McDonald’s Deserves A Little Credit
McDonald’s corporation is often the center of controversy when it comes to health issues. They have been blamed for things such as childhood obesity and diabetes for years. The company has developed a new healthy program, which will include things like apple slices in every Happy Meal.
The chain has already given Americans the choice between fries or apples in the kids’ meals, but only 11% of customers were ordering apples. By the beginning of 2012, all of the kids’ meals will include apples and a smaller portion of fries.
Other changes McDonalds plans to make with this program are:
- Developing a mobile phone app dedicated to nutrition information
- Reducing sodium 15 percent by 2015
- Reducing sugar, saturated fat and calories through “varied portion sizes, reformulations and innovations” by 2020.
- In August Jan Fields and other executives went on a “listening tour” to hear suggestions from parents and nutrition experts.
- McDonald’s will launch a new online forum for parents.
McDonald’s says the changes are in response to what customers want, and their “nutrition talk” helped them grab customers from other fast food chains, even when the economy forced people to stop eating out.
McDonald’s has worked to portray themselves as a healthy, stylish place to eat by introducing oatmeal and smoothies, and offering wireless access in restaurants. Other fast food chains have now tried to replicate these improvements. McDonald’s was asked why they didn’t eliminate fries altogether they responded, “All foods fit when consumed in moderation.”
This isn’t the first time McDonald’s has jumped on the “health bandwagon.” In the 80’s they created a fitness program for middle schoolers featuring Mary Lou Retton. Ten years ago they used Ronald McDonald to encourage parents to get their children immunized and to tell kids to drink milk. In 2004 McDonald’s declared Ronald a “balanced, active lifestyles ambassador” and passed out pedometers to encourage exercise.
(Source: New York Post)
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