Mcdonalds

[babydoll514]

What are the main problrms Mcdonalds has caused socially, politically and economically?

[shaneystar2]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonald%27s

[morbidstorm]

How about balancing the argument and also enquire about the positives that McDonalds has brought to society. I am a manager at McDonalds and all we ever get is stick from the public and media and blamed for obesity!!!

[drchasuble]

Read Fast Food Nation. Perfectly accessible, unputdownable and absolutely shocking.

http://www.play.com/Books/Books/4-/275452/Fast _Food_Nation/Product.html

[happygam]

Sorry, can't see what problems Maccies has caused at all....typically, everything gets blown out of proportion these days...if we believed in everything we read, heard...gees..we wouldn't eat a thing...I hardly see 1 obese child in my town..I have eaten maccies, wimpy's (remember them) KFC...it aint done me any harm...and I have never had weight issues....or health issues!!

[sophieb]

morbidstorm- Could you point out some of the positives please?

[happygam]

Why do people in the U.K look at all the negatives...should try looking at the glass half full!

[drchasuble]

Happygam, there are no positives! There is not one part of the fast food industry that isn't rotten to its very core.
First, let's take the animals that provide the meat: Chickens that are kept in tiny pens and fattened so rapidly that their legs bow and sometimes snap from the absurd weight. Hundreds of cows are kept in cramped darkened barns both eating genetically engineered food made from other animal remains (Er remember Mad Cow Disease anyone?).
These animals are then sent to huge abattoirs where they are clumsily slaughtered by hugely underpaid workers with poor benefits if any. No healthcare, insurance. The food is then pumped full of potentially addictive chemicals to bamboozle the brain into thinking it's eating something tasty and nutritious. The food is then cooked in "restaurants" where the mostly teenage staff are again poorly paid and poorly trained. Then the food reaches your mouth along with a dose of food poisoning and a hefty dollop of saturated fats. Nice.

The fast food industry started out full of the good intention of supplying good cheap food fast. It has however become a terrifying Frankenstein's monster and has not only a frightening impact on health but on society itself.

To finish here's a fact: �Americans now spend more money on fast food than they do on higher education, personal computers, software or new cars. They spend more on fast food than on movies, books, magazines, newspapers, videos and recorded music - combined.� A scary thought considering the materialism in today�s world.
And before you say �Oh yeah well that�s the yanks for you� here�s another fact: Britain eats more fast food than any other country in Europe. We have the highest increase in child obesity and type 2 diabetes.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/specials/161 6_fastfood/

Read this � and weep. <

[happygam]

Nahhh...sorry, won't be reading it and weeping...and I certainly am not getting into a debate with anyone about it...I have my opinions and you have yours...your obviously vegetarian...and I respect any people for that..but I am not..but that is down to me and nobody else..I just don't let people, programmes, articles put me off...I wouldn't eat anything....then I would die of malnutrition - so in a way - nobody can win...I certainly don't shove fast food down my face, I actually eat veg, meat, fruit, love my roast dinners, cheeses, pastas to name but a few...I just think its up to the individual what they want to do..if someone wants a maccies..so be it...and I'm not really interested in what Americans do..I'm british...and its my right to do what I want..I may not be a vegan, or an animal rights campaigner..I shouldn't be made to feel like I'm the worst person in the world, I'm healthy and thats what matters to me...and in my 32 years on this earth, I havn't had food poisining once...!!

[drchasuble]

If you don't want to debate the issue why do you get involved and carry on the debate?

I don't even know why I bother asking as I'm sure your response will be a poorly spelled "Whateverrrr"

[morbidstorm]

Regarding the animal welfare, the cattle and poultry used in British McDonalds is of the highest stature, freerange and not crammed together in a small shed. Every hamburger can be traced back to which farm it came from, where info is logged regarding weather conditions, etc whilst cultivating/growing (same can be said for the lettuce as well !!)
McDonalds had nutritional infomation on its trayliners back in the 80's well before all these new 'fears' about nutrition.
McDonalds will give 16yr olds a job and money and help them on their first steps to further employment/studies. A vast majority of staff are uni grads or are studying 'A' levels/degrees.
McDonalds has its own charity whereby it builds/buys houses next to hospitals across the country so families of sick children can stay free of charge.
I think the main issue here is not what is wrong with McDonalds but what is wrong with society!
Let me explain,
How many hours per week PE do school children get? maybe a couple?
What do school children like to do when they are at home?
play on the computer/games console?
McDonalds is a scapegoat for societies woes and will not change overnite. How many have heard stories of spitting in burgers? and all that jazz. Who has had that done to them? Anybody know someone? If it were true McD's would be closed down. A lot of people see a large successfull company and they have to destroy it, esp in this country where we dont like americanism that much and we dont like successfull rich 'things'.
If it was sooooo bad McD's then why is it still going? why opening new restaurants up?
Remember that your local burgerbar or kebab shop is not McDonalds, what they do is totally different.

[morbidstorm]

If you could see what daily checks have to be done before we start selling food and the high level of hygeine and food safety involved. How many of you at home check the temp of your cooked meals before serving? not just hot or warm but actual temps?
How many wipe down your kitchen surfaces with sanitised solution every cpl of mins?
How many clean your ovens thouroughly every nite and the whole kitchen?
I know McD's is not perfect, who is? but it is adaptable, but adaptable to consumers needs, if everybody stopped buying burgers then McD's would stop selling burgers.
McD's is a commercial business, if there is a demand for it they will try to supply it.

[morbidstorm]

oh and as for additives in burgers, total poppycock. There is nothing but 100% beef, no chemicals or additives of any kind. The only thing we add to it is a dash of seasoning after it has been cooked. Again what other fast food places sell is different. Do label all 'fast food' restaurants the same. Would you like being called a German? Pole?Italian?French? well you are part of Europe so you must all be the same yes? its the same with business'.
If you are a vegan/vegetarian then yes McD's would not appeal to you.

[happygam]

I agree with you morbidstorm...when I was a kid (a long time ago) I would come home from school, watch a tiny bit of t.v - kiddies programmes, whilst waiting for my healthy tea, I would play out, playing chase, skipping, kerbie (remember that game) doing somersaults in the garden...no computer games etc...we did p.e every day at school - junior and high school - I think obesity is alot to do with hardly any exercise...I used to walk to school, or in winter, get the school bus...all you see now is kids being dropped off at school and they only live around the corner - I don't actually think kids/families are sat in McD's every day/night eating breakfast, lunch or tea!! If maccies was a big threat - they would have been closed down a long time ago!! I don't think I spelt anything wrong....as I am quite an intelligent lady..who can make the odd spelling mistake....

[sophieb]

Just like to say that neither of my kids get to eat ANY fast food! My son especially has a very strictly controlled diet due to ADHD and other problems. Its true that schools do not provide as much PE as before but its up to the parents to make sure their kids don't become fat and unhealthy. My two between them go to football, cricket, gymnastics,swimming and karate. They are allowed an hour each day after school to EITHER play the playstation, watch TV or use the computer. We all watch a DVD together on a Friday night but the rest of the week when we are all in we do other stuff like play board games or bake etc. By the way morbidstorm my kitchen DOES get thoroughly cleaned every day as does the bathroom. And I wasn't having a go when I asked you to point out the positives, I was just asking since I am aware of the negatives and as I don't go to McDonald's I don't know if there is any positives!

[morbidstorm]

sorry sopieb, wasnt having a go. To me you sound like a parent who cares about their children, as i do about my own. I was simply stating that the media are quick to blame 1 thing as responsible for obesity e.g fast food, and not take the whole social aspect into account. Unfortunatly as a society, whatever is printed in the papers etc we take as gospel. My main go was at the british press who make the news rather than report i feel!