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An apple a day may keep the doctor away. But when you put it in a Happy Meal, it might help keep regulators at bay, too. McDonald’s said yesterday that it would add apple slices and reduce the portion of french fries in its children’s meal boxes beginning this fall, effectively taking away consumers’ current choice between either having apples with caramel dip or fries as a Happy Meal side.
The move by McDonald’s, which has become a leader in moving to more nutritious fare like oatmeal and salads, comes as fast food chains face intense scrutiny from health officials and others who blame the industry for childhood obesity and other health-related problems. Some municipalities, including San Francisco, have even banned fast food restaurants from selling kids’ meals with toys.
Critics wasted no time complaining that McDonald’s changes don’t go far enough.
Kelle Louaillier, executive director of a group called Corporate Accountability International, said McDonald’s is just trying to get ahead of impending regulations that will restrict the marketing of junk food to children and require restaurants to post nutrition information on menus, among other changes.
12 hours ago (1:50 PM)
i think this is great it will provide kids with the good food they need hopefully this will help cut down child hood obesity
9 hours ago (5:07 PM)
or a Much Healthier Meal…
12 hours ago (1:52 PM)
It’s about time! Call it the Much Happier Meal.
8 hours ago (5:18 PM)
Yeah, that’s got to be the grossest user name yet.
9 hours ago (4:58 PM)
gopmommy? Wow. I guess it fits, you are on a pretty high horse.
5 hours ago (8:57 PM)
UNlike liberals looking for a handout i pay for everything i’ve ever had thank you.
9 hours ago (5:04 PM)
Because its none of their business.
9 hours ago (4:42 PM)
I’m SO not a fan of anyone controlling my diet because its nobody else’s job. Its my job. I can make the decision of what/how much I eat, the government can’t even deliver mail so they don’t need to control my diet until they can figure out how to do their own jobs at even a mediocre level. Its not the government’s job.
I am glad that people are educated about healthy foods and the dangers of smoking. Education is fine, dictating lightbulb use and salt intake is not the government’s job. Beyond educating people, that people should be able to make decisions for themselves. The war on food will be as unsuccessful as the war on drugs has been. People don’t care what the government says, the gov’t is filled with a bunch of busybodies that can’t even do their jobs so they need to mind their own damn business and let us make choices for ourselves-were still free right?
Regarding pesticides…apples can be washed. It *is* possible. And an apple is better than greasy french fries under any circumstance so I see it as a net positive. Kids who might not otherwise get fresh produce now might. Thats better than just giving them starchy carbs so my point is valid and it stands.
10 hours ago (4:16 PM)
Why are you SO not a fan of the government bullying businesses to control our diet?
Do you think cigarettes should go back to the way they were in the 70s, before the government stepped in and EDUCATED people on the hazards these items had on our "diet"? I mean, I guess it’s all about HOW MANY cigarettes you smoke, right?
And to your comment about "something fresh, grown from the ground, rather than created in a lab.."
In a 2003 report on pesticides in produce, the Environmental Working Group, a public-policy outfit based in Washington, ranked apples as the third-most-contaminated produce group, after peaches and strawberries, in terms of pesticide residue. The findings were based on tests done by the Agriculture Department and the Food and Drug Administration from 1992 to 2001.
12 hours ago (2:12 PM)
I am SO not a fan of the government bullying business to control our diet but I am totally okay with this move. I would rather McD’s "compromise" with the regime rather than get rid of fries all together. Its not what we eat, its the quantity of it we eat and occasional treats are okay. So reducing the quantity of fries is mid-ground as far as I’m concerned and the poor kids whose parents go to McD’s to feed them might get their only fresh fruit of the day in their Happy Meals now. I can’t complain about that- so many kids are living in poverty eating nothing but junk food and starch/carbs…if a business that really appeals to the poor is able to get something fresh and grown from the ground rather than created in a lab into their stomachs I’m going to applaud that. Now if only the parents would enforce the rule of "apple before fries"….
9 hours ago (5:06 PM)
Tastes like chicken ….;-)
9 hours ago (4:55 PM)
I tasted it once and it did not taste like fruit.
11 hours ago (2:44 PM)
I always go to McDonalds for the fruit. mmmmmmmmmm.
9 hours ago (5:05 PM)
The dog ate my homework ..and I ate the Happy Meal….;-)
9 hours ago (4:29 PM)
With an option to substitute chores instead. But only 11% will choose that option.
11 hours ago (2:46 PM)
In related news, Happy Meals will no longer feature a toy. Kids will be given homework instead.
9 hours ago (5:09 PM)
Good for you, Carol. My 4.5 year old has only recently started asing about McD’s. I told him it’s junk food, and he hasn’t asked to try it. I think it will be the happy meal toys that lure him in eventually–that or rebellion. Thankfully most of his school friends’ parents seem to be on the same page as we are.
11 hours ago (2:54 PM)
Any food is better than none and most of the single parent households are headed by the moms, but an educated mom can feed her kids healthy meals, she just needs to learn how to budget and live within her means. With that said my youngest is in that 11 percent that prefers the apples. I rarely let them eat McD’s and I only go for the tea and the fruit and yogurt parfaits. The burgers are disgusting and the fries are greasy and taste horrible. I refuse to let my kids eat that unless it’s a very special occasion and every 4 months or so, if they ask for it (most of the time they don’t anyway) Sure I can be called snob or whatever because we can afford healthy food, but it’s not just being able to afford it, it’s also educating yourself on how to make good food choices and not just ‘settling’ for fast food because you don’t have a lot of money. So get rid of internet, fancy smart phones, get clothes at goodwill, cut out eating out and cook something at home that is healthy. Fruit salad, eggplant, steamed summer veggies, homemade fruit smoothies. My kids aren’t fat. I chose to be a smart mom and make good eating decisions for my family. It’s not how much you have in the bank account, but how much common sense you possess, and common sense last time I checked was free.
7 hours ago (6:49 PM)
God forbid you just slice some potatoes, fry them in some peanut oil, and lightly dust them with salt. That would be too complicated!
9 hours ago (5:03 PM)
Ewwww. WTF is wrong with just potatoes?
9 hours ago (4:46 PM)
McDonalds french fries: Potatoes, vegetable oil (canola oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, natural beef flavor [wheat and milk derivatives]*, citric acid [preservative]), dextrose, sodium acidpyrophosphate (maintain color), salt. Prepared in vegetable oil (Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil with TBHQ and citric acid added topreserve freshness). Dimethylpolysiloxane added as an antifoaming agent.CONTAINS: WHEAT AND MILK. *(Natural beef flavor contains hydrolyzed wheat and hydrolyzed milk as starting ingredients)Yum yum.
9 hours ago (4:26 PM)
French fries are only as bad as the oil they’re fried in.
Well, that and any other additives to the fries themselves.
9 hours ago (5:02 PM)
Who’s forcing what on whom? These are options. What do you have against offering healthy alternatives? Does he existance of veggies on Earth bother you?
9 hours ago (4:54 PM)
Hi Sarah!
9 hours ago (4:48 PM)
Nobody forced the parents to eat at McDonalds. If you don’t want your kids to be healthy, don’t eat at McDonalds anymore.
9 hours ago (4:44 PM)
Some things have to be forced on people, people will almost always choose the higher calorie more fattening food if left to their own devices
9 hours ago (4:42 PM)
McDonalds says they will include the regular fries if a parent requests it so you will still be free to feed your kids this cr-p.
9 hours ago (4:27 PM)
People had a choice. Only 11% opted for it. Now, they are just forcing it on parents. Pretty soon no one is going to be allowed to eat anything but veggies and grilled chicken.
8 hours ago (5:17 PM)
In all honesty I would probably save the apple slices for a snack for later while out with the kids, so its not that bad.
9 hours ago (4:29 PM)
I really hope someone keeps track of how many tons of fruit is going to be thrown away in McDonald trash cans after they do this.
Also, "Customers can also request two bags of apple slices instead of apple slices and french fries. " can they also request double french fries and forget the fruit? If they can, I think most people will.
The idea looks good on paper, and I hope it works…I just don’t think it will.