“Healthy Meal”: The Right-Wing Media Rages Against Healthier Happy Meals
Posted in Main Blog (All Posts) on July 28th, 2011 4:44 am by HL
“Healthy Meal”: The Right-Wing Media Rages Against Healthier Happy Meals
Following McDonald’s decision to offer “more nutritionally-balanced” Happy Meals and First Lady Michelle Obama’s praise of its move, the right-wing media jumped to attack McDonald’s for supposedly bending to the will of the “fat police” and making Happy Meals “less happy.” However, numerous studies show that childhood obesity leads to significant health problems, and moreover, McDonald’s reportedly made their decision in part so that parents could feel “less guilty” about buying their kids Happy Meals.
McDonald’s Makes Apple Slices A Regular Part Of “Happy Meal”
McDonald’s “Announces Commitments To Offer Improved Nutrition Choices.” From a July 26 McDonald’s press release:
Today, McDonald’s USA president Jan Fields announced the company’s “Commitments to Offer Improved Nutrition Choices.” The comprehensive plan aims to help customers — especially families and children — make nutrition-minded choices whether visiting McDonald’s or eating elsewhere.
Menu changes underway include the addition of more nutritionally-balanced choices that meet McDonald’s reputation for great taste and affordability, along with an increased focus on providing nutrition information that enable customers and employees to make simple, informed menu decisions.
“McDonald’s will always try to do the right thing, and we know we can help make a difference in our communities,” said Jan Fields, president, McDonald’s USA. “The commitments we’re announcing today will guide the future evolution of our menu and marketing.” [McDonald’s,
2007–2009 County Obesity Prevalence Among
Low-Income Children Aged 2 to 4 Years
[CDC, accessed 7/27/11]
Overweight And Obese Children Are More Likely To Become Obese Adults. From First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign’s website:
Obese children may experience immediate health consequences which can lead to weight-related health problems in adulthood. Obese children and teens have been found to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), including high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and abnormal glucose tolerance. In a sample of 5-to 17-year-olds, almost 60% of overweight children had at least one CVD risk factor and 25% of overweight children had two or more CVD risk factors. In addition, studies have shown that obese children and teens are more likely to become obese as adults. [Let’s Move, accessed 7/27/11]
And McDonald’s Happy Meal Change Was The Result Of A Business Decision
LA Times: “Business Strategy For McDonald’s Is To Make Parents Feel Less Guilty” About Buying Happy Meals. From a July 25 Los Angeles Times article:
The business strategy for McDonald’s is to make parents feel less guilty about feeding fast food to their children, so they’ll become more frequent customers.
“People tell us they want to feel good about visiting us regularly, about the food options that we serve, and want to visit us even more often,” [President of McDonald’s USA Jan] Fields said. [LA Times, 7/25/11]
