McDonald's under fire at AGM
posted on 24th May 2013
McDonald's has come under fire at its AGM in the US from an advocacy group accusing it of selling junk food and marketing to childre. The group used children itself when it got a a 9-year-old girl to ask CEO Don Thompson to stop 'tricking kids into eating your food.'
As always, McDonald's is an easy target when it comes to critics because of its size, although other chains - and many independents - sell a narrower range and offer less healthy menus. This is despite the fact that McDonald's has made many changes in recent years (see Re-Inventing McDonald's) and has in some ways led the move to healthier eating in the fast food market. The coverage given to the questions at this year's AGM, though, show that the company still faces an uphill battle when it comes to popular perceptions.
'Another speaker asked that McDonald's remove its locations from hospitals, while others asked it to stop targeting communities of colour by signing stars such as Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas and the NBA's LeBron James. Three of the individuals were members of Corporate Accountability, which has been critical of the company's marketing practices. Others were health professionals, parents or writers linked to the group.
Thompson stood by the company's menu, saying McDonald's doesn't sell "junk food," pointing out items such as the yoghurt parfait and side salad and noting that the company has been adding more fruits and vegetables. Thompson, who took over as CEO this past summer, also noted that his kids eat at McDonald's and that many of its 1.8 million employees are parents.
Still, he said at one point, "I do agree we have some issues, and we can be part of the solution."'
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