A Burger King meal including small french fries, a Whopper, Jr., A&W Root Beer, and packets of Heinz ketchup....Modern commercial fast food is often highly processed and prepared in an industrial fashion, i.e., on a large scale with standard ingredients and standardised cooking and production methods. It is usually rapidly served in cartons or bags or in a plastic wrapping, in a fashion which minimizes cost. In most fast food operations, menu items are generally made from processed ingredients prepared at a central supply facility and then shipped to individual outlets where they are reheated, cooked (usually by microwave or deep frying) or assembled in a short amount of time. This process ensures a consistent level of product quality, and is key to being able to deliver the order quickly to the customer and eliminate labor and equipment costs in the individual stores.
Because of commercial emphasis on speed, uniformity and low cost, fast food products are often made with ingredients formulated to achieve a certain flavor or consistency and to preserve freshness.
Some items from McDonald's menu in particular include "chicken, hamburgers, French fries, Egg McMuffins ... premium salads, chicken sandwiches, yogurt parfaits, [and] fruit salads,".[14] 58 of the restaurant's menu items had "at least one serving of fruits and vegetables" and include the Fruit and Walnut Salad, Bacon and Ranch Salad, Cesar Salad, Minute Maid Orange and Apple Juices, and the Asian Salad. |
