need it. It may make it cheaper to eat in the cities, but the people who live in the cities aren't starving.

 

[Håkon]

Plus, it will increase pressure on farmers to grow crops for chickens and cattle instead of for people. According to an old New Scientist article, you can feed five times as many people by growing crops for people instead of for animals. And it will cause malnourishment for those who eat it.

Overall, not good at all.

 

[Sparrowhawk]

What a brilliant idea Nutritionless, expensive food for the starving masses.

 

[Laughing Gull]

oh great

as if their problems with AIDS and Ebola weren't enough, now they have obesity problems looming on the horizon.

 

[cgannon64]

That would be ironic, obesity and starvation in the same continent. Talk about a disparity between the rich and the poor...

 

[thestonesfan]

Oh, the humanity. Africa is now going to die.

 

[SuperBeaverInc.]

In many African cities it is considered sophisticated to eat at one of the increasing number of fast food joints.

Does anyone else find this fact wierd? I wouldn't exactly call it sophisticated. Maybe it is just because they are new.

 

[newfangle]

Big fudgingg deal. If they don't like it, the it won't make a profit, and the restaurants will close...

 

[Riesstiu IV]

Originally posted by SuperBeaverInc.


Does anyone else find this fact wierd? I wouldn't exactly call it sophisticated. Maybe it is just because they are new.

Well, my relatives in India say that eating at a fast food resturant like McDonalds means your middle class and succesful. Though the burgers there are mostly vegitarian.

 

[metalhead]

Trendy probably would be a more apt description.

 

[WillJ]

What is it with people assuming Africa is just a continent full of starving people? What's so bad about selling the people that aren't starving burgers and fries?

It's my opinion that everyone in the world should be guaranteed adequate food. And if the more lucky citizens want a greasy, fatty KFC meal, and they can afford it, all the power to them.

 

[Richard III]

We're all going to rot in hell.

 

[Riesstiu IV]

@Richard III - wha...?

 

[Richard III]

Seemed pretty clear to me.

 

[Eastern Knight]

"Fast Food Restaurants' Invasion Towards Africa"
Africa is doomed

 

[philippe]

and soon we gonna have weightwatchers and montignac in Africa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AFRICA IS DOOMED!DOOMED!

 

[Kinniken]

While the irony is amusing, it is no match for the opening of MacDonalds near the Kremlin or on Tiananmen Square.

 

[Xen]

well...the only good thing about this migth be a small sign that Africas countries are starting to be successful enough to warrent big, more the like evil corperations looking at them to make a profit...

 

[Hayek]

Africa attracting outside investors is always a good thing.

As for the loyalty to the regional cuisine disappearing, at least resaurants will start selling it when they notice that that Briton in Malawi WANTS to eat regional food.