[willowshouse]

Just noticed this morning that my daughter's school uses Netballs sponsored by McDonalds :mad:

I HATE McDonalds and all they stand for .. this is the third time my daughter has 'encountered' them at school (that I know of) in 6 months and I am more than a little mad.

The first encounter was when my 7 year old came home with a 'Poem' in her poetry book all about "My trip to McDonalds" ..

"I love it when my Mum takes me to McDonalds, it is such a treat. We play in the playground there and it is so much fun. I have a cheesburger, fries and a shake and my brother has chicken nuggets ... blah blah blah"

The second time was when good old Ronald McDonald came to teach the kids Road Safety .. I mean who else would you choose .. he is so pigging perfect for the job!! Come on people ..

I realise that I have brought all my UK right-on angst with me .. but am I the only one to think that this is entirely WRONG! Does anyone else have this in their school? .. ask your kids before you say no because they don't advertise it.

My daughter knows McDonalds is rubbish, she is obviously too young to understand the 'bigger picture' but she does at least understand that the food is bad for you and one of the main reasons for that is that it is cheap to produce. I just resent that McDonalds can get away with polluting our kid's heads whilst they are in school of all places.

Feeling very down now .. don't feel able to speak to the Head about my concerns as I've already had my head bitten off once for something else. My daughter has to bring in an interesting fact once a week and I woud love to send her in with a few home truths about McDonalds but the 'good parent' in me thinks it's not such a good idea to use your child in that way.

I know we've had discussion on this forum about how it's nice to leave behind political correctness but I wish some of it would make it's way over here because this would not happen in a school in UK... would it? :confused:

Dawn

[Lupin]

AFAIA NZ has the highest number of MacDonald's per head of population. I am also very anti-McD and generally anti-corporate sponsership of schools in general.

As a rule I think I would accept corporate sponsership of extra curricular activites because NZ IS a poorer country than UK, no doubt, but I'd be very unhappy with the poem as that's allowing advertising into the classroom and I think learning and education shoudl be free from advertising.

I don't think it's a PC issue btw.

[nippa&pippa]

LOL, I agree with you, bit like NZ is trying to copy USA??

BTW, My children haven't been to Mcdonald, KFC, burger king etc!! Got prefect excuses to go there, food allergies :nice1

[Andy-Dee]

I think you should be able to approach the Head with your concerns, ask what their policy is regarding learning materials and aids. I would also want to know how much sponsorship they get from McD's.

What on earth is the learning goal from 'the poem'. If you get your head bitten off again - ask for a copy of their formal complaints procedure and follow it - assure them you will take it furthur if having exhausted it you are still not satisfied.

Such blatant advertising beggers belief - I'm totally with you on this one.

[Trigirl]

things are at least moving in the right direction
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0610/S00368.htm

[CjChris]

Just wanted to say that I am totally in your corner on this. I am appalled at the use of McD's in school or existing in general....there's much I could say but will not get myself worked up right now. So many people are oblivious to McDonald's bad bad bad karma; I think schools don't care because McD gives them kick-backs for promoting them. It all boils down to money.

[willowshouse]

things are at least moving in the right direction
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0610/S00368.htm

Thanks Trigirl!

Now that is interesting .. the article is dated October 2006 and claims that the Police have ended their sponsorship with McDonalds, but my daughter's Road Safety 'lesson' was in December. I hope hers was one of the last ones carried out.

I'll print that out and give it to my daughter .. she has to take in news articles for discussion!!! :laugh

Dawn

[K&CS]

I'm not aware of any such sponsorship in the girls' school, but I'll ask them!

I think it's appalling - particularly the poem. I would have probably said something. My kids haven't had McDonalds at all in NZ and they've stopped asking as they know the answer will be 'no'.

I really don't think it would harm to speak to someone at the school about it - I'm sure there will be other concerned parents.

[katandbob]

Hi I agree with you, in some respects - its all well and good them sponsering stuff - they could sponser sports - Since they are contributing to the nations obesity;) and Make it a point of highlighting that eating too many Burgers/Fries - and Shakes (the worst of the offenders in my opinion) is bad for you!

Has anyone noticed Ribena's crawling ad on tv after their expose on their Vitamin C?

It made me chuckle - talk about trying to justify it as a simple testing error!

I didn't buy it anyway - as the kids hated it!

PS I don't go to McD's either - rather save my pennies! and if I do treat Jason its a Burger King :laugh

Kat

[StevieD]

Nope not pc at all, annoying, and if it happened at my kids school I would have to say something. I understand schools want money but it is morally wrong for an American burger joint to go around getting into kids minds like this. How about a letter to Helen Clarke if you get no joy from the school, I reckon it is worth it because things like this shouldn't be allowed. How many other people on here have come across this, it would be interesting to know?

[Moorf]

There was a huge article about this in The Press last year (Googled but can't find it). Apparently in school assemblies they hand out McD's, Burger King, KFC and Domino's Pizza vouchers as prizes (what happened to a good book/voucher?!), McDonalds sponsors road safety programmes, school dentists, health education materials etc etc.

Any form of advertising should be removed from schools - it's not the place. Oh, and from children's TV too while we're at it......

[willowshouse]

Just found another reference to the AntiChrist..

From the Religious Education Programme for Catholic Primary Schools Activity Workbook ..

"SHARING BREAD

People eat bread with

Fruit salad
Sausage
Jam
McDonalds
Casserole
Tomatoes
Soup
Ice Cream
Jelly
Yoghurt
Eggs
Pizza
Chicken
Honey
Cornflakes
Peanut Butter

Circle the foods you eat bread with and draw your favourite way to eat bread .."

Given all the other foods are pretty basic I think it is more than a little odd to have McDonalds in the list and I wonder how many kid's favourite ways to eat bread had them eating a hamburger! Maybe I need to have a word with the Bishop!:roll

Just heard from daughter that she hadn't circled McDonalds when she did her work but then was told to by the teacher. .... I am going to be watching like a hawk from now on.

Dawn

[SharpBlade]

This will probably backfire at me, but I have to say, I am not upset about Mc Donalds sponsoring stuff.
It is true, the kids doing the road safety patrol at school wear safety vest sponsored by mcD but the logo is barely visible on the back. The whole road safety is taught by police officers a few times over the year and kids certainly don`t get McD vouchers for that. At soccer matches, the player of the day gets a certificate with a voucher for a burger or something from McD but surely it is up to the parents to allow their kids to use it or no.
There was a lot of talks about consumeurism on another thread on the forum. I think if you can resist all the temptations that s thrown at you all day long (Tv , circulars, etc..), it shouldn`t be such a big job to teach the same to your kids. Despite living not far from a McD and getting vouchers, our kids never ask to go there because they know we will say no (and they know it s bad food, etc..). On the same wavelenght, they haven`t got a playstation because they can use the ones at the library and because they don`t need it. They can amuse themselves in plenty of other ways. I don`t wear designer clothes at all because I couldn`t care less. We don`t feel we need plenty of stuff to be happy and I guess that along the way, we teach our kids to know what s good/ necessary to them and what s not (and they all have friends who do take away or get more stuff than them)
Saying that, we went to Oxford last weekend and had a lovely meal at Jo Seagars ` place, and the kids know it was real healthy food.
Well, that`s it...
Laura

[kelpy]

Apparently in school assemblies they hand out McD's, Burger King, KFC and Domino's Pizza vouchers as prizes (what happened to a good book/voucher?!),

Agree completely. I find the idea of promoting fast food as a reward disturbing.

[willowshouse]

It is true, the kids doing the road safety patrol at school wear safety vest sponsored by mcD but the logo is barely visible on the back.

Did you know the Golden Archs are the most recognised logo in the world, even among children who are unable to read? There is a reason they do that .. it's securing their consumers of the future.


The whole road safety is taught by police officers a few times over the year and kids certainly don`t get McD vouchers for that.

It isn't the giving of vouchers that is the problem .. it the exposure of the name. Anyway, the police did not give my school's road safety talk - Ronald McDonald did!

I respect your right to have a different opinion to mine :yes however for me, McDonalds sponsorship is as bad as cigarette company sponsorship .. it has no place in our school system.

[Sam B]

Well, I would be livid if my children had any McD stuff at school, even though I know they wouldn't really be swayed by it, it's the principle. There will be lots of children who do take it on board, it's insidious and definitely part of a wider plan by McD to infiltrate the minds of our young!!

More than that, nothing makes me more angry/emotional than when something goes on at school that I don't agree with. It makes me feel powerless as I don't want to seem like an overreactive mum and it is hard to tackle these things without seeming so. We should have the right to expect better of schools than to promote big corporations, fast food or unhealthy food.

I feel a bit dubious about some of the stuff at school at the moment. Sorrel sings this song "fish and chips, fish and chips, makes me want to lick my lips" it then goes on about other rotten unhealthy foods that she is supposed to love and says about how "mum" makes them, and how she wants them for "breakfast dinner and tea"!!! Where do I start - it promotes the wrong foods, her Dad does the cooking, grrr grrr grrr. What's the point of it??

And apparently Poppy and the rest of her class were told by their teacher that they shouldn't do poos at school, "it's home business"!!!!! Talk about a recipe for constipation and toilet phobias. I have restrained myself from firing off long angry letters each time, but I wouldn't be able to hold back on the McD issue Dawn, I feel so strongly about corporate sponsership and advertising to children.

I'm behind you 100%!

[Moorf]

I feel a bit dubious about some of the stuff at school at the moment. Sorrel sings this song "fish and chips, fish and chips, makes me want to lick my lips" it then goes on about other rotten unhealthy foods that she is supposed to love and says about how "mum" makes them, and how she wants them for "breakfast dinner and tea"!!! Where do I start - it promotes the wrong foods, her Dad does the cooking, grrr grrr grrr. What's the point of it??

At least it's not promoting brands... there was a huge uproar when schools tried to ban this song on a PC "it's promoting the wrong foods" basis and it made the main TV news... as far as many were concerned fish and chips are Kiwi institution and the banning of this was ridiculous. I tend to agree...

Fishy Story
Reporter: Kevin Milne
The pupils of Room 4 (10-11 year olds) from Miramar Central School, Wellington, complained to Fair Go that the Ministry of Education was withdrawing the song, "Fish 'n Chips", from a cd of songs to be used in classrooms around the country. The Ministry considered the song did not sit well with the Government's good food campaign.


The children really liked the song, especially because it's composer, Claudia Mushin, works at their school. They thought it was silly that the Ministry should think that it made them eat more fish n chips.


They were each writing to the Ministry and circulating a petition among local schools to have "Fish 'n Chips" reinstated on their song menu.


The Ministry of Education confirmed to Fair Go that the song was being withdrawn. But a follow-up letter said the Ministry had changed its mind.


"Fish and chips is almost an iconic kiwi take-away and it would be a shame if we could not have a fun song about it. I think we made a mistake when we looked at withdrawing the song. We have now fixed the mistake by including the song," said the Ministry's letter.


Fair Go congratulated the Ministry for reacting to the complaint. We believed the children from Miramar Central received a valuable consumer lesson: sometimes you have to kick up a fuss to bring about change.

[Lupin]

Sam B:
And apparently Poppy and the rest of her class were told by their teacher that they shouldn't do poos at school, "it's home business"!!!!! Talk about a recipe for constipation and toilet phobias.

Sam, I would be moving very fast to complain about this, worse than the McD poem imo, because the potential damage it can cause the children is pretty enormous. That has to be one toilet phobic teacher and just can't be school policy!!!! :no

[Sam B]

Actually, fish and chips are ok, quite ok for kids in small quantities, but breakfast, dinner and tea?? And wobbly jelly and all the rest in the song? Can't they sing about "fruit and veg, fruit and veg, makes me want to sniff the hedge" or something? .... well, I'm working on the lyrics, it's a work in progress. And yes, lupin, you're right about the poo thing, but I'm worried that Poppy got the wrong end of the stick (although that is most unlike her), but can you imagine the conversation? Er Excuse me, I heard you told my child she can't poo at school ....

[Lupin]

RE The Fish and Chip song...I don't actually have a problem with that because it's not branded and schools need to be a place of fun where children can relate to "the school experience" as well as somewhere to learn, so singing a silly song about fish and chips probably fosters a sense of "oneness" with the staff etc. There has to be a space for nonsense and fantasy, free from "shoulds" and the imposition of "teaching" for the children to develop a bond with the teacher and school.

About the silly poo instructions....I'd be having pretty much that conversation with her teacher Sam, but perhaps from the angle of trying to ascertain whether your daughter got the wrong impression from a comment (to give the teacher benefit of the doubt). Good luck....I have had similarly awkward conversations with teaching staff in teh past, so know how you feel!!!

[Moorf]

Oh I dunno, I think the new PC nursery rhymes are educational :laugh

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall
All of the democratically elected government’s gender-neutral health sector employees
Immediately put Humpty on an 8 month waiting list to get treatment for his slightly sprained ankle

(and Humpty sued the builders for building such a high wall....)

[Tia Maria]

Sam B wrote:

Can't they sing about "fruit and veg, fruit and veg, makes me want to sniff the hedge"

Its probably just me, but does that sound a bit rude to anyone else? :laugh

The fish and chips song doesn't bother me but as my kids want to live in Cadbury's land its probably the least of my worries.

We also probably have a few too many Happy Meal toys.

But as many have said there is no excuse for big corporations to advertise unhealthy products directly to my children. My son looked at a McDonalds drink container the other day which had a picture of a boy playing soccer on it and he genuinely said 'that must be a really healthy drink, it helps you play sport' (it was coke).

These companies spend big money to find the best way to advertise and sell their products. I agree as parents we can educate our children but it is a lot harder when they see fast food images several times a day whether it be at school, on TV or on the street.

Dawn - I asked my son today and he said there was no McDonalds promotion at his school. The commercial interests I know of are:

Yummy Apples - sticker collection for sports gear
Westfield Centre - points collecting for Computer equipment
AMI - sponser the walking School Bus

Cheers

Tia

[Sam B]

Ha ha ha, it DOES sound rude! Sorry, didn't realise. Like I said, work in progress, how about "makes me want to eat a wedge" hmmm, still sounds rude somehow... or "I'll eat more, that's a pledge!"

[Trigirl]

:D

at least the fish and chips song doesn't have them "going down the garden to eat worms" as we were taught at school :)

i don't have any problem with mcdonalds as such (someone earlier mentioned having a problem with their very existence!) but i don't think they should be able to advertise to children - same for pizza, chocolate, crisps, fizzy drinks - i'm afraid i'd completely ban junk food adverts on kids tv or when kids are likely to be watching.

i went out for lunch with a friend of mine back in the uk and we took her young (maybe 2 year old? - preschool anyway) daughter with us. we went to a pub that serves a kids menu and she asked her daughter what she would like. "chicken mcnuggets" was the answer. from a kid that has never been to mcdonalds, whose parents dont go to mcdonalds and who eats the same healthy home cooked food that her parents do. purely the result of tv advertising.

[Riddley]

This reminded me that when we were in Sweden there was a massive no. of McD outlets springing up in a country that hadn't had them until relatively recently. My son started school and came home with his first "letter" written to us.it said

"Dear Mummy and Daddy

Please can we go for a McDonald's. I love you.

Patrick "

You can imagine how I felt.....I've kept the letter to use as blackmail if he ever becomes the new Jamie Oliver (he won't touch them now).

[speckythecky]

One of the things that amazed me about NZ 10 years ago when we visited was that top rugby players were advertizing Mcdonalds on TV / billboards. At the time you would never see anything like that in UK.
Having seen a program on UK TV last night on the pacific islanders diet, all fried food, including very fatty corned beef which was then fried in coconut oil, maybe mcds is health food to them.

[JoanneG]

This sort of advertising is everywhere and I doubt that New Zealand will escape it - it's just a matter of time. You only have to look at the toys now aimed at pre-schoolers - Dyson toy vacuum cleaners, Black and decker toy drills etc.

I was upset when a Leprosy charity used our school to raise funds by using 'incentives' to raise more cash. A free hat/t-shirt if they raised over x amount. My child came home (v.disturbed) saying she HAD to raise this money or someone would DIE! I was furious - she was 6 years old. In addition, the charity had given the children (some as young as 4) a list of ideas which included knocking on neighbours doors to ask for cash!

I explained to my child that if she refused the 'gift' then the money used to purchase the gift would go to help the Leprosy sufferer too - just as I had explained in the middle of McDonalds (to the amusement of parents around us) why they put toys in their boxes.

My daughter is now fully aware that this is a trick performed by companies to get more of her hard earned cash!

All we can do is teach our children to make their own choices and be aware of the marketing tricks used around them.

[Trigirl]

speckythecky - you are kidding right? you'd never see that in the uk?

http://www.foodcomm.org.uk/football.htm

[speckythecky]

I'm not saying we don't see it now, 10 years ago it was unheard of for someone like Micheal Owen or David Beckham to advertise fast food.
Now you can't get away from fast food adverts by cultural icons

[Carey]

A while ago there was a big campaign by Cadbury's who would give sports equipment to schools if they collected enough from their products......?!? Lots of local schools participated purely to gain from the gifts offered while at the same time giving pep talks to the kids about how it's ok to do this because chocolate is a treat and Ok to have a little bit and won't you all have fun with the nice new equipment that the school can't or won't afford for you.....bizarre or what!
The more worrying thing was , some parents really were totally happy with it.

[nippa&pippa]

Guess what I was given at my son's kindy today, funny timing!!!

[Carey]

Meant to say, DO go and discuss your concerns with head or any member of staff, because if you don't , the school assumes everyone is happy. Yes, you may get a reputation for complaining but some of the staff will be pleased you have spoken up. I say this being on both sides of the fence, a parent and an member of staff.

[Trigirl]

speckythecky - lineker has been advertising walkers crisps since 1995.

i hear what you are saying but i think we (the public in general) have become more aware of this issue over the years.

[Lupin]

Guess what I was given at my son's kindy today, funny timing!!!


Miserable, rich multi-national *insert expletive of choice because I get moderated here if I type it*....one lousy dollar :mad:

[nippa&pippa]

Miserable, rich multi-national *insert expletive of choice because I get moderated here if I type it*....one lousy dollar :mad:

:yes as think about it, how much is cost you to buy the drink in the first place to get $1 for kindy, you are more better off to give the kindy the money without going to McDonald!!...I wondering how many parents work that out??

[Jenny & Mark]

Do go and speak up. I don't know what else to say as I am pretty discusted with McD's in general. Our school has removed all sugar offerings - included CocaCola - and I could not be more pleased.

Mark.

[Moorf]

Can anyone here register www.banmcdonaldsfromschools.co.nz? ;)

Great reading...

[speckythecky]

Can anyone here register www.banmcdonaldsfromschools.co.nz? ;)

Great reading...

Tried the link Moorf but could not connect

[migratory birds]

(I admit I haven't taken the time to read thru all the responses but...)

This has been a topic of great concern amongst many thinking parents of school-aged children in the US (the prevalence of name brand marketing of products in our schools, posters that appeal to and at times appear to empower children and teens with Chevrolet or Coca-Cola logos at the bottom (subtle entry in to the subconscious). They know schools are strapped for resources to reach our kids in all the ways possible so provide resources like electronic scoreboards in high school gyms, televisions, vending machines and food service.

In the US, it has taken persistent pressure on our local school boards to ban the sale of Coca-Cola and sugared or diet soda products in our middle and high schools, to ban military recruiters from having access to our children any more than, say, Intel would have if they were recruiting for interns on high school grounds, to limit television time that comes with requirements for brand adverts as sponsors.

Come together with a group of other concerned parents and take your concerns directly to the head of the school or its governing body (whatever that would be in NZ). Keep on it until you see that teachers and staff are clear what's acceptable to offer the kids and what's not.

If a global fast food chain truly wants kids to be safe on/near the road - ask them to send the guy WITHOUT the suit in his plainclothes, without the coloring books and coupons...then ask why they won't come if the guy with the big shoes can't make his appearance with company generated materials. It helps to put the local fast food marketing manager in the hot seat. Corporations can contribute to the well-being of our communities WITHOUT recognition. Community service benefits the community as well as the individuals from the organization who have that "feel good" from volunteering.

Ban the distribution of "education" materials (ie the "poetry" book) distributed by commercial entities.

Accept the audiovisual materials (ie the televisions) ONLY on the condition that there be no requirements to show programs produced by the donor (that contains their ads).

Discuss marketing with children in the classroom to help them become more savvy consumers. Look at ads and commercials geared at children and discuss techniques used to draw children in. This would be more of a 10 yr old and older kind of activity.

Use the netballs, if they're high quality and not junk but also learn more about local restaurants that provide higher quality foods but also have some appeal to the childs' palate (ie a local pizza joint). Discuss the value of eating locally (conservation of global resources, support of local individuals generating a quality product, etc.)

Look behind the scenes at fast food meat/cattle growing practices and the destruction of the rainforests to provide the cheap meat needed for the industry.

[Carey]

Once you tell the kids that Mcdonalds use the mushed up lips and ear lobes of cows to make their burgers, most are somewhat less keen to eat them. Jamie Oliver, I think, showed this on one of his earliest programs and similar for his infamous turkey twizzlers.

[veronica]

Like a lot of this stuff if the kids are given a good enough grounding at home it shouldn't have much of an impact. And like all things in moderation the occasional junk meal isn't going to harm kids., any more than the occasional drink isn't going to harm an adult. Its excess thats the problem.
Stopping the kids from having a mac Ds is more than likely to make them want them more, in the big scheme of things an occasional MacDs amongst a couple of months worth of good food is going to make no difference to an active healthy child. Whether the benefits of the school sponsership outweigh the negatives I will leave to others who have the figures in front of them to debate.

[K&CS]

In general, I agree with most things in moderation. I just tend to draw that line at McDonalds. I really don't want to teach my kids that a trip to McDonalds to eat nasty food in a horrible environment is a 'treat'. I really also believe that most kids don't even particularly like the food anyway - it's the 'free' toys they want.

My kids aren't allowed to go to McDonalds (or BK or KFC) and they simply don't ask to go there. I don't think that by denying our kids McD's, then we're going to have kids who will become McDonalds addicts in the future because their parents didn't allow them this indulgence as children. We take our kids out to eat quite a lot to non fast food cafes in and around Christchurch where they eat good food and they look on this as a treat.

I agree that the occasional McDonalds is highly unlikely to kill us or have any particular detrimental effect on our health - I just think this whole thing with McDonalds goes far deeper than that.

[StevieD]

I don't think the "food" is the issue here, it is the cynical infiltration of global companies on the grounds of "aid" to schools that is wrong.

[willowshouse]

Indeed! We live in a different age now where our kids are exposed to all sorts of influences which are beyond our control .. a while ago in the UK I discovered that McDonalds sponsor a version of MSN Messenger, free to download with games and stuff ... it made me very uncomfortable.

Just look at the sponsors for this thread!!!!!!!!

McDonalds marketing IMO is VERY agressive, more so than other companies, and they only stop when they are TOLD to.

I don't worry about my kids - they know what is in a McNugget and a 'Shake' and they have no desire to eat there, toys or not .. the point is, unless you want an obesity problem like that in the USA you have to stop them marketing their filth at kids whose parents don't ensure that their kids know a healthy meal from a pile full of c**p.

I think my approach will be to ask a few more parents (NZ ones) and see what the consensus is .. that way I'll know if I'm on my own or in good company and I can take it from there.

Great to read all your comments .. let me know if you find any influences in your school.

Dawn

[Tia Maria]

Willowshouse wrote:

I think my approach will be to ask a few more parents (NZ ones) and see what the consensus is .. that way I'll know if I'm on my own or in good company and I can take it from there.

This is the kind of approach I would take at our school. We then chat to the class teacher in a:

"So what do you think about all this McDonald's sponsorship ...?" kind of a way, rather than "I think this is awful".

Often we have found the class teacher to be in agreement and they tend to take our concerns further up.

If she says its fine, ask her in what way it is fine? If she points out the money side, ask if there are any adult product sponsers that could be brought on board instead - although you may find yourself volunteered for that!

(and before any of you start, I meant places like banks/insurance etc not x-rated 'adult products'! :p )

Good luck it will be interesting to see how you get on.

Cheers

Tia

[westi]

" PS I don't go to McD's either - rather save my pennies! and if I do treat Jason its a Burger King "

Why is it better to go to Burger King than McDonald's ?
At the end of the day they are giving money where it's needed. The money doesn't seem to be available from anywhere else so why shouldn't children benefit ?

Re comments of the food being bad quality, it's all sourced locally in NZ, the burgers ARE 100% beef - not sure how many other fast food companies can say that & the thing about the ingredients of a shake is just an old wives tale that's been going around for years. Also the oil the chips are cooked in doesn't contain any trans fats so the occasional treat there isn't going to do much harm, probably a lot less than your local chippy / cafe that isn't as strictly monitored.
Sorry if this sounds like an ad for the place, I just think a lot of people jump on the old " I hate " band wagon without actually knowing a lot of the facts..

[Jenny & Mark]

Re comments of the food being bad quality, it's all sourced locally in NZ, the burgers ARE 100% beef - not sure how many other fast food companies can say that & the thing about the ingredients of a shake is just an old wives tale that's been going around for years. Also the oil the chips are cooked in doesn't contain any trans fats so the occasional treat there isn't going to do much harm, probably a lot less than your local chippy / cafe that isn't as strictly monitored.


The food is of poor quality made in poor working conditions by marginised members of society. In the book, Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser uncovers very sad truths about McDonalds, such as the meat on one burger patty could contain over a hundred different cows. He also devotes a section the topic of this thread - the purposeful targeting of school program sponsorship to convert more addicts.
(http://archive.salon.com/books/feature/2001/02/08/schlosser/index.html)

The McDonald's fry is the cigarette of the future.

Mark.

P.S. No cooking oil can be considered trans-fat free once it is repeatively raised to high temperatures (http://www.tfx.org.uk/page13.html)

P.P.S. Even more scary are those McDonald's fries that are found under the car seat over a year later without a hint of mould or decomposition - yuck!

[barryp]

Why is sourcing a patty from a hundred different cows a bad thing? (Assuming you accept the idea of eating cow meat in the first place, of course.)

And why is this particular type of industrial-process food better than its analogues from non-chain-outlet sources? Is the 'hamburger' I get at the local chippy any less toxic for me or the planet than the one at McD?

Not a simple issue, IMO.

[Toto]

Wikipedia has the following definition for beef: -

Beef is the culinary name for meat from bovines, especially domestic cattle.

So if something is 100% beef, presumably this means it is 100% bovine and could contain any part of the animal at all?

[westi]

" the food is of poor quality made in poor working conditions by marginised members of society. In the book, Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser uncovers very sad truths about McDonalds, such as the meat on one burger patty could contain over a hundred different cows. He also devotes a section the topic of this thread - the purposeful targeting of school program sponsorship to convert more addicts.
(http://archive.salon.com/books/featu...ser/index.html)"

These are the words of one person, who doesn't even live in NZ or the UK so possibly doesn't know how the business is run in these places. Different countires have different standards and guidelines but as an international company you can be be more confidant of their food hygiene and suitability for consumption than a smaller outlet.
The ingredients of McD's burgers in NZ are not of poor quallity, they are all locally sourced and strictly quality checked. I don't know what he means by "marginalised members of society" either. Most of us need to earn a dollar or 2 and they are better employers than a lot I could mention. As for converting more addicts, although I know a few people who do like the occasional burger and fries I've yet to meet an " Addict ". It's not like they grab you as you're incocently walking by and force feed you untill you pop !!
I's all down to personal choice and having accurate information
I guess McDonald's get a worse rap than some other companies because they do have a higher profile. Is this due to the money and recources they give back to the community ?

[westi]

P.P.S. Even more scary are those McDonald's fries that are found under the car seat over a year later without a hint of mould or decomposition - yuck!
__________________

P.P.P.S. Even more scary that someone would own a car that hadn't been cleaned in over year !!

[Lupin]

I don't go to McDonalds for all the reasons exposed in the McLibel case.

There is much that is very, very wrong about McDonalds on many levels but I'm not going to say anything because I saw what they were prepared to do to a couple of people prepared to speak out against them.

My school does not have any Mcsponsorship.

[willowshouse]

" the food is of poor quality made in poor working conditions by marginised members of society. In the book, Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser uncovers very sad truths about McDonalds, such as the meat on one burger patty could contain over a hundred different cows. He also devotes a section the topic of this thread - the purposeful targeting of school program sponsorship to convert more addicts.
(http://archive.salon.com/books/featu...ser/index.html)"

These are the words of one person, who doesn't even live in NZ or the UK so possibly doesn't know how the business is run in these places. Different countires have different standards and guidelines but as an international company you can be be more confidant of their food hygiene and suitability for consumption than a smaller outlet.
The ingredients of McD's burgers in NZ are not of poor quallity, they are all locally sourced and strictly quality checked. I don't know what he means by "marginalised members of society" either. Most of us need to earn a dollar or 2 and they are better employers than a lot I could mention. As for converting more addicts, although I know a few people who do like the occasional burger and fries I've yet to meet an " Addict ". It's not like they grab you as you're incocently walking by and force feed you untill you pop !!
I's all down to personal choice and having accurate information
I guess McDonald's get a worse rap than some other companies because they do have a higher profile. Is this due to the money and recources they give back to the community ?

You seem to know a lot aout McDonalds in NZ? How is that? Where do you get your facts from?

As for them being better employers than other companies .. that's a bit of hearsay opinion unless you work for them and are willing to vouch for how great they are ..?

As far as I know there is no food outlet that force feeds you .. but there are companies who pollute their food with additives specifically designed to add palatibility whilst producing food using the cheapest ingredients possible .. I can't see anything good about that.

Accurate information .. yep you get a lot of that at McDonalds :laugh

If McDonalds get a bad rap because they are so well-known then I have the perfect suggestion for them .. they can STOP specifically targeting children as consumers and give all their donations without having to add their logo onto anything that moves.

My 'beef' with McDonalds is that it is my right to make good choices for my family and I should not have to sit back and let them advertise to my child whilst they are at school about how great they are!

Dawn

[Sam B]

Come on Westi - are you the area manager for McDonalds Canterbury region? It's time to fess up!

[Angelonthemove]

I thought this forum was about giving people information about moving to NZ. Why all the political garbage. Move it to another board or do it via PM.

This is the reason the forum in Cyprus got shut down due to too many expat ranting. Lets get back to being curteous to each other, like it was a year ago.

[Sam B]

Sorry, I didn't mean to sound rude at all, it was meant as a joke. I think this thread is relevant as it relates to an issue in NZ schools which is not something that would be encountered in the UK. I would hate to offend anyone and apologise if anything I have put has caused any offence. Sorry.

[stu70]

We see this kind of thing here in North America (surprise!). In my humble opinion, the best way to deal with these issues is via education. It is never too late to teach the kids there are better and healthier products to eat and drink. You can never make the world free of advertisers and there really is no need for that. It is all about personal choices and decisions. Get informed, do what you think is best for you and the family, simple.Regards

[K&CS]

I thought this forum was about giving people information about moving to NZ. Why all the political garbage. Move it to another board or do it via PM.

This is the reason the forum in Cyprus got shut down due to too many expat ranting. Lets get back to being curteous to each other, like it was a year ago.

I think that's a bit extreme! There have often been debates on here in the two years I have been a member, and, as is the case with this thread, people give their views in a very courteous manner! I think it's a really interesting thread that has caused food for thought. If people can't give their views, there's little point on having a forum. As has been pointed out, this thread is relevant to New Zealand!

Ex-pat ranting??? I have seen the odd case of that on this forum in the past, but certainly not this particular thread!

If a thread doesn't interest you, then don't read it!

[movefromus]

I was raised in New Zealand and Ronald McDonald was doing the road safety thing when I was a kid.....so at least 15 years. At least they are doing something that helps the community (and helps them too of course - they're a business in it to make money)....if Ronald McDonald helps drum road safety into my children I'm glad. It sure won't make us go to McDonalds all the time. I don't feel it's a problem as long as they aren't handing out McD's at school all the time.

Carly

[Tia Maria]

Willowshouse - just wondered how it all went with this, did you get anywhere? Or are you now an official 'troublemaker'? :D

One of the parents had a different issue with something at our school recently and it was actually her daughter who wrote a letter to the head and the class teacher explaining why she felt it was wrong. It turned out to be very effective!

Cheers

Tia