Reuters All But Bewails Ronald McDonald 'Hawking Happy Meals to Kids'
Reuters slanted towards the critics of McDonald's in a Thursday report about a petition calling on the fast food giant to retire mascot Ronald McDonald and to give up its signature Happy Meal for kids. Correspondent Debra Sherman even went so far to spotlight how the CEO of a medical company which produces "cholesterol-lowering statins and...heart stents" sits on the board of McDonald's.
Sherman hinted at the tone from the outset with the lede of her article, "McDonald's stockholders reject obesity proposal," noting how "McDonald's Corp spurned calls to assess the impact of its food on childhood obesity, and said its trademark clown Ronald McDonald would be hawking Happy Meals to kids for years to come."
The Reuters correspondent followed this by concentrating all of her quotes from the McDonald's CEO:
"This is about choice and we believe in the democratic process," Chief Executive Jim Skinner told a packed room at its shareholders' meeting, to an enthusiastic wave of applause. "This is about the personal and individual right to choose."..."Ronald McDonald is an ambassador to McDonald's and he is an ambassador for good. Ronald McDonald is going nowhere," Skinner said firmly, prompting more cheers from shareholders.
Sherman devoted seven out of eight of the following paragraphs to McDonald's critics, their campaign, and to the childhood obesity issue. The reporter only named one out of the many critics she cited during the remainder of her article:
Among the dissenters at the meeting was Dr. Donald Zeigler, director of Prevention and Health Lifestyles at the American Medical Association, who asked when the burger chain will stop marketing to children using Ronald McDonald.
Zeigler...was one of 550 healthcare professionals who had signed an open letter to McDonald's pleading that it "stop making the next generation sick."
On Tuesday, a watchdog group placed ads in newspapers across the country calling for McDonald's to stop marketing to children through the clown, toy giveaways and other tactics.
Some 17 percent of children and adolescents are obese, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Being overweight during childhood raises the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension and a host of other diseases.
McDonald's has been a lightning rod for criticism for years over its marketing tactics and sales of Happy Meals for children that include toys as inducements.
McDonald's allows parents to swap milk or juice for soda in its Happy Meals. It also offers sliced apples with caramel sauce and chicken nuggets as alternatives to french fries and hamburgers.
The restaurant chain has added healthier options to its menu, including salads and oatmeal, but critics argue there is still too much fat, salt and sugar in its meals. Even the oatmeal, one critic noted, contains about as much sugar as a Snickers candy bar.
The reporter concluded her article by hinting that McDonald's was profiting off the obesity of both children and adults:
...McDonald's strategy...has resulted in hefty sales and earnings for shareholders. McDonald's shares have gained nearly 12 percent in the last four months and rallied to a record high of $82.63 on Thursday.
But as experts point out, obese children often grow into obese adults, overburdening the entire healthcare system.
Ironically, Miles White, chairman and chief executive of diversified healthcare company Abbott Laboratories, has been a director of the McDonald's board since 2009.
Abbott makes a broad range of drugs, including cholesterol-lowering statins, and medical devices, such as heart stents used on patients with clogged arteries.
[H/t: Heritage Foundation employee Bethany Murphy. The author worked for Heritage from 2003-2006.]
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Comments
Hooray!
Submitted by kinijane on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 9:44am.
Hooray that the CEO's of McDonalds are holding firm, its about time. When will parents start taking
responsibility for their children and learn to say NO. Ronald McDonald doesn't pick anyone up and take and spend his money buying them a hamburger and fries, parents do. Control your own kids (I did) and quit trying to put the responsibility on someone else.
Like Burger King wouldn't step up to fill in the gap
Submitted by Rover on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 12:25pm.
They act like McDonalds is the source of the problem, not a byproduct of it.
There's nothing wrong with an occasional happy meal or quarter pounder, as long as they're offset by a healthy diet in the long term. When families find it easier to stop off at a fast food place several times a week, that's when the health problems start.
Your philosophy of taking responsibility, as a parent, is the only way to go. Too many parents give in to their kids as the price for quiet in the car, etc., and then the Liberals want to tell them that it's not THEIR fault their kids are overweight, it's the marketing by the private sector. Liberals will always blame a big business over an individual on the one hand, but on the other it's that Liberals argue against personal responsibility.
What sense does it make to tell a business to NOT market their product in the most effective manner they can come up with? If McDonalds backed off on these advertizing techniques, Burger King, Taco Bell, Kentucky Fried and a dozen others will fill the void, and kids will continue to gain weight until either parents took control and established discipline or government took the entire food service industry over.
McDonalds is being responsible by offering healthy alternatives. That's all they should be asked to do. The rest is up to individuals and families.
The line about how the obese kids will become obese adults and then overburden the health care system betrays the fact that this reporter is ASSUING that NATURALLY we'll have a socialized-medicine society, we just haven't evolved that far yet as a society.
And I think this reporter is outrageous by suggesting that a member of the board of directors is trying to make kids sick so he can market the drugs he manufactures.
WARNING: kool-aide drinker above
Submitted by wizardjr on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 1:49pm.
There is NOTHING unhealthy about a McDonalds Happy Meal. You have just affirmed a BS view of the libtards by saying that there are 'healthy' alternatives to Happy Meals.
Perhaps it snuck up on you. NEVER accept the left's premise on anything.
wizardjr, that's absurd.
Submitted by Rover on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 4:43pm.
That's absurd.
A Happy Meal consisting of a cheeseburger, small fries and and soda contains:
640 calories - fair if it's the kids' big meal of the day, but if this is a lunch, or worse a snack, and a large dinner is also planned, this is very large.
24 grams fat (7 saturdated) - also massive.
940 mg sodium - again, if the rest of the week is under control with regard to salt intake, this is okay, but more than a couple of these a week will lead to problems.
Such a happy meal is quick, easy and tasty. I have no problem with any of that, just don't do this as a matter of routine. Meals like this should be the exception, not the rule, as part of a kid's diet.
"940 mg sodium - again, if
Submitted by stratman on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 5:27pm.
Mayo Clinic Pediatric Nutritional Guidelines
You may be correct, but the fact is there is no definitive answer for those who are healthy. If one is a salt-sensitive hypertensive, or has heart problems such as congestive heart failure, or renal disease, or other salt-related medical problems, then sodium intake greater than typical recommendations OR a physician's recommendations ARE an issue.
I am of the mind that sodium intake should be moderated even if one is completely healthy since these recommended amounts have not been shown to be unhealthy. But, there is substantial literature that appears to show greater sodium intake in healthy adult individuals beyond recommended amounts is not harmful. Obviously, the length of these studies augments their persuasiveness and no one is postulating drinking sea water instead of fresh water is OK.
Remember, the key here is HEALTHY individuals without sensitivity to sodium.
Also, keep in mind, salt substitutes, which often contain potassium instead of sodium, can be harmful if overused as well, even in an otherwise healthy individual.
As always, discuss these issues with your own physician before using or making changes in salt use, not because someone said something on the internet!
It is lifestyle, not McDonald's that is making people fat.
Submitted by Red Jeep on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 9:48am.
McDonald's is 70 years old. Why are people so fat today compared to 50 years ago? Lifestyle and the switch from cane sugars to corn sugars in food.
I got a Hot Wheels car in my Cheerios box yesterday. Is that bad too?
I love Hot Wheels. What kind
Submitted by ricklail on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 3:04pm.
I love Hot Wheels. What kind of Cherrios was it? Was it # 33 Clint Boyers' car? He is sponsored by General Mills. Some weeks he has Hamburger Helper on the car. Tony Stewart is running the Burger King car this week. I wonder how long before the food Nazis hit NASCAR.
Eight of my 9 grandkids love Happy Meals. None of them are fat. They stay active. They play outside. The only reason the 9th one don't eat them is that he is 17 and can handle 2 Big Macs.
Sugar Type Not The Issue
Submitted by stratman on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 5:03pm.
Sugar is sugar to the body. Cane, corn, potato, bread, etc... whatever its basic biochemical component is - glucose, fructose, sucrose, galactose, etc - will be handled by the body in the same fashion ultimately. There is a line of thought concerning Glycemic Index - effects of a certain food on the pancreas (secreting insulin) compared to a slice of white bread, but this is not what I think you were suggesting. The type of sugar consumed makes no difference as far as making fat in your body.
The critical matter is Calories In - Calories Expended per unit time (conventionally 24 hours). More calories in than expended per unit time equals storage as fat. The problem, then, is inattention to caloric intake (not paying attention to number of calories consumes) often combined with a mismatch in caloric use (usually meaning lack of sufficient exercise). The problem, in this situation, is not strictly the food consumed, rather the amount of all foods consumed without regard to total calorie amount. Lifestyle - exercise - is the other component, barring certain medical conditions, in determining body weight management.
I did a quick search on Google and found a site that answers some of the common questions concerning sugars - http://sweetscam.com/myths-and-facts/. I haven't read every entry but the ones I did were correct. Read the "About" section to understand who is behind the web site. Regardless, it should only matter if the data presented is correct and without tricks. It seems to be good from what I read so far. Wish I found it before typing this all out!
Give the food commies the finger, Ronald!
Submitted by Dave. on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 9:51am.
I do every day. :-)
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Let's do away with Happy Meals and then let the kids
Submitted by Lipton on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 10:10am.
indluge in a quarter pounder with cheese. The toy is a good distraction that kees the kids avoiding overly large portions, and likely keeps them from eating to fast, which causes people to eat past being hungry.
I always wondered what became of The Hamburglar.
Submitted by SickofLibs on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 10:17am.
.
One wonders.
Submitted by wolfemanic on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 10:59am.
One wonders considering he was a big supporter of redistribution.
I think the Hamburglar was taken out by the Three Strikes law.
Submitted by Rover on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 12:03pm.
I think the Hamburglar was taken out by the Three Strikes law.
You just can't get away with being a career criminal.
It always amazes me that
Submitted by motherbelt on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 10:30am.
It always amazes me that liberals think marketing has a brainwashing effect on kids, but the depiction of alcohol, drugs, and promiscuous sex as commonplace among young people has none.
Wow
Submitted by Matthew Balan on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 10:33am.
You hit the nail on the head there!
Right on! and in the same hypocrisy
Submitted by retrocon on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 11:23am.
Liberals don't want to be told what they cannot do in the bedroom,
But they want to tell you what you can't do in your kitchen
Liberals don't want to be told what they can't do with their body or their childs (abortion)
But they want to tell you what you can't do with yours (no circ)
Liberals don't want to be told what they can't put in their bodies (drugs)
But they want to tell you what you can't put in yours (tobacco, fat food)
Liberals don't want to be told what they can or can't say (porn, sex books in grade school)
But they want to tell you what you can and cannot say (PC)
Liberals don't want to be told that they have to support themselves
But they want to take so much of your money so that you cannot.
Brass ring winner, MB.
Submitted by stratman on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 4:37pm.
Brass ring winner, MB.
If more kids smoked Joe
Submitted by ant on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 10:32am.
If more kids smoked Joe Camels they would eat less.
don't let em fool ya
Submitted by MidAmerica on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 11:06am.
This has nothing to do with healthy meals and everything to do with taking control of a successful big business by the government. The food nazis are no different than the NOW nags, the Gay lobby, the environmentalists, the unions...... these are all just Liberal front groups grabbing for power over the private sector.
Oh Sure...
Submitted by bigdaddy on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 11:10am.
...they bust "Ronald McDonald" while the "Hamburgler" still runs free....
not running free
Submitted by wizardjr on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 1:47pm.
he's on work-release and attending group therapy sessions
You can get rid of Ronald....
Submitted by notinstl on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 11:45am.
....when Oprah loses weight.....
I think McDonald's is an easy
Submitted by TheGreatHatman on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 12:06pm.
I think McDonald's is an easy punching bag for trends we don't like - Morgan Spurlock didn't eat at Burger King in "Super Size Me", crappy, low-paying work is called a "McJob"! Nobody likes obesity, and McDonald's is the best-known chain in fast food. (It's like going after Pepsi because soda causes tooth decay.)
Eric Schlosser quoted studies in "Fast Food Nation" reporting that young kids can't tell the difference between ads and the truth. (Makes sense.) However, you're telling me parents are equally oblivious?
I think Wendy's does a GREAT job of promoting healthy choices with their menu: http://www.wendys.com/food/nutritious-options.jsp
Other side of the coin
Submitted by DontFeedTheTrolls on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 12:43pm.
Funny how these critics, and their toadies in the MSM, never mention Ronald McDonald House and all the good it does.
Poor Ronald
Submitted by bkeyser on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 1:29pm.
It looks like his compound was hit by HHS' military wing. Note the toy handgun under his right shoulder; clearly he was a threat to the invading forces. I understand he was cremated in a deep fryer within hours of the hit.
bk, Wow they released the photos
Submitted by upcountrywater on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 1:52pm.
Good to know you are still on the cutting edge...
You Didn't Build That.
what blazing BS
Submitted by wizardjr on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 1:45pm.
My whole generation in North America grew up on meat and potatos and veggies. We were not 'obese'.
A happy meal consists of hamburger (i.e., meat), bun (i.e., bread), potatos, and (often) lettuce and tomato (veggies), and sometimes cheeze (i.e., dairy product).
What does al Reuters consist of - mostly hot air and bull hockey. QED.
This is all bullshyt!
Submitted by Patriot II on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 1:46pm.
They think those kids eat "every" meal at mcdonalds? gimme a break! some of those stinking liberal idiots need a menu of "eating crow"!!!
Randy "Macho Man" Savage died
Submitted by ricklail on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 3:09pm.
Randy "Macho Man" Savage died of an apparent heart attack. (The news was reporting a car crash.) I guess the food Nazis will blame that on Slim Jim's. Step into a Slim Jim.
Yep Rick
Submitted by bkeyser on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 3:13pm.
I read he had a heart attack while driving, crossed over traffic and hit a tree head on. His new wife was in the car but relatively uninjured.
RIP Macho Man. Ooooooo Yeaaaahhhhh.
What a bunch of hypocrites!!!
Submitted by OldJoe on Fri, 05/20/2011 - 11:05pm.
When McDonalds recently announced the nationwide hiring of 50,000 or so, these f*&ked up MSM outlets were in full on fawn and gush mode!!!!
Of course, back in evil Reagan times, such jobs were sneered at by the same lame, brain dead MSM types... remember the snide remarks about burger flippers...
Portion sizes are the real
Submitted by TheGreatHatman on Sat, 05/21/2011 - 3:35am.
Portion sizes are the real killer. It's crazy to think that the standard-sized fry at McD's in the mid-50s would've been a "small" in 2001! (Researchers at NYU list other examples of the last two pages of this study: http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/nutrition.olde/PDFS/young-nestle.pdf).
Judging by the findings of the CDC - "short-term studies show that people eat more when they
are confronted with larger portion size", "even though there is information available about
appropriate serving sizes, people generally do not correctly assess the amount they are eating" - I think it's a great idea to dial down the sizes you get when you eat out! (http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/nutrition/pdf/portion_size_research.pdf, page 2)
What about the Ronald Houses
Submitted by Boudin on Sat, 05/21/2011 - 9:40am.
For the children. Ronald is an inspiration for kids all over the world.
The libtards are out of control