The average American eats 800 hamburgers every year. That's a lot of meat. But the most surprising fact is that most Americans have no idea where the food they eat comes from, or even what it contains. Americans spend approximately $134 billion on fast food. If so much of our money went toward food, you'd think we had a right to know what's in it, how it's made, and exactly where it comes from. Everyone deserves the right to know the truth about fast food, from the ingredients, to the conditions of the workers, to the health effects of eating it. Fast food has shaped the United States and the way Americans eat. Obesity and diabetes in adults and children have increased dramatically over the last 100 years. This is serious. But if we want to find out why this is happening, what makes fast food so addictive and how it became so popular; we have to trace food back to its origin. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay As consumers, Americans are accustomed to expecting their goods and services to be inexpensive and easy to obtain. The food industry is no exception. To meet the high demand for cheap meat; animals suffer on industrial farms. Many people who eat at fast food restaurants are animal lovers, and almost all of them would hate to think that their food has lived a tortured life. Conveniently, customers are kept in the dark about the origin of their food, what, where and how it was prepared. And it's no coincidence. For wealthy fast food companies, keeping the truth about what happens behind the closed gates of factory farms is of utmost importance. It allows them to make billions of dollars every year without their consumers knowing about the horrific treatment of animals, which they would no doubt criticize if they knew. The purpose of “farms” is to maximize profit and minimize costs; it means placing as many livestock in an area and producing as much meat as possible. Chickens are social and intelligent creatures. Just like humans they live in groups (flocks) and know and recognize members of their flock. They have a natural need to scratch and peck at food, take dust baths, care for eggs in the nest, and raise chicks. Chickens are friendly and are even kept as pets. People who have had the opportunity to learn about chickens – for example, while growing up on farms or visiting farm animal sanctuaries – often remark on how affectionate chickens can be and how they seem to have their own personalities. Healthy chickens can live more than 10 years, but factory-raised broilers reach slaughter age at about 6-7 weeks. Chickens “raised” on factory farms look very different from their ancestors hundreds of years ago. This is because they are selectively bred to have larger breasts, therefore producing more meat. Growth hormones are also given to reduce the time it takes for a chicken to become a full adult. These changes put a strain on chickens' skeleton and organs, forcing them to walk only a few steps and their organs unable to keep up with their excessively large bodies. Chickens often suffer from heart failure and die prematurely, or are unable to reach water and die of dehydration. They spend every day in the darkness, treading in their own filth and stepping over the dead. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now..