Why do we give McDonalds a hard time?

Question

It seems fashionable to have a go at McDonalds at the moment. Its common knowledge that their food is bad for you, they are not hiding anything, infact they even sell some food that is good for you now.

Its a free country, we can do what we want and we can eat where we like. Despite having this choice, the media constantly wants to have a go at (specifically) McDonald's for ruining the nations health.

Is the media in alignment with general society with this blame?

Answer 1

Mcdonalds arent dragging their customers in.Honestly,we all choose whether to go in or not.Its such a cop out blaming fast food restaurants for obesity.We should all get self control and just not go in !

Answer 2

It's because of its attitude towards consumers and employees that gets it the bad rep and its totally true:

Mcdonalds doesn't have a union, it shuts down stores that try to join a union.

It's "healthy" options are not healthy! A salad with dressing often has more caolries than a Big Mac. It's sandwiches and baguettes are saturated with sugar plus it uses the same meat as you would find in the burgers, plus dressing. And it hasn't done anytihng about it's standard fare, a burger is just as bad for you. There are ways to make a hamburger that isn't as toxic as modern fast food, but they don't.

They target Children! They're marketing is everywhere, a clown, pretty colours and pictures of children having the time of their life. They sponsor so many things to make you think they are good guys. And children are not small adults, they are children and they can be influenced and manipulated. It is not free choice when a child beleives that they HAVE to go there because going there is what kids do and they whine and nag until their parents relent. And once they get in there are they going to get a salad? (which is just as harmful with dressing) Of course not. Playgroudns, toys competitions, all feeding into a child's mind that this food is a good thing, giving them happy memories. But it's killing them, the food is toxic.

It is not enough to promise a few healthy options and then say it's everyone elses fault. At least they've stopped denying their food is bad for you. They need to stop selling the bad food, or redesign it until it's no longer so unhealthy. Their burger meat comes from processed lots that can contain more than 1000 cows in each burger. Their cheese is processed chemicals, and their milkshakes have hundreds of ingredients made in laboratories.

Now if a cigarette companies give you a toy, and the option of a "nicotine reduced" cigarette, should they be able to sell them to children? If a heroin dealer sponsors a hospital and also happens to stock antibiotics alongside his stash, do we really think people will stop buying the heroin?

"Healthy options" are a sham, and they make damn well sure your free will cannot compete to a billion dollar advertsing industry telling you your free will is screaming out for a burger.

They need to go, Now. Do not go there, do not let anyone you know go there.

Answer 3

Sure, a lot of people are aware that McDonald's food is bad for you if you eat it regulary, but a lot of people aren't aware.
One of the things that make McDonald's unpopular is that they market to children, by advertising on cartoon shows and commercials. They promo free toys in the Kids Meals. The children then beg the parents to go to McDonalds.
Once there, they also have an indoor playground, which the kids love. The playgrounds are disgustingly filthy. Do the kids know this? No. Do they care? No. Are most parents aware of how disgusting the play area is? No again.
Diabetes in children, as well as adults is way up. One of the reasons for this is fast food. Its cheap, its easy, it available everywhere, and the sugar content makes it all taste good.
That's why McDonalds is viewed in a negative way.
Hope this answers your question.

Answer 4

McDonalds targets all its advertising at children and after considerable public pressure started getting healthy adult menus. It was only because of public pressure that they started telling the fat and calorie content of their junk food that they try to pawn off on little kids.

McDonalds knows that parents have a hard time saying NO to their children and even when parents know something is a scam, still buy products for their children. McDonalds is only one of the things that makes raising children so difficult in America. How to get kids to eat a healthy meal at home when clowns and play areas and happy meals are tempting the unsuspecting children.

We have a big problem with over weight children, over worked parents and over scheduled families. McDonalds doesn't help the situation but contributes to it.

I hate McDonalds and all they represent in American Society. Its like peddling drugs to children for money. (Food IS a drug.)

Answer 5

Society likes to have scapegoats, just a glance through history will suggest that.
Perhaps the overfamilairity is a part of it; it is much more common and widespread than steak and shake or sonics, for example. People like to attack a big international target rather than a smaller operation. It could also be backlash over marketing to kids for so long, getting little ones used to expecting bad food.

Answer 6

Everyone has the right to say no. McDonald's is just picked on because they are the biggest fast food chain. Anytime you eat out it's bad for you. Just because you are eating at a "sit down" restaurant, people thinks it's healthy, check again. There are many on line nutrition sites you can go to for information on the calorie, fat and salt in many restaurants. Best choice: eat at home so you know exactly how the food is prepared and what is going in to it!

Answer 7

McDonalds is the most famous of the fast-food brands. Whilst you can't beat the occasional Big Mac, there food is not healthy - but as you say, they're not hiding anything.
I think the problem lies with parents - too many of them use McDonalds as a regular solution rather than an occasional treat, and don't educate their children on the meaning of good, healthy food. We often see an obese mother with her obese son saying 'he just doesn't like fruit and veg'. Well, I would submit that what it tastes like isn't as important as the fact that it will help a child live longer. So force it down them, for God's sake.

Answer 8

To be honest people just need somoeone to blame. McD didn't do anything to hurt anybody. If I constantly go there and buy food then is it there fault for handing me a bad meal, no. It's my fault for not going home and cooking vegetables or makeing a sandwhich. Everyone is to blame and the government who pretends they care but do they really, no. The parents who can't be bothered or don't have the time to make dinner. Then again if you don't have time then what more can you do. Why can't everyone just leave ronald McD the lovable scamp alone.

Answer 9

MacDonald's is the largest and most recognised fast food brand globally, so they bear the brunt of most of the ire directed at that industry. They are notorious for encouraging bad practices in food production particularly in poor countries, the farmers receive very little profit and are bullied into using intensive farming methods which are bad for local ecology and the farmers and their families. They are also well known for shoddy treatment of their workers, with low pay and in many countries illegally preventing employees from unionising to protect their rights.
They target their food at very young children through their advertising. A child's happy meal in the USA contains more fat that an adult is supposed to eat in a day. Much of their "healthy" food is not as healthy as they make out.
Oh I could go on, but I'll probably never convert you. I'll just carry on looking down my nose at you and laughing as you waddle past me in the street with your pale, flabby wheezing children .......

Answer 10

it's because McDonald's is a massive company and there is a rise in obesity levels, especially child obesity levels. And there are advertisements on the television and radio, aimed at children, to try fatty burgers and fries, and try to charm them with the free toys in the Happy Meals.
Also, McDonald's aren't being entirely honest in their 'free' leaflets - they say that cows and chickens are kept free from harm and are kept in healthy conditions. This is actually a lie - they slaughter the chickens and cows while they are still alive and are kept in disgusting conditions. A Company once tried to take McDonald's to court, but the case collapsed as McDonald's promised to treat the environment better & keep their animals in better & safer conditions.

See the link below on the company that tried to sue McDonald's.