BISMARCK, ND (KXNET) — Fast food is often seen as a cheap and effective way to fill up one's stomach when one is on the go or too busy to cook. In recent years, however, the rising price and unhealthy nature of these meals have led many to look elsewhere for quick cuisine. But does North Dakota share this countrywide case of "Fast Food Fatigue"? And if so, what would it take for companies to win their former patrons back? As part of a study spanning the entire United States, researchers with testcasinos.org polled 3,000 regular consumers to understand what has caused this decline in use. According to the data gathered from this survey, the country is seeing a shift away from fast food in general, and North Dakota is no exception: 64% of the state's polled residents have intentionally reduced the amount they consume over the last twelve months, which falls just under a surprisingly high national average of 67%. While ND's growing dislike of fast food is nothing to scoff at, many other areas are distancing themselves from it even further — including more densely populated areas like Texas, Minnesota, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Among all of these high numbers, California is the state with the largest shift away from the industry, having seen an 86% decline in the past twelve months (and the city of Sacramento in particular reporting a 90% drop in consumption). In addition to individual state numbers, the poll also gathered many other details on how Americans view fast food — including their view on new value items and what keeps them from returning to these establishments. When asked about the exact reasons why they refuse to consume these meals, 51% of surveyed individuals cited rising costs as the primary reason. 21% also noted that their decision was influenced by health concerns, and another 16% pointed to the declining quality of the products as a major factor. These same results further note that the average American has already replaced 2.2 fast food servings per week with eating at home. How gas prices have changed in North Dakota in the last week – 9/21/2024 This decline in interest has led many fast food chains to try and retain customers through new products and cheaper options — but even these promotions have failed to work as well as companies would hope. After being questioned on whether or not offers like the McDonald's $5 Meal Deal would encourage survey respondents to return, only 17% said this would be the case, compared to a massive 53% refusal (an additional 30%, meanwhile, were not aware of the new deals). Despite these problems, it should be noted that the study also highlighted that some fast food restaurants are still considered to provide fairly-priced meals, even outside of their ill-fated specials. When the polled Americans were asked to rate the perceived cost of a meal at each nationwide major chain, they noted that Taco Bell tends to provide more value per dollar than anywhere else, with KFC serving as the opposite extreme on the spectrum. To view the full study — including detailed infographics about fast food consumption habits across the United States — visit this page. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Today's Top Stories SIGN UP NOW