by Bobby Coles

Created on: June 13, 2009   Last Updated: January 13, 2011

Movies tend to have a resonating effect on the general populace, and documentary type films such as Super Size Me and Fast Food Nation are great examples. The fast food industry is a very lucrative one, and they are constantly trying to liberate as much of your money from your pockets as is humanly possible.

These films have impacted the fast food industry in such a manner as to bring about more awareness of the health risks posed with a steady diet of fast food, which has resulted in some menu changes at some major fast food outlets.

Fast Food Nation shows far more than one should see inside of an abattoir (slaughterhouse), but it does so in an attempt to make the audience take a second look into what their diet is consisting. Super Size Me gave the audience a glimpse into the repercussions of a fast food diet, and together these films have painted a negative picture of the fast food industry.

The impact on the fast food industry of these two films, however, has not been as harsh as had originally been hoped. At first, these films helped the public to come to the realization that fast food is unhealthy, but in the end, people still tend to eat at these establishments.

While both films were well done, and certainly presented fast food in an unsavoury light, the fast food industry is still thriving. Big corporations have a way of getting you to forgive them, and to return to their fold. If anything, the same restaurants are still being visited, but perhaps a different menu option is chosen.

The salads and chicken sandwiches are still unhealthy, but at least the burger does not consist of manure, as it did in Fast Food Nation.

The impact that Fast Food Nation and Super Size Me have had on the fast food industry is indelible. These sights were enough of a blight on the fast food industry that the big fast food chains had to adapt and overcome the negative publicity.

The impact has been massive, and has led to the curtailing of some excessive dosages of unhealthy food, and led the fast food restaurants to re-evaluate their menus.

Fast food restaurants have a stranglehold on the North American food market, but they did have a clientele that was somewhat limited. By receiving such negative press in Fast Food Nation and Super Size Me, they not only revamped their menu, offering more health conscious meals, but in doing so, they now reach out to a broader spectrum of customer, therefore the impact on the fast food industry has possibly been for the better.

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