junkfood.doc

Junk foodFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaJunk food is a pejorative term for food containing high levels of calories from sugar or fat with little protein, vitamins or minerals. Use of the term implies that a particular food has little “nutritional value“ and contains excessive fat, sugar, salt, and calories.[1][2][3] Junk food can also refer to high protein food containing large amounts of meat prepared with, for example, too much unhealthy saturated fat;[citation needed] many hamburger outlets, fried chicken outlets and the like supply food considered junk food.[4][better source needed]Despite being labeled as “junk,“ such foods usually do not pose any immediate health concerns and are generally safe when integrated into a well balanced diet.[5] However, concerns about the negative health effects resulting from the consumption of a “junk food“-heavy diet have resulted in public health awareness campaigns, and restrictions on advertising and sale in several countries.[6][7][8]Origin of the termThe term junk food dates back at least to the early 1950s, although it has been reported that it was coined in 1972 by Michael F. Jacobson of the Center for Science in the Public Interest.[3]In 1952, it appeared in a headline in the Lima, Ohio, News, “Candy, Cake, 'Junk Foods' Cause Serious Malnutrition,“ for a reprint of a 1948 article from the Ogden, Utah, Standard-Examiner, originally headlined, “Dr. Brady’s Health Column: More Junk Than Food.“ In it, Dr. Brady writes, “What Mrs. H calls 'junk' I call cheat food. That is anything made principally of (1) white flour and or (2) refined white sugar or syrup. For example, white bread, crackers, cake, candy, ice cream soda, chocolate malted, sundaes, sweetened carbonated beverages.“[10] The term cheat food can be traced back in newspaper mentions to at least 1916.[11]DefinitionAndrew F. Smith, in his book, Encyclopedia of Junk Food and Fast Food defines junk food as “those commercial products, including candy, bakery goods, ice cream, salty snacks, and soft drinks, which have little or no nutritional value but do have plenty of calories, salt, and fats. While not all fast foods are junk foods, most are. Fast foods are ready-to-eat foods served promptly after ordering. Some fast foods are high in calories and low in nutritional value, while other fast foods, such as salads, may be low in calories and high in nutritional value.“[12]Foods commonly considered junk foods include salted snack foods, gum, candy, sweet desserts, fried fast food, and sugary carbonated beverages.[13] Many foods such as hamburgers, pizza, andtacos can be considered either healthy or junk food depending on their ingredients and preparation methods.[14] The more highly processed items usually fall under the junk food category,[15]including breakfast cereals that are mostly sugar or high-fructose corn syrup and white flour or milled corn.[16]Especially in the case of ethnic foods, a classification as “junk food“ could be perceived as rather offensive, given that such foods may have been prepared and consumed for centuries and may contain healthy ingredients.[citation needed] In the book, Panic Nation: Unpicking the Myths We're Told About Food and Health, a complementary point is argued: food is food, and if there is no nutritional value, then it isn't a food of any type, “junk“ or otherwise.[17] Co-editor Vincent Marks explains, “To label a food as 'junk' is just another way of saying, 'I disapprove of it.' There are bad diets - that is, bad mixtures and quantities of food - but there are no 'bad foods' except those that have become bad through contamination or deterioration.“[18]Popularity and appealJunk food in its various forms is extremely popular, and an integral part of modern popular culture. In the US, annual fast food sales are in the area of $160 billion,[19] compared to supermarket sales of $620 billion[20] (a figure which also includes junk food in the form of convenience foods, snack foods, and candy). In 1976, “Junk Food Junkie,“ the tale of a junk food addict who pretends to follow a healthy diet by day, while at night he clandestinely gorges on Hostess Twinkies and Fritos corn chips, McDonalds and KFC, became a Top 10 pop hit in the US.[21]Thirty-six years later, Time placed the Twinkie at #1 in its “Top 10 Iconic Junk Foods“ special feature: “Not only...a mainstay on our supermarket shelves and in our bellies, they've been a staple in our popular culture and, above all, in our hearts. Often criticized for its lack of any nutritional value whatsoever, the Twinkie has managed to persevere as a cultural and gastronomical icon.“[22]America also celebrates an annual National Junk Food Day on July 21. Origins are unclear; it is one of around 175 US food and drink days, most created by “people who want to sell more food,“ at times aided by elected officials at the request of a trade association or commodity group.[23]) “In honor of the day,“。