McDonald's Under Pressure to Fire Ronald

Wall Stret Journal ^

[Sub-Driver]

McDonald's Under Pressure to Fire Ronald By JULIE JARGON

More than 550 health professionals and organizations have signed a letter to McDonald's Corp. asking the maker of Happy Meals to stop marketing junk food to kids and retire Ronald McDonald.

The letter, slated to run in the form of full-page ads in six metropolitan newspapers around the country on Wednesday, acknowledges that "the contributors to today's (health) epidemic are manifold and a broad societal response is required. But marketing can no longer be ignored as a significant part of this massive problem."

"We are committed to responsible advertising and take our communications to children very seriously," McDonald's said in a statement. "We understand the importance of children's health and nutrition, and are committed to being part of the dialogue and solution. We serve high quality food, and our Happy Meals offer choice and variety in portions just for kids. Parents tell us they appreciate our Happy Meal choices."

The campaign is organized by the nonprofit watchdog group Corporate Accountability International, which has also targeted tobacco companies and beverage makers like Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo Inc. for the environmental impact of plastic bottles.

[rollo tomasi]

[absolootezer0]

I don’t understand why McDonald’s is being singled out. It has a lot more healthy menu options than BK, Jack or Wendys. Why aren’t they being attacked?

Because this is not really about health. It's about the terminal hatred that liberal busybodies have toward success. McDonalds is the largest of the fast food chains, and as a result, the #1 target. The goal is to retire an advertising figure that busybodies consider key to that success.

also, because they have a "children's figure" as an advertising vehicle, they are and easier target. similar to how they tanked joe camel a while back.

[Buckeye McFrog]

Each of those organizations consists of 3 people on a university campus with a PO box and a fax machine.

[Jack Hammer]

I stand corrected!

[Terry Mross]

You can only eat where you want with Hucakabee’s approval.

Huckster: All the factors say “yes” but my heart (and my high paying job on Fox) says “no”. What a phony!

[steve8714]

I didn’t see anything on their fight to end estrogen pollution of the rivers and oceans, although from looking at the staff and board I’d say they are doing their part.

[Venturer]

You have to wonder about the sanity of 550 health professionals and organistions, when they blame a clown and one partucular fast food joint for all the ills of the world.

My Grandkids get to go to McDonalds probably twice a month a mystery meat hamburger and a bag of fries isn’t going to kill them.

[nhwingut]

Now that they own your body (i.e. healthcare), this is pretty much the reality.

Welcome to Facism.

[nhwingut]

LOL.. The Exec Director looks like she’s had a few Big Macs.

[Emperor Palpatine]

Not unless they get rid of the Burger King King, too.



Now there's creepy for you.....

[TexasCajun]

Can we get the Gay Tele-Tubbies fired?

[Pan_Yan]

"Come on, kid, make it a large."

[Pan_Yan]

Well done.

[WOBBLY BOB]

Bet they’ll never take Hamburglar alive.

[Rebelbase]

Joe has been immortalized in silver:

[VermiciousKnid]

I said this would happen years ago when they went after Joe Camel.

They will never EVER stop.

Regards,

[NativeSon]

acknowledges that "the contributors to today's (health) epidemic are manifold and a broad societal response is required.

Wait a minute, who are they to "acknowledge" this? It must be great to create a organization to "solve" a problem, invent the problem and cause then acknowledge or confirm that it is true.

I'm going to use the process that proves that voting for left-o-crats gives you worms...

[FrankR]

[G Larry]

How about replacing all of the social engineering courses in our K-12 classroom with a bit more recess and P.E. classes?

[FrankR]