McDonalds Death Advertisement

Byrnzie

I'm surprised they could get away with this. After watching Food Inc. I thought it was now illegal to criticise these big food corporations in any way? Or is it just illegal to criticise the beef industry?
Still, this can only be a positive thing:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010 ... -mcdonalds

McDonald's targeted in US health ad

Unhappy meals: American doctors' TV ad features a corpse holding a hamburger and the line 'I was lovin' it'. McDonald's, which has thrived in the recession, isn't laughing

Andrew Clark in New York
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 14 September 2010


It is an image to sap the flabbiest of appetites. An overweight, middle-aged man lies dead on a mortuary trolley, with a woman weeping over his body. The corpse's cold hand still clutches a half-eaten McDonald's hamburger.

A hard-hitting US television commercial bankrolled by a Washington-based medical group has infuriated McDonald's by taking an unusually direct shot at the world's biggest fast-food chain this week, using a scene filmed in a mortuary followed by a shot of the brand's golden arches logo and a strapline declaring: "I was lovin' it."

The line is a provocative twist on McDonald's long-standing advertising slogan, "I'm lovin' it" and a voiceover intones: "High cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart attacks. Tonight, make it vegetarian."

The commercial, bankrolled by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), goes further than most non-profit advertising and has drawn an angry reaction from both the Chicago-based hamburger multinational and the broader restaurant industry.

The National Restaurant Association criticised it as "irresponsible" and said it was an attempt to scare the public with a "limited" view of nutrition. A McDonald's spokesman said: "This commercial is outrageous, misleading and unfair to all consumers. McDonald's trusts our customers to put such outlandish propaganda in perspective, and to make food and lifestyle choices that are right for them."

The commercial, to be aired initially in the Washington area but potentially in further US cities, comes amid an increasingly lively debate in the US about healthy eating. The first lady, Michelle Obama, has made nutrition a signature issue and is leading a campaign to encourage physical fitness and improved diets – particularly among American children, a third of whom are overweight.

The recession has hardly helped the healthy eating cause. McDonald's has enjoyed a relatively prosperous financial crisis as diners opt for its affordable offerings in place of more expensive high-street restaurants. Its global profits for the six months to June were up 12% to $2.3bn, powered by sales rises both in the United States and Britain.

The PCRM's director of nutrition education, Susan Levin, made no apologies for singling out the golden arches: "McDonald's is one of the biggest fast-food chains in the world. Its name and its golden arches are instantly recognisable. We feel we're making a point about all fast food when we talk about McDonald's."

Shawshank

At this point in my life you couldn't pay me enough to eat that shit. I grew up really liking it, and even took my kids there a couple times a month when they were younger. However, when you start looking at how food is produced in general in this country, it's hard to not see the links between our sickening health and not only the type of food we eat, but also the quality of it.

Not to derail this completely, but my family and I over the last few years have started growing more and more of what we eat, and we've actually made the switch over the pure grass fed beef that comes from the cattle we have just up the road. I think everyone should make a point to learn how to grow something, even if it is just a simple tomato plant. There's nothing better than knowing exactly where your food has been and how it got there.

covered in bliss

Love the commercial. It will probably be yanked soon.

It isn't illegal to sue the beef industry, 13 states have food libel laws. After the Oprah debacle, it's easy to see why.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_libel_laws

covered in bliss

Shawshank wrote:

it's hard to not see the links between our sickening health and not only the type of food we eat, but also the quality of it.

What if Mickey D's started serving a 100% 'organic' burger... maybe even buffalo meat? That would definitely be a step in the right direction.

Byrnzie

Shawshank wrote:

At this point in my life you couldn't pay me enough to eat that shit. I grew up really liking it, and even took my kids there a couple times a month when they were younger. However, when you start looking at how food is produced in general in this country, it's hard to not see the links between our sickening health and not only the type of food we eat, but also the quality of it.

I made a decision about a year ago not to set foot in a K.F.C again. K.F.C's are really popular in China - you rarely see a McDonalds here. In fact I think there may be more K.F.C's in China now than in the states - correct me if I'm wrong.
Anyway, I refuse to eat that stuff. It's pure filth. In fact I think K.F.C's actually make McDonalds look good by comparison,

Shawshank

covered in bliss wrote:

Shawshank wrote:

it's hard to not see the links between our sickening health and not only the type of food we eat, but also the quality of it.

What if Mickey D's started serving a 100% 'organic' burger... maybe even buffalo meat? That would definitely be a step in the right direction.

Yes it definitely would be, but even that doesn't mean much these days. They are starting to do the same thing with buffalo that they have been doing with cattle. The standards for "organic" are fairly loose, and can easily be manipulated, especially with cattle. We already see that in store bought eggs labeled "free range" or "cage free", it's nothing but a marketing ploy in many cases. The producer stocks something like Rhode Island Red chickens that produce brown eggs, because the average consumer will equate brown eggs with farm fresh. While they may not be kept in your average hen cage, with 5 others crammed in with them, they are kept in one single warehouse with very little room for free movement. Many of them still don't see the light of day. It's a disgusting way to treat animals, regardless if they are merely for food. At least treat them with some damn dignity. I swear I think we have the happiest damn chickens on the planet at our home. They love to run up to us and play, and each one has their own unique personality. I have one that will just hop up and sit right on my leg. She has been like that with me since she was still a peep. LOL The closer I get to my animals, the more pissed off I get at how the industry treats them.

cajunkiwi

Byrnzie wrote:

Shawshank wrote:

At this point in my life you couldn't pay me enough to eat that shit. I grew up really liking it, and even took my kids there a couple times a month when they were younger. However, when you start looking at how food is produced in general in this country, it's hard to not see the links between our sickening health and not only the type of food we eat, but also the quality of it.

I made a decision about a year ago not to set foot in a K.F.C again. K.F.C's are really popular in China - you rarely see a McDonalds here. In fact I think there may be more K.F.C's in China now than in the states - correct me if I'm wrong.
Anyway, I refuse to eat that stuff. It's pure filth. In fact I think K.F.C's actually make McDonalds look good by comparison,

KFC is probably 10x more popular outside the States than it is inside the States. I don't know one single person in America who eats KFC - yet in New Zealand they're everywhere. The town I'm from, Cambridge, has only one fast food place - a KFC. The nearest McDonald's is 20 minutes away... but we have a KFC (that has 10x as many items on the menu as an American one does, which is weird). Maybe Americans have figured out that KFC is crap and the rest of us haven't caught up yet lol

Jason P

cajunkiwi wrote:

Byrnzie wrote:

Shawshank wrote:

At this point in my life you couldn't pay me enough to eat that shit. I grew up really liking it, and even took my kids there a couple times a month when they were younger. However, when you start looking at how food is produced in general in this country, it's hard to not see the links between our sickening health and not only the type of food we eat, but also the quality of it.

I made a decision about a year ago not to set foot in a K.F.C again. K.F.C's are really popular in China - you rarely see a McDonalds here. In fact I think there may be more K.F.C's in China now than in the states - correct me if I'm wrong.
Anyway, I refuse to eat that stuff. It's pure filth. In fact I think K.F.C's actually make McDonalds look good by comparison,

KFC is probably 10x more popular outside the States than it is inside the States. I don't know one single person in America who eats KFC - yet in New Zealand they're everywhere. The town I'm from, Cambridge, has only one fast food place - a KFC. The nearest McDonald's is 20 minutes away... but we have a KFC (that has 10x as many items on the menu as an American one does, which is weird). Maybe Americans have figured out that KFC is crap and the rest of us haven't caught up yet lol

It is strange that most people don't really like KFC, at least if there are other options available. A lot of their stores are a combo with a Taco Bell to help pull in traffic. I've always thought that their fried chicken was mediocre at best but they used to have outstanding popcorn chicken. I do applaud KFC for giving Hardees a run for being the least healthy fast food joint in the country.

MotoDC

Byrnzie wrote:

Shawshank wrote:

At this point in my life you couldn't pay me enough to eat that shit. I grew up really liking it, and even took my kids there a couple times a month when they were younger. However, when you start looking at how food is produced in general in this country, it's hard to not see the links between our sickening health and not only the type of food we eat, but also the quality of it.

I made a decision about a year ago not to set foot in a K.F.C again. K.F.C's are really popular in China - you rarely see a McDonalds here. In fact I think there may be more K.F.C's in China now than in the states - correct me if I'm wrong.
Anyway, I refuse to eat that stuff. It's pure filth. In fact I think K.F.C's actually make McDonalds look good by comparison,

KFC was one of the first western companies to break visibly into the Chinese market a couple decades ago. They became a symbol of western ideals (and, ironically, wealth, since KFC was relatively expensive there) to a Chinese people still living under a fairly oppressive communist rule. As such, KFC was wildly successful; as noted, they've experienced much more growth in China than in the US since then.

edit: for myself, living in DC, there are just too many good, ethnic chicken places nearby to even consider KFC as an alternative. Mmmm...peruvian rotisserie chicken...mmm...

Jason P

MotoDC wrote:

KFC was one of the first western companies to break visibly into the Chinese market a couple decades ago. They became a symbol of western ideals (and, ironically, wealth, since KFC was relatively expensive there) to a Chinese people still living under a fairly oppressive communist rule. As such, KFC was wildly successful; as noted, they've experienced much more growth in China than in the US since then.

edit: for myself, living in DC, there are just too many good, ethnic chicken places nearby to even consider KFC as an alternative. Mmmm...peruvian rotisserie chicken...mmm...

That's funny because people in Peru probably turn their nose at their own chicken and run off to KFC

MotoDC

Jason P wrote:

MotoDC wrote:

KFC was one of the first western companies to break visibly into the Chinese market a couple decades ago. They became a symbol of western ideals (and, ironically, wealth, since KFC was relatively expensive there) to a Chinese people still living under a fairly oppressive communist rule. As such, KFC was wildly successful; as noted, they've experienced much more growth in China than in the US since then.

edit: for myself, living in DC, there are just too many good, ethnic chicken places nearby to even consider KFC as an alternative. Mmmm...peruvian rotisserie chicken...mmm...

That's funny because people in Peru probably turn their nose at their own chicken and run off to KFC

i c wat u did thar

Cosmo

I stopped eating at McDonalds when I looked up and realized that there were no longer grills in their kitchen. The kid making my Big Mac got the meat patties from a soylent burger, sock drawer looking thing. When I asked, how did they cook it.... the answer was, 'Back there'. I said no, he pulled the burger patties from a sock drawer... which illicited the reply, 'It's pre-cooked'. But, WHERE was it cooked... oh, nevermind.
Granted, I did eat it because I was starving and had a staff meeting right after lunch... but, i definately did not enjoy it.

Byrnzie

MotoDC wrote:

edit: for myself, living in DC, there are just too many good, ethnic chicken places nearby to even consider KFC as an alternative. Mmmm...peruvian rotisserie chicken...mmm...

Thst's something I just don't get about the States. When I was there last I saw loads of great Mexican restaurants and a place called 'Ryans', which was like a big buffet type joint where the food was great, and really cheap. So I just can't understand why anyone there would choose to eat crap from K.F.C or McDonalds when you have all these other places to choose from.

Commy

this last winter i was pressed for time, hungry and right next to a burger king drive through, so i decided to take the plunge.



and yeah. i couldn't get past the first bite on that whopper. the most disgusting thing i have ever tasted. there was something about the meat that made it...just not edible.

Byrnzie

Commy wrote:

this last winter i was pressed for time, hungry and right next to a burger king drive through, so i decided to take the plunge.



and yeah. i couldn't get past the first bite on that whopper. the most disgusting thing i have ever tasted. there was something about the meat that made it...just not edible.

I've bitten into K.F.C burgers before and felt something jellified in my mouth, like a booger or something. Maybe it was a booger burger?
All I could think of was that maybe I was eating an eyeball or some diseased piece of chickens guts, like a cancerous growth or something. Horrible. Never again!

Jeanwah

Byrnzie wrote:

I've bitten into K.F.C burgers before and felt something jellified in my mouth, like a booger or something. Maybe it was a booger burger?
All I could think of was that maybe I was eating an eyeball or some diseased piece of chickens guts, like a cancerous growth or something. Horrible. Never again!

Now that description sounds like a chicken McNugget!

UpSideDown

Eating Two double cheeseburgers, a Crispy Ranch Chicken Snackwrap and a large order of fries right now

MotoDC

Byrnzie wrote:

MotoDC wrote:

edit: for myself, living in DC, there are just too many good, ethnic chicken places nearby to even consider KFC as an alternative. Mmmm...peruvian rotisserie chicken...mmm...

Thst's something I just don't get about the States. When I was there last I saw loads of great Mexican restaurants and a place called 'Ryans', which was like a big buffet type joint where the food was great, and really cheap. So I just can't understand why anyone there would choose to eat crap from K.F.C or McDonalds when you have all these other places to choose from.

Who knows, man. I guess lots of people don't live near a city with so many options -- I'm lucky in DC, it being such a melting pot of cultures. I ate plenty of fast food crap up through and including college, and I still enjoy a Chipotle burrito not irregularly.

Jeanwah

Byrnzie wrote:

MotoDC wrote:

edit: for myself, living in DC, there are just too many good, ethnic chicken places nearby to even consider KFC as an alternative. Mmmm...peruvian rotisserie chicken...mmm...

Thst's something I just don't get about the States. When I was there last I saw loads of great Mexican restaurants and a place called 'Ryans', which was like a big buffet type joint where the food was great, and really cheap. So I just can't understand why anyone there would choose to eat crap from K.F.C or McDonalds when you have all these other places to choose from.

It's possible that the crap food is addicting for some people. Once you have it once or twice a week, you start craving it, much like any other food, especially junk food. The guy on Super Size Me started craving it quickly after starting his month long diet of super sized meals at McDonald's. And then of course he got fat and sick.

I watched the bonus features on that documentary's DVD, and it showed a science experiment of McD's food and a real burger joint's food and how over time all of it decayed. After a couple days, the real burger and fries decayed to moldy, disgusting specimens, while it took WEEKS for the McD's burger to decay. And the fries? These things NEVER decayed. And they watched them for MONTHS. Ever find a stale fry on your car's floor when you get around to vacuuming it? Yeah, we eat this shit that does not decay. So what do McDonald's fries consist of, I wonder?