Foreign fast food a drain on forex

The fact that forex shortages were mainly blamed for the closures illustrated how much foreign franchises are a drain on our scarce resources. And these two were small players.

It would be interesting to find out how much foreign exchange is used annually by the big boys (KFC, Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, others).

Contrary to what we’ve been told, many of these foreign franchises do not support local produce since they are mandated by the parent company to use foreign supplies. My wish is that many more will close soon. They are a drain on our forex without commensurate benefits.

In addition, my major concern is their insidious contribution to the ill health of our nation, especially children, with the concomitant strain on our health services.

We are all aware that “child obesity is an exploding nightmare” and many have traced the rise in obesity in some countries to the advent of fast food franchises. The reverse is also true. Traditionally, slim people (eg Japanese, Chinese) get fat when they migrate to Western countries and gorge on fast foods, forgoing their normal diets.

A lesser known problem with restaurants is their overuse of antibiotics, contributing to “antibiotics resistance” which, according to the Centers for Disease Control in the US, is “one of the world’s most pressing public health problems.” The overuse of antibiotics has resulted in the development of bacteria that don’t respond to antibiotics that may have worked in the past.

In a 2014 report, the World Health Organization warned, “A post-antibiotic era – in which common infections and minor injuries can kill – far from being an apocalyptic fantasy, is instead a very real possibility for the 21st century.” And one of the most pervasive sources of antibiotics that people consume is fast foods.

In September 2015, a CNN article, headlined “Restaurant report card grades on antibiotics in meat supply,” reported on the use of antibiotics in the meat and poultry supply chains of the 25 largest US fast food restaurants. All but five received a failing grade.

The article was based on a research report in Chain Reaction, prepared by these organisations: Friends of the Earth, Natural Resources Defense Council, Consumers Union, Food Animal Concerns Trust, Keep Antibiotics Working, and Center for Food Safety. (You can access the complete report by searching for “Chain Reaction Friends of the Earth.”) The report found that “80 per cent of all antibiotics in the US are currently sold for use by livestock producers who routinely administer these drugs in order to promote faster growth and prevent disease in living conditions that are often crowded and unsanitary...” That’s the kind of meat some franchise holders may be forced to use. Those interested in the gory details can read the book Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal by Eric Schlosser.

So the next time your children crave that mouth-watering box of chicken and chips, that “healthy” sandwich or that juicy burger, think of the antibiotics (and hormones) the meat may contain and whether you want to set them up for long-term health problems. It is widely predicted that this may be the first generation of children who will have a shorter lifespan than their parents. You owe it to your children to thwart that prediction.

NOEL KALICHARAN via email