Forums > Social Chat > mcdonalds nutrition test
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big and good and broken
7,330 posts
Location: lunn dunn, yoo kay, United Kingdom
big and good and broken
7,330 posts
Location: lunn dunn, yoo kay, United Kingdom
Posted:
supersized director set to sweep sundance...
Big, fat result in McDonalds film food test
By Sue Pleming
March 5, 2004 - 9:35AM
A US filmmaker was so intrigued by McDonald's claim its food was nutritious that he ate all his meals at the fast-food giant for a month.
The result? Eleven extra kilos, higher cholesterol and an award-winning documentary of his fast-food journey, Super Size Me: A Film of Epic Portions.
Morgan Spurlock hit the morning TV shows today to promote his film on surviving on a McDonald's diet, little more than a day after the company said it would end oversized portions by the end of the year.
His tongue-in-cheek look at America's obesity crisis illustrates the effects of gorging on fast-food fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
"I felt terrible. You eat this food and you feel great immediately, but right after you get the McStomach aches, the McHeadaches -- you get depressed," the New York-based director said on NBC's Today show.
Spurlock, 33, said he first got the idea after stuffing himself with Thanksgiving dinner in 2002. He was lounging on the sofa at his childhood home in West Virginia when he saw a story about a lawsuit filed on behalf of two girls who claimed McDonald's caused their obesity. The suit was dismissed.
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When McDonald's defended itself by saying its food was nutritious, Spurlock decided to test that claim.
"I thought if it's that good for me I should eat it for breakfast lunch and dinner," he told ABC's Good Morning America show.
When he began his McDonald's binge, he weighed 84kg. He ballooned to 95kg by the end. His cholesterol rose by 60 points.
McDonald's Super Size option, which includes a 198 grams carton of fries and a 1,190 gram fountain soda, has been targeted by critics as contributing to America's obesity crisis.
McDonald's, the world's biggest fast-food outlet, has given a cool reception to the documentary, which won an award at the Sundance Film Festival in January and is to be distributed across America later this year.
Spurlock said he had not intentionally picked on McDonald's but used it as a symbol for bad eating habits.
As part of his experiment, Spurlock accepted any offer made by servers of a mega-size portion.
"That thing is like four feet tall," jokes Spurlock in the documentary, referring to an outsize portion of French fries, which the company says contains 610 calories.
Asked whether he gained weight because he purposefully ate only high-calorie items, Spurlock said he went through the menu several times over and ate a salad about every 10th meal.
McDonald's says its menu has enough variety and range to fall within recommended guidelines for calories, fat and nutrients.
"But people don't go to these fast food restaurants for salads. They go for things that taste good -- the burgers, the fries, the sugary shakes, the giant sodas," Spurlock told NBC.
McDonald's said menu changes were not in any way linked to the movie but were rather to "support a balanced lifestyle".
Spurlock disagreed.
"This film had a tremendous impact on their decision to eliminate super-size portions and it is really going to have an impact on people who see the movie on how they see their own diet," he said.
Since going off McDonald's, Spurlock has lost about 9 kg but says the last couple are proving hard to shed.
- REUTERS
supersized director set to sweep sundance...
Big, fat result in McDonalds film food test
By Sue Pleming
March 5, 2004 - 9:35AM
A US filmmaker was so intrigued by McDonald's claim its food was nutritious that he ate all his meals at the fast-food giant for a month.
The result? Eleven extra kilos, higher cholesterol and an award-winning documentary of his fast-food journey, Super Size Me: A Film of Epic Portions.
Morgan Spurlock hit the morning TV shows today to promote his film on surviving on a McDonald's diet, little more than a day after the company said it would end oversized portions by the end of the year.
His tongue-in-cheek look at America's obesity crisis illustrates the effects of gorging on fast-food fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
"I felt terrible. You eat this food and you feel great immediately, but right after you get the McStomach aches, the McHeadaches -- you get depressed," the New York-based director said on NBC's Today show.
Spurlock, 33, said he first got the idea after stuffing himself with Thanksgiving dinner in 2002. He was lounging on the sofa at his childhood home in West Virginia when he saw a story about a lawsuit filed on behalf of two girls who claimed McDonald's caused their obesity. The suit was dismissed.
advertisement
advertisement
When McDonald's defended itself by saying its food was nutritious, Spurlock decided to test that claim.
"I thought if it's that good for me I should eat it for breakfast lunch and dinner," he told ABC's Good Morning America show.
When he began his McDonald's binge, he weighed 84kg. He ballooned to 95kg by the end. His cholesterol rose by 60 points.
McDonald's Super Size option, which includes a 198 grams carton of fries and a 1,190 gram fountain soda, has been targeted by critics as contributing to America's obesity crisis.
McDonald's, the world's biggest fast-food outlet, has given a cool reception to the documentary, which won an award at the Sundance Film Festival in January and is to be distributed across America later this year.
Spurlock said he had not intentionally picked on McDonald's but used it as a symbol for bad eating habits.
As part of his experiment, Spurlock accepted any offer made by servers of a mega-size portion.
"That thing is like four feet tall," jokes Spurlock in the documentary, referring to an outsize portion of French fries, which the company says contains 610 calories.
Asked whether he gained weight because he purposefully ate only high-calorie items, Spurlock said he went through the menu several times over and ate a salad about every 10th meal.
McDonald's says its menu has enough variety and range to fall within recommended guidelines for calories, fat and nutrients.
"But people don't go to these fast food restaurants for salads. They go for things that taste good -- the burgers, the fries, the sugary shakes, the giant sodas," Spurlock told NBC.
McDonald's said menu changes were not in any way linked to the movie but were rather to "support a balanced lifestyle".
Spurlock disagreed.
"This film had a tremendous impact on their decision to eliminate super-size portions and it is really going to have an impact on people who see the movie on how they see their own diet," he said.
Since going off McDonald's, Spurlock has lost about 9 kg but says the last couple are proving hard to shed.
- REUTERS
"i see you at 'dis cafe.
i come to 'dis cafe quite a lot myself.
they do porridge."
- tim westwood
110% MONKEY EVERY TIME ALL THE TIME JUST CANT STOP THE MONKEY
3,149 posts
Location: London
3,149 posts
Location: London
Posted:
wow
i watched a documentary recently about a North Londoner who went to live in a poverty stricken ethiopean village for a month, surviving by working with the villagers and eating what they did.
i wonder which documentary maker had the worse effect to their health
wow
i watched a documentary recently about a North Londoner who went to live in a poverty stricken ethiopean village for a month, surviving by working with the villagers and eating what they did.
i wonder which documentary maker had the worse effect to their health
"Switching between different kinds of chuu chuu sometimes gives this "urgh wtf?" effect because it's giving people the phi phenomenon."
(*) (*) .. for the gnor ;)
2,568 posts
Location: sitting on the step
2,568 posts
Location: sitting on the step
Posted:
to be honest im not surprised ... last time i ate a McDonalds i was really ill a wee while after eating it ... and anytime before that had stomachaches after eating ... needless to say i dont eat any fast food anymore .. just the thought of it turns my insides!
to be honest im not surprised ... last time i ate a McDonalds i was really ill a wee while after eating it ... and anytime before that had stomachaches after eating ... needless to say i dont eat any fast food anymore .. just the thought of it turns my insides!
she who sees from up high smiles
Patrick badger king: *they better hope there's never a jihad on stupidity*
BRONZE Member
Mistress of Pink...Multicoloured
6,140 posts
Location: Over There, United Kingdom
Mistress of Pink...Multicoloured
6,140 posts
Location: Over There, United Kingdom
Posted:
I watched that documentary Simian.
I am not suprised either, i never eat McDonalds or anything like that. It physically makes me feel sick.
I watched that documentary Simian.
I am not suprised either, i never eat McDonalds or anything like that. It physically makes me feel sick.
Never pick up a duck in a dungeon...
GOLD Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
2,617 posts
Location: Berlin, Ireland
Carpal \'Tunnel
2,617 posts
Location: Berlin, Ireland
Posted:
I find it difficult to aportion blame on the entire Mcdonalds fiasco to be honest. I'm clued up on it, in that I read fast food nation but, I am convinced that people are far to quick to blame their problems on someone else.
Everyone knows Mcdonalds isn't the cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle and I believe that a person suffering from obesity is usually responsible for the their own problems, not some company.
Sometimes when I see an overy obese person eating a big mac in Mcdonalds I feel horribly judgemental, automatically assuming it's the cause of their problem. I feel bad about that but statistically I'm probably not wrong.
One thing I do disagree with is that Mcdonalds really push the child market with "Happy Meals", Ronald Mcdonald, "toys", "Good times at McDonalds" .....all kids these days love Mcdonalds for it and the bottom line is parents feel pressured (to an extent) to bring them for some fatty, fatty eating.......this is wrong and needs to be stopped.
The bottom line is Mcdonalds offers bad quality food at cheap prices. Provided there is a market for it, it will be sold. If people stop going there, they will offer better quality food...it's that simple.
Fair enough advertising and the false demand it creates needs to be taken into account but only to a point. People need to take responsibility for their own health and health of the ones they love.
I find it difficult to aportion blame on the entire Mcdonalds fiasco to be honest. I'm clued up on it, in that I read fast food nation but, I am convinced that people are far to quick to blame their problems on someone else.
Everyone knows Mcdonalds isn't the cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle and I believe that a person suffering from obesity is usually responsible for the their own problems, not some company.
Sometimes when I see an overy obese person eating a big mac in Mcdonalds I feel horribly judgemental, automatically assuming it's the cause of their problem. I feel bad about that but statistically I'm probably not wrong.
One thing I do disagree with is that Mcdonalds really push the child market with "Happy Meals", Ronald Mcdonald, "toys", "Good times at McDonalds" .....all kids these days love Mcdonalds for it and the bottom line is parents feel pressured (to an extent) to bring them for some fatty, fatty eating.......this is wrong and needs to be stopped.
The bottom line is Mcdonalds offers bad quality food at cheap prices. Provided there is a market for it, it will be sold. If people stop going there, they will offer better quality food...it's that simple.
Fair enough advertising and the false demand it creates needs to be taken into account but only to a point. People need to take responsibility for their own health and health of the ones they love.
I live in a world of infinite possibilities.
SILVER Member
big and good and broken
7,330 posts
Location: lunn dunn, yoo kay, United Kingdom
big and good and broken
7,330 posts
Location: lunn dunn, yoo kay, United Kingdom
Posted:
the advertising to kids thing and the fact that mcdonalds claim that their menu is 'nutritious' are the main two sticking points for me.
super-size portions were ridiculous and rightly are being stopped.
personally, i'd like to see a massive promotional drive against mcdonalds with the hamburgalar as the hero of the campaign and the saviour of kids' health
the advertising to kids thing and the fact that mcdonalds claim that their menu is 'nutritious' are the main two sticking points for me.
super-size portions were ridiculous and rightly are being stopped.
personally, i'd like to see a massive promotional drive against mcdonalds with the hamburgalar as the hero of the campaign and the saviour of kids' health
"i see you at 'dis cafe.
i come to 'dis cafe quite a lot myself.
they do porridge."
- tim westwood
SILVER Member
addict
469 posts
Location: nottingham, england. cornwall wales denmark or pra...
addict
469 posts
Location: nottingham, england. cornwall wales denmark or pra...
Posted:
'round of applause for the sheep'
i was just about to post my opinions on this but someone else got there first
'round of applause for the sheep'
i was just about to post my opinions on this but someone else got there first
my original signature was tooo long.
this one is shorter
The reason we say "European"
912 posts
Location: Cheltenham
912 posts
Location: Cheltenham
Posted:
Quite frankly the super-size portions in the US scare the life out of me.
Now, I eat too much in fast food restaurants on those occasions I go (which thankfully, isn't often). I'll eat large portions sometimes. Probably shouldn't.
I was horrified, however, on a recent trip to the US last october or so to discover that a "regular" portion as we call it in the UK doesn't exist, at least not in the restaurant I ate in. The smallest portion available to me was equivalent to the "large" I *sometimes* opt for over here.
They also had a large, which was the same size as our super size.
And then they had a super size. Which I dare not even look upon!
So if they're cutting out the US super size, I think it can only be for the better. That thing was beyond a joke.
Quote:
super-size portions were ridiculous and rightly are being stopped.
Quite frankly the super-size portions in the US scare the life out of me.
Now, I eat too much in fast food restaurants on those occasions I go (which thankfully, isn't often). I'll eat large portions sometimes. Probably shouldn't.
I was horrified, however, on a recent trip to the US last october or so to discover that a "regular" portion as we call it in the UK doesn't exist, at least not in the restaurant I ate in. The smallest portion available to me was equivalent to the "large" I *sometimes* opt for over here.
They also had a large, which was the same size as our super size.
And then they had a super size. Which I dare not even look upon!
So if they're cutting out the US super size, I think it can only be for the better. That thing was beyond a joke.
"We have done the impossible and that makes us mighty" - Mal Reynolds
"I can't tell the difference between an electron and a cat" - Brother of a friend
-Why-
126 posts
Location: uk, Newcastle / Chester
126 posts
Location: uk, Newcastle / Chester
Posted:
i saw that program, and i really like MCdonald, even though i dont have it very often.
i saw that program, and i really like MCdonald, even though i dont have it very often.
If money is the root of all evil, then why do people sell Bibles?
Clubbles Jugs
1,687 posts
Location: Manchester
1,687 posts
Location: Manchester
Posted:
Random thought...I went to Fiji in 1998, and there are two cash machines in the whole of Fiji, there are also two outlets of McDonalds in the whole of Fiji. Which would you say is more important for a country to have?
Random thought...I went to Fiji in 1998, and there are two cash machines in the whole of Fiji, there are also two outlets of McDonalds in the whole of Fiji. Which would you say is more important for a country to have?
ah wah wah wah a wah wah
BRONZE Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,136 posts
Location: Warwickshire, United Kingdom
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,136 posts
Location: Warwickshire, United Kingdom
Posted:
yea, much that i dislike mcdonalds, and haven't eaten there in years, its easy to blame one company, then take no notice of the others which are much the same. There's loads of dodgy companies out there, but they have varying levels of campaigns/negetive publicity towards them, which isn't always proportional to how dodgy they are. Some arn't really dodgy at all, but people for whatever reason have managed to launch very sucessful campaigns against them. I remember going on an anti mcdonalds protest a few years back, and half way through a load of people went across the road to buy lunch from another multinational fast food company who will remain nameless. I was like 'wtf?'
I don't think mcdonalds is the root of all evil, there's lots of other multinational, not particularly nice places to eat crap, which is why i don't go to any fast food places
yea, much that i dislike mcdonalds, and haven't eaten there in years, its easy to blame one company, then take no notice of the others which are much the same. There's loads of dodgy companies out there, but they have varying levels of campaigns/negetive publicity towards them, which isn't always proportional to how dodgy they are. Some arn't really dodgy at all, but people for whatever reason have managed to launch very sucessful campaigns against them. I remember going on an anti mcdonalds protest a few years back, and half way through a load of people went across the road to buy lunch from another multinational fast food company who will remain nameless. I was like 'wtf?'
I don't think mcdonalds is the root of all evil, there's lots of other multinational, not particularly nice places to eat crap, which is why i don't go to any fast food places
SILVER Member
not with cactus
2,052 posts
Location: bristol/ southern eastern devon, United Kingdom
not with cactus
2,052 posts
Location: bristol/ southern eastern devon, United Kingdom
Posted:
its the fact they call it fast food that gets me.
its not fast, i mean by the time youve qued up for 20 mins you could have been to some cool little baker/supermarket/food van/cafe around the corner and brought all manner of cool food. of course then you might have to sit outside on a bench to eat, but personally id rather do that than sit at some greasy plastic table in mcdonalds
o yea, i havnt heard talk of these supersize portions, but i dunno, i remember from my mcdonalds eating days that the portions you got never seemed like much, and im not a very big person.
its the fact they call it fast food that gets me.
its not fast, i mean by the time youve qued up for 20 mins you could have been to some cool little baker/supermarket/food van/cafe around the corner and brought all manner of cool food. of course then you might have to sit outside on a bench to eat, but personally id rather do that than sit at some greasy plastic table in mcdonalds
o yea, i havnt heard talk of these supersize portions, but i dunno, i remember from my mcdonalds eating days that the portions you got never seemed like much, and im not a very big person.
Me train running low on soul coal
They push+pull tactics are driving me loco
They shouldn't do that no no no
Pooh-Bah
1,662 posts
Location: Bristol
1,662 posts
Location: Bristol
Posted:
this comes from the court transcripts of the McLibel trial
so apparently eating McDonalds is as healthy as eating a roll of sellotap - or as they say later on day 297 (08 Nov 96) a handful of soil!!!!
Silly McDonalds people don't know what real food is!
this comes from the court transcripts of the McLibel trial
Quote:
He (Dr. Tim Lobstein, the co-director of the Food Commission) said that the McDonald's line in their various nutrition guides and publications that they put out, that their food can be eaten as part of a balanced diet, is meaningless. Because, as he said, you could eat a roll of Sellotape as part of a balanced diet
so apparently eating McDonalds is as healthy as eating a roll of sellotap - or as they say later on day 297 (08 Nov 96) a handful of soil!!!!
Silly McDonalds people don't know what real food is!
I had a dream that my friend had a
strong-bad pop up book,
it was the book of my dreams.
SILVER Member
Mumma Hen
6,391 posts
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Mumma Hen
6,391 posts
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posted:
After reading this thread I went out and bought "fast food nation"
I dont think I will comment until I have been enlightened though. Im a fast food junkie... I bought it in the hope that it will help break me of the quick and easy habit
After reading this thread I went out and bought "fast food nation"
I dont think I will comment until I have been enlightened though. Im a fast food junkie... I bought it in the hope that it will help break me of the quick and easy habit
TAJ "boat mummy." VALURA "yes sweetie you went on a boat, was daddy there with you?" TAJ "no, but monkey on boat" VALURA "well then sweetie, Daddy WAS there with you"
GOLD Member
playing the days away
7,263 posts
Location: The Middle lands, United Kingdom
playing the days away
7,263 posts
Location: The Middle lands, United Kingdom
Posted:
ok 2 cents paid...here we go....
McD's....Good business or Gross misconduct?
Business.....
America's (and most other nations) culture is based on capitalism. The goal is profit. American governments over the years have even sold communism as evil or bad simply because it is anit-capitalist. McD's from the outset are only doing what their culture enlightens them to do....are they to blame for doing it??!!
Gross Misconduct....
We all know what fatty unhealthy food is, we all know how to avoid eating it, McD's is suitable as 'part' of a balanced diet. Balancing low fat, sugar, salt etc foods with higher. Nothing abnormal about that. It is not suitable as a complete diet, but neither is eating a diet completely devoid of carbs, or vitamin C etc. You don't wanna be fat from eating crappy foods?....then don't eat ALOT of crappy fatty foods. Only one thing is bad for us in this earth...to much.
I think this journalist is making the usual biased story for the mass public consumption.....as is his job.....just as McD's produce a biased dietry range of food for mass public consumption. So which is worse?? If he ate purely a diet of Fish I'm sure his health would have suffered over the next month, maybe not in weight issues but some problems from the range of dietry misdemeaners and from lacking in various nutrients.
Now I'm not backing McD's, I stopped eating there long ago for various personal reasons, (infact if they all closed tomorrow I'd be a happy man) but what's good for the goose is good for the gander. If McD's food policy is forcibly changed then it should apply to all vendors of fatty foods.
Mass commercial farming.....now that should be condemned. The way they control farming of animals through out the world is wrong and it's the only way they keep the food appearing 'cheap'. The methods they employ when buying their produce should be condemned also. Forcing suppliers to take cuts so they can barely turna profit so McD's profit is greater is wrong....but this is how supoermarkets operate and only the anti-globalists complain about that. Although again it's capitalism in it's purest form.
Child Enticement
Wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong. As any parent will tell you children have massive control over the purchasing power of their parents. Promotion of crappy foods to kids shouldn't be allowed IMHO. The whole advertising campaign until recent years was entirely based around kids. Clowns don't make an adult go buy their food.
Conclusion
Education and cultural enlightenment are the key. Eating a McD's isn't bad for you, eating it everyday for every meal is. As would be going to the chip shop every day or living on soda pop and chocolate. We don't need a journalist to tell us this it's common sense. One problem our cultures have is that we seem to look for blame in others for our own problems more and more.
If people we're brought up to eat healthily they would continue to do so. If the mass public banded together and decided to eat at their local deli or cafe instead of McD's maybe they would change their dietry range to entice the consumer back in the store?
The argument isn't cost either, healthy food is cheaper when you buy and prepare it yourself than McD's ever will be, just not quite as convenient.
Or do as I'm about to do and grow your own food where possible. If you had to birth, feed, nurture, kill, skin, gut, scrape, chop. cook and serve an animal to your kids or for yourself would you? Fair play to you if you can but that's the reason I'm gradually turning veggie. I couldn't do it myself so why should I pay someone else to do it to make it appear like it's something it's not.
My major gripe is that McD's milkshake is the best in the world...if I could make it or buy it from somewhere else and it was half as good I'd be a happy man!
ok 2 cents paid...here we go....
McD's....Good business or Gross misconduct?
Business.....
America's (and most other nations) culture is based on capitalism. The goal is profit. American governments over the years have even sold communism as evil or bad simply because it is anit-capitalist. McD's from the outset are only doing what their culture enlightens them to do....are they to blame for doing it??!!
Gross Misconduct....
We all know what fatty unhealthy food is, we all know how to avoid eating it, McD's is suitable as 'part' of a balanced diet. Balancing low fat, sugar, salt etc foods with higher. Nothing abnormal about that. It is not suitable as a complete diet, but neither is eating a diet completely devoid of carbs, or vitamin C etc. You don't wanna be fat from eating crappy foods?....then don't eat ALOT of crappy fatty foods. Only one thing is bad for us in this earth...to much.
I think this journalist is making the usual biased story for the mass public consumption.....as is his job.....just as McD's produce a biased dietry range of food for mass public consumption. So which is worse?? If he ate purely a diet of Fish I'm sure his health would have suffered over the next month, maybe not in weight issues but some problems from the range of dietry misdemeaners and from lacking in various nutrients.
Now I'm not backing McD's, I stopped eating there long ago for various personal reasons, (infact if they all closed tomorrow I'd be a happy man) but what's good for the goose is good for the gander. If McD's food policy is forcibly changed then it should apply to all vendors of fatty foods.
Mass commercial farming.....now that should be condemned. The way they control farming of animals through out the world is wrong and it's the only way they keep the food appearing 'cheap'. The methods they employ when buying their produce should be condemned also. Forcing suppliers to take cuts so they can barely turna profit so McD's profit is greater is wrong....but this is how supoermarkets operate and only the anti-globalists complain about that. Although again it's capitalism in it's purest form.
Child Enticement
Wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong. As any parent will tell you children have massive control over the purchasing power of their parents. Promotion of crappy foods to kids shouldn't be allowed IMHO. The whole advertising campaign until recent years was entirely based around kids. Clowns don't make an adult go buy their food.
Conclusion
Education and cultural enlightenment are the key. Eating a McD's isn't bad for you, eating it everyday for every meal is. As would be going to the chip shop every day or living on soda pop and chocolate. We don't need a journalist to tell us this it's common sense. One problem our cultures have is that we seem to look for blame in others for our own problems more and more.
If people we're brought up to eat healthily they would continue to do so. If the mass public banded together and decided to eat at their local deli or cafe instead of McD's maybe they would change their dietry range to entice the consumer back in the store?
The argument isn't cost either, healthy food is cheaper when you buy and prepare it yourself than McD's ever will be, just not quite as convenient.
Or do as I'm about to do and grow your own food where possible. If you had to birth, feed, nurture, kill, skin, gut, scrape, chop. cook and serve an animal to your kids or for yourself would you? Fair play to you if you can but that's the reason I'm gradually turning veggie. I couldn't do it myself so why should I pay someone else to do it to make it appear like it's something it's not.
My major gripe is that McD's milkshake is the best in the world...if I could make it or buy it from somewhere else and it was half as good I'd be a happy man!
Let's relight this forum 
GOLD Member
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Posted:
As much as I hate McDonald's, I stand behind their right to be in business. I won't eat there (Ok, so I once, in a fit of desperation, bought a cup of coffee there...someone spank me
).
Having said that, I think it's time people learned about this outmoded concept of personal responsibility. That means that if you choose to eat at McD's every day and super-size and you wind up 400 pounds, diabetic, and whatever else, guess whose fault it is? YOURS.
If you aren't intelligent enough to figure out that such eating choices are going to be bad for you, then frankly, you don't deserve to be healthy.
As much as I hate McDonald's, I stand behind their right to be in business. I won't eat there (Ok, so I once, in a fit of desperation, bought a cup of coffee there...someone spank me
).Having said that, I think it's time people learned about this outmoded concept of personal responsibility. That means that if you choose to eat at McD's every day and super-size and you wind up 400 pounds, diabetic, and whatever else, guess whose fault it is? YOURS.
If you aren't intelligent enough to figure out that such eating choices are going to be bad for you, then frankly, you don't deserve to be healthy.
-Mike
Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella
A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura
Pooh-Bah
1,662 posts
Location: Bristol
1,662 posts
Location: Bristol
Posted:
i agree with all your points - we all have responsibility for our own actions, and children need time to be tought how to be responsible without being advertised at all the time.
the reference i gave was a direct copy of the court transcipts in a case against macdonalds - so was as biased as the trial (i wasn't there for that so i don't know).
i agree with all your points - we all have responsibility for our own actions, and children need time to be tought how to be responsible without being advertised at all the time.
Quote:
I think this journalist is making the usual biased story for the mass public consumption.....as is his job
the reference i gave was a direct copy of the court transcipts in a case against macdonalds - so was as biased as the trial (i wasn't there for that so i don't know).
I had a dream that my friend had a
strong-bad pop up book,
it was the book of my dreams.
False Eyelash
346 posts
Location: New York City
346 posts
Location: New York City
Posted:
Hmm...yes. And no. First of all, Senor Doctor, EVERYONE deserves to be healthy. Having good health shouldn't depend on how smart or well educated you are. McDonalds is very sneaky with its advertising - especially when it comes to folks who don't have a lot of cash. So to say it's unintelligent to eat there is unfair.
And second, their right to be in business...they treat their employess like crap. They make it impossible to unionize. They do nothing about the crazy crime rate at fast food restaurants. Not to mention the way they shove themselves down everyone's nose - all over the world.
And we haven't even gotten into the way they prepare the food.
You should read Fast Food Nation. It's pretty enlightening. (Oh...no pun intended I swear!!
)
Quote:
I stand behind their right to be in business.
Having said that, I think it's time people learned about this outmoded concept of personal responsibility. That means that if you choose to eat at McD's every day and super-size and you wind up 400 pounds, diabetic, and whatever else, guess whose fault it is? YOURS.
If you aren't intelligent enough to figure out that such eating choices are going to be bad for you, then frankly, you don't deserve to be healthy.
Hmm...yes. And no. First of all, Senor Doctor, EVERYONE deserves to be healthy. Having good health shouldn't depend on how smart or well educated you are. McDonalds is very sneaky with its advertising - especially when it comes to folks who don't have a lot of cash. So to say it's unintelligent to eat there is unfair.
And second, their right to be in business...they treat their employess like crap. They make it impossible to unionize. They do nothing about the crazy crime rate at fast food restaurants. Not to mention the way they shove themselves down everyone's nose - all over the world.
And we haven't even gotten into the way they prepare the food.
You should read Fast Food Nation. It's pretty enlightening. (Oh...no pun intended I swear!!
)
All the freaky people make the beauty of the world.
BRONZE Member
Llamas are larger than frogs.
319 posts
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Llamas are larger than frogs.
319 posts
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Posted:
People, especially in America, are always trying to blame their problems on anyone else. And then, after they've fattened themselves up on McDonalds, they try to take the easy way out by using diet pills or going on the Atkins diet and just clogging up their arteries even more.
The actual food disgusts me the most. You can tell just from that nauseating smell that it can't be natural. And then there is the matter of the suppliers- huge corporations who practically enslave their workers to grow and pick crops. Fast-food chains, particularly Taco Bell, have said that this isn't their problem because they only buy the tomatoes or whatever, and they can't do anything about it, but people need to face the fact that the only reason fast food places can afford to have dollar menus is because immigrant workers aren't even being payed a living wage to provide the food.
People, especially in America, are always trying to blame their problems on anyone else. And then, after they've fattened themselves up on McDonalds, they try to take the easy way out by using diet pills or going on the Atkins diet and just clogging up their arteries even more.
The actual food disgusts me the most. You can tell just from that nauseating smell that it can't be natural. And then there is the matter of the suppliers- huge corporations who practically enslave their workers to grow and pick crops. Fast-food chains, particularly Taco Bell, have said that this isn't their problem because they only buy the tomatoes or whatever, and they can't do anything about it, but people need to face the fact that the only reason fast food places can afford to have dollar menus is because immigrant workers aren't even being payed a living wage to provide the food.
"I know a good deal more than a boiled carrot."
"Fire!" "Where?" "Nowhere, I was just illustrating the misuse of free speech."
GOLD Member
Stream Entrant
2,829 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Stream Entrant
2,829 posts
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posted:
Good comments DSS
But, certainly in Australia, Mc Chucks sell themselves as being providers of “nutritious food” and they even got an outlet in the Royal Childrens Hospital.
I indulge from time to time, but I really really dislike the current emotive TV advertising campaign in Australia, where for example a pseudo reporter pretends to be investigating the nutritional quality of the food. He asks an employee what she is trying to hide (supposedly bad nutritional information) and she pulls out a drawing by her 5 year old son. This supposedly proves McDonalds is good. You also have remember that a lot of rainforest is destroyed for hamburgers, ask your self why their ice-creams don’t melt. And hey you can’t trust em. Don’t forget they lied when they said they were not using any animal fat to cook fries. Nuff for now.
Good comments DSS
Quote:
I find it difficult to aportion blame on the entire Mcdonalds fiasco to be honest. I'm clued up on it, in that I read fast food nation but, I am convinced that people are far to quick to blame their problems on someone else.
But, certainly in Australia, Mc Chucks sell themselves as being providers of “nutritious food” and they even got an outlet in the Royal Childrens Hospital.
I indulge from time to time, but I really really dislike the current emotive TV advertising campaign in Australia, where for example a pseudo reporter pretends to be investigating the nutritional quality of the food. He asks an employee what she is trying to hide (supposedly bad nutritional information) and she pulls out a drawing by her 5 year old son. This supposedly proves McDonalds is good. You also have remember that a lot of rainforest is destroyed for hamburgers, ask your self why their ice-creams don’t melt. And hey you can’t trust em. Don’t forget they lied when they said they were not using any animal fat to cook fries. Nuff for now.
If we as members of the human race practice meditation, we can transcend our fear, despair, and forgetfulness. Meditation is not an escape. It is the courage to look at reality with mindfulness and concentration. Thich Nhat Hanh
GOLD Member
playing the days away
7,263 posts
Location: The Middle lands, United Kingdom
playing the days away
7,263 posts
Location: The Middle lands, United Kingdom
Posted:
Don't forget the Hospital gave permission for this to happen. McD ask..the hospital say yes. Hardly the responsibility of McD's
We're getting this to and I imagine it's a global campaign....their nutrition values suck-ass. They lie and make out their food is way healthier than it is.
Yep no doubt about that, they lied repeatedly about their vegetarian options as they we're blatently not vegetarian and all those poor trees gone just so they can raise some cows for mass slaughter....
I don't know if I cry more for the trees or the cows!!
Quote:
in Australia, Mc Chucks sell themselves as being providers of nutritious food and they even got an outlet in the Royal Childrens Hospital.
Don't forget the Hospital gave permission for this to happen. McD ask..the hospital say yes. Hardly the responsibility of McD's
Quote:
I really really dislike the current emotive TV advertising campaign in Australia
We're getting this to and I imagine it's a global campaign....their nutrition values suck-ass. They lie and make out their food is way healthier than it is.
Quote:
You also have remember that a lot of rainforest is destroyed for hamburgers, ask your self why their ice-creams don't melt.....Don't forget they lied when they said they were not using any animal fat to cook fries...
Yep no doubt about that, they lied repeatedly about their vegetarian options as they we're blatently not vegetarian and all those poor trees gone just so they can raise some cows for mass slaughter....
I don't know if I cry more for the trees or the cows!! Let's relight this forum
BRONZE Member
old hand
1,107 posts
Location: In a test pit, Mackay, Australia
old hand
1,107 posts
Location: In a test pit, Mackay, Australia
Posted:
Take a hike down to your nearest supermarket, any of them will do. Have a wander around the aisles, again, any of them will do, and look at the brightly coloured packages of convenience crap, virtually every item a paean to salt and suger. there's an issue far larger than McDonald's on the whole being missed.
There's a multi-billion dollar industry based on people wanting to be thin, and now, it seems a multi-million dollar one growing up around people refusing to take responsability for themselves.
Put less in your mouth and move around more. It's that obvious.
Take a hike down to your nearest supermarket, any of them will do. Have a wander around the aisles, again, any of them will do, and look at the brightly coloured packages of convenience crap, virtually every item a paean to salt and suger. there's an issue far larger than McDonald's on the whole being missed.
There's a multi-billion dollar industry based on people wanting to be thin, and now, it seems a multi-million dollar one growing up around people refusing to take responsability for themselves.
Put less in your mouth and move around more. It's that obvious.
There is a slight possibility that I am not actually right all of the time.
GOLD Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
2,617 posts
Location: Berlin, Ireland
Carpal \'Tunnel
2,617 posts
Location: Berlin, Ireland
Posted:
For the purposes of this thread I intentionally kept to the nutritional side of things but yep there is LOOOAADDDS of other reason why McDonalds suck.
For the purposes of this thread I intentionally kept to the nutritional side of things but yep there is LOOOAADDDS of other reason why McDonalds suck.
I live in a world of infinite possibilities.
Pooh-Bah
1,662 posts
Location: Bristol
1,662 posts
Location: Bristol
Posted:
like, i can't remember the exact figure, but they're in the top ten street rubbish porducers in basically every single country they're around in.
that's singlehandedly, none of the other top tens are campanies, they are areas, like chewing gum & stuff.
like, i can't remember the exact figure, but they're in the top ten street rubbish porducers in basically every single country they're around in.
that's singlehandedly, none of the other top tens are campanies, they are areas, like chewing gum & stuff.
I had a dream that my friend had a
strong-bad pop up book,
it was the book of my dreams.
The reason we say "European"
912 posts
Location: Cheltenham
912 posts
Location: Cheltenham
Posted:
Just to fan the flames of discussion
mcdonalds salad has more fat than cheeseburger?
Just to fan the flames of discussion
mcdonalds salad has more fat than cheeseburger?
"We have done the impossible and that makes us mighty" - Mal Reynolds
"I can't tell the difference between an electron and a cat" - Brother of a friend
GOLD Member
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Posted:
Q is quite right. It's an insidious sort of false advertising that you could never nab them on. A salad implies a healthier choice than a burger. HOWEVER, by the time you have the bacon, and the grilled chicken, the cheese, and especially the dressing, you have way out-fatted the burger.
Salads are only low-fat and low-carb when they use a simple dressing, like oil/vinegar-based dressing. Creamy dressings like ranch, blue cheese, caesar, etc. have ginormous amounts of fat and calories.
And it's not as if the fast-food chains make this information very obvious. And It's not just McDonald's. The major burger fast-food chains all do something like this.
Subway, on the other hand, is actually very good about educating consumers about the choices they make. They put nutrition information for their "Seven under Six" subs right on the display case. There is one thing that bothers me: the small print says that this does not include cheese or dressings. Almost everyone gets cheese on their subs and I don't think they realize that this ads a significant amount of fat.
Subway offers customers several low-fat and low-calorie options. They also offer customers less healthy choices. I don't mind this at all because I believe that personal choice and freedom are very important. If people are well-educated about the risks that they assume by assuming poor eating habits and still choose to live in the moment, that's their problem.
The reason I won't buy food at McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, etc. is not because they have unhealthy choices, but because they have so few healthy ones and they try to trick customers into buying unhealthy choices by advertising them as healthy.
Q is quite right. It's an insidious sort of false advertising that you could never nab them on. A salad implies a healthier choice than a burger. HOWEVER, by the time you have the bacon, and the grilled chicken, the cheese, and especially the dressing, you have way out-fatted the burger.
Salads are only low-fat and low-carb when they use a simple dressing, like oil/vinegar-based dressing. Creamy dressings like ranch, blue cheese, caesar, etc. have ginormous amounts of fat and calories.
And it's not as if the fast-food chains make this information very obvious. And It's not just McDonald's. The major burger fast-food chains all do something like this.
Subway, on the other hand, is actually very good about educating consumers about the choices they make. They put nutrition information for their "Seven under Six" subs right on the display case. There is one thing that bothers me: the small print says that this does not include cheese or dressings. Almost everyone gets cheese on their subs and I don't think they realize that this ads a significant amount of fat.
Subway offers customers several low-fat and low-calorie options. They also offer customers less healthy choices. I don't mind this at all because I believe that personal choice and freedom are very important. If people are well-educated about the risks that they assume by assuming poor eating habits and still choose to live in the moment, that's their problem.
The reason I won't buy food at McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, etc. is not because they have unhealthy choices, but because they have so few healthy ones and they try to trick customers into buying unhealthy choices by advertising them as healthy.
-Mike
Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella
A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura
GOLD Member
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Posted:
I want to add one more thing about McDonald's. They do run a charity called the Ronald McDonald House. Ronald McDonald Houses are living quarters situated near major tertiary care hospitals that will house the families of seriously ill children who are being treated at the hospital if the child's family comes from far away.
For example, our hospital is a major tertiary care center, which means that if you're really sick and you are too complicated of a patient to be cared for at a local community hospital, you may be transferred to our hospital. We have one of the best childrens' hospitals in the entire world and patients come from all over to our center.
Because many of these children may have very long hospital stays, and because the parents may be from very far away, the family may stay at Ronald McDonald House. Furthermore, our hospital has the only pediatric dialysis center in the state of Michigan (or maybe there's one other in Detroit at Detroit Children's). So even if a patient is being dialyzed on an outpatient basis, the thrice-weekly three hour dialysis sessions make it impossible for most families to make a trip from more than an hour or so away. Ronald McDonald House will house these families.
Many of my patients have used Ronald McDonald House and I am very grateful for what this program has done. A portion of all McDonald's Sales go to this program, but if you don't want to buy McDonald's products, you may donate directly to this charity. I don't right now because I don't have any money, but I will.
I want to add one more thing about McDonald's. They do run a charity called the Ronald McDonald House. Ronald McDonald Houses are living quarters situated near major tertiary care hospitals that will house the families of seriously ill children who are being treated at the hospital if the child's family comes from far away.
For example, our hospital is a major tertiary care center, which means that if you're really sick and you are too complicated of a patient to be cared for at a local community hospital, you may be transferred to our hospital. We have one of the best childrens' hospitals in the entire world and patients come from all over to our center.
Because many of these children may have very long hospital stays, and because the parents may be from very far away, the family may stay at Ronald McDonald House. Furthermore, our hospital has the only pediatric dialysis center in the state of Michigan (or maybe there's one other in Detroit at Detroit Children's). So even if a patient is being dialyzed on an outpatient basis, the thrice-weekly three hour dialysis sessions make it impossible for most families to make a trip from more than an hour or so away. Ronald McDonald House will house these families.
Many of my patients have used Ronald McDonald House and I am very grateful for what this program has done. A portion of all McDonald's Sales go to this program, but if you don't want to buy McDonald's products, you may donate directly to this charity. I don't right now because I don't have any money, but I will.
-Mike
Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella
A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura
BRONZE Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,136 posts
Location: Warwickshire, United Kingdom
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,136 posts
Location: Warwickshire, United Kingdom
Posted:
slightly off topic to nutrician, but company sponsored things are, for the most part, in my view, just advertising. How much do McDonalds spend on charity compared to TV advertising? Dollar for dollar, how does positive publicity of something like this compare to a TV advert? Probably not as much, but it does appeal to a different sort of people that are susceptible to the charms of Justin Timberlake. Don't get me wrong, it's more productive than TV or billboard advertising, but i'm sceptical over the motives.
slightly off topic to nutrician, but company sponsored things are, for the most part, in my view, just advertising. How much do McDonalds spend on charity compared to TV advertising? Dollar for dollar, how does positive publicity of something like this compare to a TV advert? Probably not as much, but it does appeal to a different sort of people that are susceptible to the charms of Justin Timberlake. Don't get me wrong, it's more productive than TV or billboard advertising, but i'm sceptical over the motives.
member
8 posts
8 posts
Posted:
Wow what a funny post... I have worked at McDonalds for 5 years, eat there every day usually 2 meals a day. If you eat a diet comprised of nothing but hamburger (home made or other) deep fried potatoes and soft drinks and dont do any physical activities you will of course get very fat. Now our salads are healthy, then again lettuce and other such veggies arnt bad for you in the least bit.
I am not fat, not even close to being overweight personally I think my tummy comes from the beer but even then, I run every day and I lift weights. Personally I believe that you can eat whatever you want as long as you burn off the calories and work the saturated fat out of your system before you clog up your heart. I am not a doctor so don't quote me on any of this, but it is what I do and I am not fat.
Wow what a funny post... I have worked at McDonalds for 5 years, eat there every day usually 2 meals a day. If you eat a diet comprised of nothing but hamburger (home made or other) deep fried potatoes and soft drinks and dont do any physical activities you will of course get very fat. Now our salads are healthy, then again lettuce and other such veggies arnt bad for you in the least bit.
I am not fat, not even close to being overweight personally I think my tummy comes from the beer but even then, I run every day and I lift weights. Personally I believe that you can eat whatever you want as long as you burn off the calories and work the saturated fat out of your system before you clog up your heart. I am not a doctor so don't quote me on any of this, but it is what I do and I am not fat.
GOLD Member
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Posted:
Of course, Ronald McDonald House is not nearly the huge organization that McDonald's is. But McDonald's has a pretty good history of philanthropy in general. No other fast food chain has a charitable program that is as large or well-established as Ronald McDonald House.
It does irritate me when companies use charity as a ploy to advertise or increase sales. For example, Yoplait yogurt promised to give ten cents to breast cancer research for every yogurt lid sent back. One million lids would yield US$100,000 in donation. Hardly a very impressive donation for a company of that size.
But Ronald McDonald House is actually a real charity and it does really help a lot of people. It's not just an advertising blitz.
Quote:
slightly off topic to nutrician, but company sponsored things are, for the most part, in my view, just advertising. How much do McDonalds spend on charity compared to TV advertising? Dollar for dollar, how does positive publicity of something like this compare to a TV advert? Probably not as much, but it does appeal to a different sort of people that are susceptible to the charms of Justin Timberlake. Don't get me wrong, it's more productive than TV or billboard advertising, but i'm sceptical over the motives.
Of course, Ronald McDonald House is not nearly the huge organization that McDonald's is. But McDonald's has a pretty good history of philanthropy in general. No other fast food chain has a charitable program that is as large or well-established as Ronald McDonald House.
It does irritate me when companies use charity as a ploy to advertise or increase sales. For example, Yoplait yogurt promised to give ten cents to breast cancer research for every yogurt lid sent back. One million lids would yield US$100,000 in donation. Hardly a very impressive donation for a company of that size.
But Ronald McDonald House is actually a real charity and it does really help a lot of people. It's not just an advertising blitz.
-Mike
Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella
A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura
GOLD Member
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
HOP Mad Doctor
13,925 posts
Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Posted:
You know, genetics work into a lot of this. Anyone who has seen the LIPITOR commercials knows that you can have high cholesterol in spite of healthy lifestyle choices. And the reverse is certainly true as well.
Also, when you are younger, you tend to be able to eat more of what you want and as you get older, this catches up with you. The most significant risk factors for heart disease are smoking, high cholesterol (especially high LDL or the "bad cholesterol"), obesity, and family history. Diet and exercise can modify these risk factors, but diet and exercise alone are not risk factors, per se.
Eating McDonald's twice a day is not good for the future. Remember, you're still young, so the long-term effects, being long-term, haven't shown up yet.
But if you look at the nutrition information, a McDonald's salad IS NOT healthy unless you forego cheese, meat, and dressing on it.
Quote:
Wow what a funny post... I have worked at McDonalds for 5 years, eat there every day usually 2 meals a day. If you eat a diet comprised of nothing but hamburger (home made or other) deep fried potatoes and soft drinks and dont do any physical activities you will of course get very fat. Now our salads are healthy, then again lettuce and other such veggies arnt bad for you in the least bit.
I am not fat, not even close to being overweight personally I think my tummy comes from the beer but even then, I run every day and I lift weights. Personally I believe that you can eat whatever you want as long as you burn off the calories and work the saturated fat out of your system before you clog up your heart. I am not a doctor so don't quote me on any of this, but it is what I do and I am not fat.
You know, genetics work into a lot of this. Anyone who has seen the LIPITOR commercials knows that you can have high cholesterol in spite of healthy lifestyle choices. And the reverse is certainly true as well.
Also, when you are younger, you tend to be able to eat more of what you want and as you get older, this catches up with you. The most significant risk factors for heart disease are smoking, high cholesterol (especially high LDL or the "bad cholesterol"), obesity, and family history. Diet and exercise can modify these risk factors, but diet and exercise alone are not risk factors, per se.
Eating McDonald's twice a day is not good for the future. Remember, you're still young, so the long-term effects, being long-term, haven't shown up yet.
But if you look at the nutrition information, a McDonald's salad IS NOT healthy unless you forego cheese, meat, and dressing on it.
-Mike
Certified Mad Doctor and HoP High Priest of Nutella
A buckuht n a hooze! -Valura
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