In the African country of Ghana, fried chicken used to be a treat just for the holidays. But now, people who live in Ghana’s cities can eat fried chicken anytime they want—thanks to Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC).
That’s right! Fast food has come to Ghana, and KFC has a dozen restaurants in Ghana’s capital city of Accra. To a lot of people, that’s a good thing. Thirty years ago, many people in Ghana didn’t have enough money to dine out at restaurants. Most people lived in the countryside and ate a traditional diet of rice, soups, and stews.
Today, Ghana is becoming a richer nation. Half the population lives in cities, and eating at fast-food restaurants like KFC is a sign of wealth. Couples go on dates at KFC, and adults celebrate birthdays over a bucket of wings.
But Ghana’s new eating habits may have come with a hefty cost. In 1980, only 2 percent of people in Ghana were overweight. However, today, more than 13 percent are overweight. Many doctors are worried because obesity can lead to dangerous diseases like diabetes and heart disease.
Fast food isn’t the only reason for Ghana’s new health problems, but health experts say something needs to be done. They want restaurants to give more information about the food they serve, such as how much salt and fat it contains.
And when people have that information, the fried chicken might not taste as good.