The Effects of China’s Booming Fast Food Industry

Matthew MittlerSouthern Illinois University Edwardsville

Geography of Food

Introduction

• Traditional Food of China

• Fast Food Statistics

• Economic Implications

• Social Implications

• Medical Implications

• Solutionshttp://i.infoplease.com/images/mchina.gif

Traditional Food of China

• Diet is based on rice, noodles, and mantou

• High in grain and vegetables

• Low in meat

• Soup is a common appetizer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%E5%B0%8F%E5%90%83.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/ClassicwhiteMantou.jpg/250px-ClassicwhiteMantou.jpg

Traditional Food of China

• Food is made to utilize chopsticks

• Cuisine varies by region but generally has no rich spices

• Regional Styles: Beijing, Hunan, Sichuan, Fujian, Canton

http://www.letsgodine.com/Files/Upload/rice-and-chop-sticks.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6WJsLj47txc/UIZWbfko1jI/AAAAAAAAAaI/c9yPM1KorM8/s1600/china-regional-cuisines-map.JPG

Fast Food Statistics

• KFC (Yum! Brands) is the most dominant fast food chain

• 4650 locations in China – 889 new stores last year

• 1st KFC opened in Beijing in 1987 – delivery in 2001 and drive-thru in 2002

• Chicken wings, nuggets and sandwiches are popular among children

• Sales fell 41% last year after food safety scandal

http://m1.i.pbase.com/o4/55/634555/1/60398391.IMG_6402_1.jpg

Fast Food Statistics

• McDonald’s opened its first store in 1990 in Shenzhen

• Had 1000 locations in 2006 and are projected to have 2000 by the end of this year

• Trying to push burgers and fries

http://s3.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20070807&t=2&i=1259527&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=1259527

Fast Food Statistics

• Non-Western chains include Kungfu, Yonghe King, Da Niang Dumpling, and Café de Coral

• Café de Coral corporation is the largest with 580 locations

• Non-Western chains have more variety in ingredients and cooking methods

• Because of this, chains have had problems with standardization

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/95/Caf%C3%A9_de_Coral.JPG

Why Fast Food?

• Expanding rapidly: Annual growth of 15%

• Safe, clean, reliable and consistent

• At first, A/C, roomy tables, good lighting, and clean toilets attracted guests

• Rise of the middle class

Economic Implications• Economic growth causes a market for fast food to form

• More people have a disposable income

• “What should we eat?” rather than “Will we eat?”

• Western corporations took advantage of new market first

• In order to be successful, companies had to adopt new marketing strategies

• Not for all of China right now

Source: United Nations Development Programme

Social Implications

• As China develops, the culture is changing

• Cultural generation shift

• Young people interested in Western TV, music, video games, book, celebrities, style and food

• Adopting Western fast food homogenizes global culture

http://iletisim.ieu.edu.tr/flows/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/imperialism.jpeg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O80ah-h8XVY/Td7ML7rMCaI/AAAAAAAACYk/-CZVZVsS8Ho/s1600/try_and_stop_us.jpg

Social Implications• One Child Policy

• Consumption of fast-food starts with children

• Common reward for children

• Leisure center for after-school clubs

• Parents are satisfied because it is a safe haven from smoking, alcohol, and other drugs

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ltHo_YKWg_U/SX0IV97GinI/AAAAAAAAAAs/bLfVm8ziSHg/s320/BJLittleEmperorLLQ.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mlkjtmR9zJQ/TD4aplYLJbI/AAAAAAAAB9E/JmuHZP1Y6lM/s1600/kfc_china.gi.top.jpg

Social Implications

• Current trend to have wedding receptions at McDonald’s

• Fast food established the idea of an orderly line rather than an angry mob

• People feel secure with what they eat now

http://media.carbonated.tv/35047_story__mcdonalds%20inside.jpg

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/9479/chinatopjj6.jpg

Medical Implications

• 38.5% of population overweight or obese in 2010

• Was 25% in 2002

• 90 million people with diabetes

• Expected to rise to 130 million by 2030

• China’s population is expected to see negative growth by 2025

http://uschina.usc.edu/w_usci/showarticle.aspx?articleID=16595&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

Medical Implications

• Cardiovascular disease is most common cause of death globally – about 30% of deaths

• Study says, Chinese people who ate fast food at least twice a week, had a 27% increased risk of diabetes and 56% increased risk of cardiovascular disease

• If current health trends continue, the fragile healthcare system of China will be overwhelmed

• Could counteract economic growth

Medical Implications• Childhood obesity in China has been linked

to male gender, parental obesity, high parental education, low amounts of physical activity, urban residency, motorized transportation, and eating food not prepared at home

• Study of children in Tianjin says being overweight is 2.68x more likely if urban– 2.76x more likely to get type 2 diabetes if

overweight– 2.03x more likely to of regular fast-food

consumption

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_f98opUNuVXc/TLW2C23iijI/AAAAAAAATEw/vjUWswPPaog/s1600/fat+fella.jpg

Medical Implications• Rise of middle class means more

people are buying vehicles

• Walking to school and work is less common now

• 54% less likely to be overweight if you walk to class and/or work

• Strong emphasis on academics – sports don’t matter very much

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02356/china-traffic_2356349b.jpg

Medical Implications

• Being overweight or obese causes people to be more prone to numerous chronic non-communicable diseases, metabolic disorders and psycho-social problems

• Due to rapid industrialization, China has some of the worst air pollution in the world

http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2013/01/14/China_pollution_AP971430398958_620x350.jpg

Solutions

• Solutions being attempted now– Unreasonable fat camps– Ineffective diet pills– Cosmetic surgery

• Potential solutions that could work– Youth campaigns– Government regulations– Create more opportunities for people to be active

The EndQuestions or Comments?

Matthew Mittler